Roman times of Verona, Verona

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The Roman Theatre, which is superbly positioned on the banks of the river Adige, was built in the second half of the 1st century B.C. Successive constructions caused the theatre to disappeared. It was excavated from 1834 to 1914 under the archeologist Andrea Monga and were only finished comparatively recently.
Above the last tier of seats to the left is a loggia with marble columns which once formed part of the theatre, though it seems unlikely that this was its original position.
Inside of the complex there is a very old church of SS. Siro and Libera, which is now under reconstructions.

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Verona's Roman Theatre dates back to the 1st century B.C., which makes it even older than the Arena. It was discovered in the 19th century by Andrea Monga, a rich business man who had acquired some properties in the area and who ended up demolishing most of them to conduct archeological digs. The theatre measures 107 x 150 m and rises to a height of about 60 m. If the main scene could not be restored, the original marble floor of the orchestra can still be seen along with the semi-circular stone seats. Today, Verona's Roman Theatre is one of the city's most popular concert venues.

From the theatre, there's a small elevator that takes visitors up to the archeological museum, which is set in the 15th century convent of San Gerolamo. Different items (mosaics, sculptures, coins, etc.) dating back to Roman times that were found all over the city of Verona are now on display in the museum. I must admit though that the view over the city and Adige River is so beautiful from up there, we probably spent more time looking outside than actually looking at the exhibition!

Verona Card gives access to both the Roman Theatre and the archeological museum.

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We actually came here for a mistake. We were looking for some other theatre, but the view from the top was so great, that it was worth it. Even though the theatre is not so different from many others we have seen. And the ugly brown plastic-chairs made it look less beautyful. I gues there was some kind of happening coming soo, and tht´s why they had those plastic-chairs. I didn´t actually even take a photo of the actual theatre because of them.

But I think you should visit here only because of the view! And maybe the plastic-chairs aren´t allways there!

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if you want to cross the river up in the northeast section of the city, you'll likely cross at Ponte Pietra, also known as the Roman Bridge. You get some beautiful views of the river from and around the bridge.

The white stones on the bridge are from the original bridge built back in 1 BC. Unfortunately, the original bridge was bombed back during WWII, but many pieces of the original marble were used in its reconstruction.

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With the Adige River looping around the city of Verona, there are numerous bridges of architectural interest connecting the historic part of town to the other bank. My favourite one is the oldest one, called Ponte Pietra ("stone bridge") or sometimes Ponte Romano, a bridge that dates back to the 1st century BC. It was originally built to give the population access to the Roman theatre built on the east bank of the Adige River at around the same time. Through the course of history, the arch bridge sustained considerable damage, especially during the Second World War when it was bombed by the German troops as they were leaving the city in order to slow down the Allies. However, the bridge was always restored, and whenever possible the original material was retrieved from the water in order to remain as faithful as possible to the original design. It results in an interesting mix of bricks and stones and, in my opinion, it's the city's nicest bridge.

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The presence of the roman basements and streets under the modern town was always well know.

So it was no surprise a piece of quite well preserved roman road emerged during some works in the '80: they had the idea to letting it open air, to give people the idea of how the roads looked like 2000 years ago.

Notice that the actual (medieval) building were built right over the preexisting roman buildings, and so the roman road is exactly under the modern one...

On a piece, you can actually walk.... (beware, being under the actual level, you may risk not to see it's there...)

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When you walk around the Verona center, take a look at the walls of the builings, they may hide little tresures, like some roman sculptured piece of marble here or there.

This one in the picture is a little off the beaten path, but it's very big. Part of a sculptured roman monumental tomb, representing the faces of the family members.

The scuplture isn't in a museum, but inserted in the outer side of the longobard Verona walls (along via Pallone) just at the beginning of Via del Pontiere.

You can walk along it!

Pic #2 shows a roman inscription at the beginning of Via Rosa, Piazza Erbe side.
It tells:

GAVIA Q. F. MAXIMA
IN AQVAM HS Q. ((( I )))
...AMENTO DEDIT

Translated from, latin, more or less "Gavia Maxima, daughter of Quintus, gave with her last will 500,000 sestertia for the wateryes". The rich woman of the Gavia family (the same of the arch) made a gift to the town of an acqueduct bringing fresh water from Valpolicella to the town center. How kind of her!

Pic #3 shows some carved stones used in the pillars of the east gate of the Scaligery palace north of Piazza Bra, one of the entrances of Cortile Mercato Vecchio

Pic#4 is another roman marble. An ancient bracket with a sculpted Gorgon's head (on a side) and a Triton playing a Buccina on the other . You can see it at the corner of Corso Portoni Borsari and Via Valerio Catullo (close to Porta Borsari)

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It is amazing that so much of this theater is still intact from its origin 1st century AD. The stage does exist, and the seating is still there in good shape given its years in the weather. Built on St. Peters hill, with Castel San Pietro on top. Due to deterioration, floods, and the 1117 earthquake, it was abandoned, the theater was not in use for many years. It became a convent and a church, building on the old structure forms. Due to excavation done in the 17t century and continued through the 19t century, the theater was revived. It was even used as a competing theater of the arena for years after WWII. In 1834, Andrea Monga bought a lot of the homes that were on top of the ruins. In 1904 Verona bought the complex and continued the excavation of the site.
There are great artifacts of columns, flooring tiles, pictures, and also the loggia areas and what seems to be a living quarter in that era.
This is one of the best sites, that in my opinion compares to the arena for fame. Open 8:30 to 19:30 except Monday. A Verona card gives you access at a discount, otherwise the cost is around 6 Euro. The tour greeters are friendly and helpful-but the tour is self guided through the crypts, and inside the buildings.