The amphitheatre of Verona, one of the best-preserved monuments of its kind, forms one side of the Piazza di Brit. Of the outer circuit, which originally consisted of 72 arches, only 4 are preserved; but the interior is nearly perfect The 'Irene forms an ellipse, the greater axis of which is 210 fret long. The entire inclosuro forms an ellipse, the axes of which measure 506 and 404 feet respectively. The seats afford room for 22,000 spectators. The building resembles in style the Coliseum of Rome; it is constructed of marble and in part of brick. Another classical monument, the Arco de' Oavii, the sepulchre of an ancient family, with its handsome fluted columns, was pulled down in 1805 in order to clear the approaches to the citadel. The gate Do' Borsari was one of the entrances into Verona in the wall of Gallienua, erected about A.D. 265. Although now nearly 1600 years old, it stands firm and solid, spanning a crowded street of the city. The l'orta di Leone, another of the gates in the emperor's wall, is much mutilated. Remains of a theatre have been discovered ou the left bank of the Adige. Four bridges cross the Adige at Verona : that called Di Castelvecchio is remarkable for the width of the central arch.
Verona is a bishop's see: it has a lyceum, a ladies college, a school of drawing and painting, an academy of agriculture and commerce, and a clerical seminary. Verona is the general head-quarters of the Austrian army iu Italy. It is altogether a very interesting city, one of the first among the second class of Italian towns : the population amounts to near 60,000 inhabitant& Many families of the local nobility have their residence at Verona, and in the pleasant country-seats which are scattered among the neighbouring bills.
Verona was a town of the Cenomani. Livy (v. 35) says that the Cenomani Gauls occupied the country previously held by the Libui, in which were Brixia and Verona. Under the empire it produced many distinguished men, such as Catullus, Pliny the elder, Vitruvius, and others. After the fall of the empire it was one of the principal towns of the Longobards. It was afterwards taken by Charlemagne. In the 12th century it was a free municipal town, and joined the Lombard league. In the following century it fell under the power of Ezzelino da Romano, after whole death Mastino della Scala was elected Podesth, about 1259. His descendants usurped the sovereign power, and created the dynasty of Della Scala, or Scaligeri, which lasted above a century, until it was conquered by the Visconti, dukes of Milan, who became masters of Verona. After the death of Giovanni Galeazzo Visconti, Verona was seized by Francis of Carrara, lord of Padua ; but in 1409, being besieged by the Venetians, the citizens gave themselves up to Venice, by a convention which secured their municipal liberties, and sines then Verona has formed part of the Venetian territory.
VEItOVICZ. [Ceoseta.]