Arche Scaligere

The Scala family ruled Verona between the XIII and XIV century. Mastino, Cansignorio, Cangrande are the leading names of the Scala family. Power, intrigues, treasons, murders, art and poetry (Cangrande was the patron of Dante, Petrarch and Giotto): a fascinating medieval history.

In my photo you can see the tomb of Cansignorio della Scala... read more 

The red flag bears the insigna of the Scala family. 

Ginkgo on the corner

You know, I love trees. After the Heavenly Tree, here is the Ginkgo Biloba, right in the heart of Verona. It is a huge, beautiful leafy tree. It is still quite green now but soon it will become completely yellow. I read that Ginkgos have an extreme urban tolerance...

"Ginkgo biloba is the oldest living tree species.
A single tree can live as long as 1,000 years and grow to a height of 120 feet"

(University of Maryland Medical Center)

I liked this angle rather than showing you the entire tree, though. It seems to me that, beyond the beauty of the plant, this corner concentrates Verona's typical features: the medieval brick building, the red house with marble balconies, the narrow street (a few steps ahead, on the right, there is Romeo's house!) and a tiny detail in the middle of the photo: an wrought iron flag holder (at least I think that's what it is...) bearing the medieval town's sign, a stair, scala, from the Scala family, the Lords of Verona from the XIII century.