Verona

Sources from old books

1635. Historia mundi: or Mercator's atlas. London. by Gerhard Mercator.

IN this Table the Territories of three chiefe Citties of Marca Tarvisina are delineated and described, Verona, Vicentia, and Patavium. The first is the Territory or Country of Verona. The length of it from the Towne Bruchelius unto the River which cometh out of the Lake Bevacum, is 65. Miles: the bredth from the Castle on the Frontiers even to Rivoltella is forty Miles. The soyle in some parts is stony, and therefore untilled, and some part of it is very good. It hath abundance of Wheate, Oyle, Wine, Cattell, Wooll, and other pretious commodities. It hath also famous Quarries of Stone. And many wholesome medicinall hearbes, especially on the Mountaine Baldus, whether Phisitians doe often resort to gather them. The Tuscans are supposed to have built Verona, others thinke that the French Cenomanians did build it: who being expulsed, it was a long time subject to the Romanes, and Cn. Pompeius Strabo, the father of Magnus brought thither a Colonie. Afterward being wasted by Auila King of the Hunns, it was afterward subject to many Tyrannies, first to the Kings of the Gothes: the Langbards did expel them, and the Frechmen under the conduct of Charles the great did expell the Langbards: after whom the Berengarians being droven out of Italy by the Emperour Otto the first, it enjoyed some quiet and rest under the authority and Protection of the Romane Empire. Actiolinus Romaninus having got it by force, did change the Praefectorship into a Lordship, having expulsed Azo Atestinus, whom the Senate and People of Verona had made Praetor. Hee dying obout the yeare 1259. the Saligerians by the suffrage and common consent of the Cittizens were entituled Princes of Verona almost 128. yeares; who being droven out, and partly made away by poison, the Galleatians got possession of it, and afterward the Cariensians, whom the Venetians did drive out, under whose jurisdiction it constantly and peceablely continueth. The Citty which Ptol. calleth Verona and Overona, doth still retaine that name. The Germanes call it Di•trichs Bern. It hath a thinne aire. It is like the Citty Basit in Heluetia, for situation, having many faire buildings: it is seated on a plaine levell, both Southward, Eastward, and Westward, but on one North side the ground riseth a little, like a Romane Theater. It is fortified, and encompased round about with the River Athesis. There are divers Monuments of antiquity, which doe testifie the ancient magnificence and riches of this Citty. It hath straite, large streets, paved with stone, and about 35. Churches, the chiefe whereof is the ancient Cathedrall Church, and the Church of S. Anastasius; it hath 10. Monasteries. On the top of a rock there are two famous Castles of S. Peter, and S. Faelix. Also an ancient Castle, which is commonly called Citadella. There is also a great Amphitheater in the middle of the Citty. This Citty is a Bishoprick. The Inhabitants are magnificent, beautifull, comely, very witty, and prone to learning. I cannot omit this one thing that when the Venetians did fortifie this Citty, they found certaine hollow Caves, and when they digged in the Mountaines, they found Vrchins or hedghoggs of stone, also Oisters, Birds bills, and starre fishes which were as hard as any Stones.