Verona sightseeing tour: Scaliger Tombs

Sightseeing tour of Verona at Piazza dei Signori. Why is there the rib of a whale hanging down under an arch? Have you ever heard about mr Girolamo Fracastoro? And do you know how Scaliger Tombs are and why the Scaliger family chose a dog as its heraldic symbol? ⇒ Watch the full web serie Verona Slow Tour Cover pic courtesy of Flickr User Richard @ladyous

Video full text: Verona: Piazza dei Signori

I know this one, I’ve read about it on the guide, tourists know it too! It’s the rib of whale that was stranded on the banks of the river Adige. Not quite, it’s whale’s rib that is the symbol of the Order of Pharmacists that in medieval times, were based here. This is another curiosity you can see here, from Piazza delle Erbe, looking at this beautiful view that leads us towards Piazza dei Signori, and to the Arche Scaligere (Scaliger Tombs). This is Piazza dei Signori. The signori or lords are members of the Scaliger family, and those taking a slow tour of Italy would find it interesting to know how to interpret the crenels. Those are Ghibelline crenels, that’s to say for the Emperor against the Papacy. That statue is the only one of its kind… …you were saying that he invented syphilis?! He is Girolamo Fracastoro, a 16th–century physician who wanted to study this illness. He wrote the poem De Morbo Gallico in which he tells of the life of a shepherd suffering from this illness. The shepherd’s name was Syphilus. Literature, history, medicine and superstition! That gentleman there is holding a ball in his hand. It is said that the day when an honest, sinless individual passes below him, the ball will drop. But it’s always there! Are these the famous Scaliger Tombs? I was imagining boats rather than a cemetery. This is the cemetery of the della Scala family. We are in the 14th century, full gothic style. So, who is buried in these three beautiful tombs? Cangrande, Mastino II and Cansignorio. It looks like kennels! So what was it with them and dogs? In addition to the scala (ladder), which reflected their name, the Scaliger family chose a dog for its heraldic symbol. An animal that is symbolic of faithfulness and loyalty. And then of course, at that time, Marco Polo’s The Million was a very popular book. With the figure of the Great Khan, which means lord. We’re about to be run over by a wave of tourists! Let’s take this opportunity to go and visit a less well known part of Verona – in the next video.

Produced in cooperation with the Official Tourist Board