VERONA (ITALY)
In XI century, walls on a hill to the east were enlarged to protect the city better. In the period of time between 1194 and 1224 walls to the south from the city were built along a natural depression in the ground, which was later used for a moat.
Walls north of Verona built by Della Scalla were fortified; their length was increased, and several extra towers were built. Soon after that, big measures were taken to strengthen defensive capacity: the northern part with twenty four towers and four gates, well fortified, was strengthened, and at the same time the walls in the south were expanded.
In the period of time between 1509 and 1517, Verona belonged to Maximilian I, and after their return the Venetians decided to resume building of Verona’s walls. The first works began in 1523; the southern walls of Scalla were remade; several bastions were added. In the middle of XVI century, Sanmiceli worked on construction of fortifications and built Porta Nuova and Porta Palio.
When Austrian troops arrived in the beginning of XIX century, the walls were reconstructed several times. The first changes occurred from 1830 until 1840 when their fortifications were restored and many new ones were built, which created an exceedingly vast chain of fortifications.
After the first war for independence (1848-1849), the fortification system became even more complex, especially on the western side. During fifty years of Austrian rule several buildings were built, such as: Arsenal of Franz Josef I, Porta Episcopa Railway Station, monumental cemeteries and several other buildings.
Before that, the artistic appearance of the city was hidden between the defensive fortress walls, but as the new age and industrialization started, Verona began to slowly lose its role as a fortress. After the WWII in several districts planning of the city started, with that, the officials did their best not to destroy historically significant constructions and buildings.
The city is famous for its ancient Roman (Arena di Verona, Gavi Arch, Porta Borsari, Roman Theater) and medieval architectural monuments (Castelveccio, Scaliger Arches), numerous Roman and Gothic churches, palaces of the Renaissance epoch, museums, Dal Abaco conservatory as well as a university.
In Verona the plot of Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet is set. Tourists can see the so-called Juliet’s house with her balcony and Romeo’s house, Juliet’s tomb even though these buildings are in no way historically related with the characters of the play.
In 2000, Verona was added to the World Heritage List of UNESCO.