“In fair Verona, where we lay our scene…”
Shakespeare’s opening lines to Romeo and Juliet paint the picture of a quaint town dominated by two opposing families. While you won’t find the Capulets and the Montagues running around today’s streets of Verona, you will find a very charming town that steps back in time, complete with small shops and cobblestone streets. Its Roman heritage is hard to deny, and here you will find the third largest colosseum in all of Italy. Today the colosseum is home to an annual opera festival. A quick online search for Verona’s Opera Festival (or Arena di Verona Festival) will yield some breath-taking pictures!
Verona is also home to some beautiful cathedrals. Take the opportunity in this unit to examine some of those churches and to learn essential vocabulary for the architecture related to cathedrals. Words like “nave,” “transept,” “buttress,” and “apse” are commonly used when discussing the various parts of a church’s floorplan. Understanding what each of these terms means will help you as you navigate through later units in the course.
In the worksheet for this unit, feel free to remove the lines provided for your response. You may even choose to use a second color for the headings and the questions. Include your response in black font in the space provided on the worksheet.
Geography
Locate a map of the historic center of Verona. Mark the following locations with a circle or a highlight: (1) Castelvecchio, (2) Roman Arena, (3) Casa di Giulietta, and (4) Church Santa Anastasia. Be sure to document your source using APA Style.
Key Terms
Provide your own definition for each of the following terms:
• Flying buttress
• Fresco
• Latin Cross
Shopping in Verona
What is the name of the market square in Verona, Italy?
What types of things are sold in the market square?
Art and Architecture in Verona
Name two Catholic churches in Verona.
Explain the painting technique of fresco, and identify two frescoes in any of Italy’s churches. Explain what is depicted in each fresco. Then, discuss why the artworks that you selected stand out to you.
Choose any church or cathedral in Verona. Briefly explain the church or cathedral’s history and then examine the layout of the church. Find a picture of the building’s floor plan, and include it in your response. Be sure to explain what is located in each part of the church or cathedral, researching and explaining any terminology you do not know. Use APA Style to cite the sources you use. Your response should be a minimum of 500 words.
