History
In the heart of Verona's historic centre, opposite the Basilica of Saint Anastasia, and a short distance from the city's symbolic locations – from Juliet’s balcony to Piazza Bra and the Verona Arena – the Due Torri Hotel stands as an elegant and discreet custodian of Veronese memory. The building, whose origins date to the 14th century, has passed through many eras and transformations: from the Scaligeri to Venetian rule, from the Habsburg Empire to the Risorgimento, through to the Dolce Vita years, welcoming persons of international importance over time. Recently, major restoration works have brought the frescoes in the Arena Casarini, decorated with suggestive equestrian circus scenes, to light: a treasure of great value given back to the city, and today once again a living part of the hotel's experience.
the palazzo
The shortest of walks from Juliet’s balcony, as narrated by Shakespeare, from Piazza Bra and the Verona Arena, cradle of Italian and international opera, in the labyrinth of Roman streets in the oldest part of Verona.
A building stood here since the 14th century, known as Palazzo dell’Aquila. It was the time of passage from City to Signoria, and the long reign of the della Scala family, who with Cangrande I, imperial stand-in, added the Habsburg eagle to the family crest.
From the early 15th century until 1730, the building belonged to the Bordieri family. Knife-makers originally from Bresciano, they moved to Verona in the late 14th century, became goldsmiths and gained a solid economic and social position.
Remarkably successful social climbers, they purchased the austere Scala palazzo as a status symbol befitting their ambitions. It was they who established the building as an inn in 1674, in a Verona which was still recovering from the great plague of 1630.
It was a top hotel of its time: its rooms hosted great personalities of the age, including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johann Wolfgang Goethe. A marble plaque added to the façade in the 1950s celebrates the stay of the young Mozart, just thirteen years of age, in January of 1770.
Subsequently, the palazzo changed hands to the Zenobi and then Arvedi families, the latter turning the inn into the Grand Hotel Imperiale.
In the 19th century the palazzo was also the setting for important historic events, including the coronation of the Comte d'Isle as Louis XVII, and the signing of the Armistice of Villafranca between Napoleon III, Victor Emmanuel II, Archduke Ranieri and Field Marshal Radetzky.
In 1866, Giuseppe Garibaldi spoke to the Veronesi from the balcony of the hotel overlooking Piazza Santa Anastasia.
In 1882, the hotel was transferred to the Bastogi–Soini company, which closed it. Purchased in 1903 by entrepreneur Francesco Zeiner, six years later is was inherited by the Wallner family.
In the years of the Republic of Salò it hosted three ministries, before returning to its former splendour in the post-war period thanks to Enrico Wallner, who transformed the old structure into a luxury hotel.
Wallner initially commissioned Carlo Scarpa and Gio Ponti for the project, later assigned it to Veronese engineer Alessandro Polo and painter Pino Casarini, who was already an established artist.
The furniture was taken care of by Wallner himself, who purchased antique Biedermeier pieces and precious porcelain from antiquarians, also creating a large carpentry and restoration workshop. He designed and furnished all the rooms of the hotel personally.
The Due Torri was inaugurated on the 31st of December 1958. The frescoes by Pino Casarini generated great admiration: Il Torneo dei Cavalieri di Brandeburgo (the tournament of knights of Brandenburg) in the entrance hall and Il Circo equestre (the equestrian circus) in the theatre.
Since then, the Due Torri has hosted numerous Italian and international personalities: Vittorio De Sica, Alida Valli, Anna Magnani, Giulio Andreotti, Giovanni Spadolini, Rita Levi Montalcini, Margaret Thatcher and Placido Domingo.
In 2010 the prestigious structure was purchased by Duetorrihotels Group, setting in motion a new round of renovations. In just a few years, the hotel reaffirmed itself at the pinnacle of Italian hospitality.
Major modernisation works involved virtually all of the 89 rooms and suites, which were completely renovated.
A stay at the Due Torri Hotel thus becomes a journey through the most representative styles of the late 19th century. Salons, rooms and suites are embellished with hand-varnished parquet, marble, Murano glass chandeliers, mosaic decorations and precious fabrics. Authentic period furniture in Biedermeier or Empire style – chaises longues, sofas, dressing tables and wainscoting – create an elegant and timeless atmosphere.
The latest restyling gave the Due Torri a new façade, a lobby with contemporary features, a magnificent rooftop terrace, and a new dining room.
But above all, it brought to light an authentic treasure which has been given back to the city: Arena Casarini, frescoed by Veronese master Pino Casarini.
Depicted on the walls are lively scenes of circus life: circus wagons, acrobats, jugglers, tightrope walkers, lion tamers, clowns, dancers, and numerous animals. The golden segments which divide the scenes in the paintings proceed upwards to the slightly curved ceiling, evoking the structure of a circus tent, and creating a unique atmosphere in the hotel's most prestigious meeting room.
Arena Casarini
Going down into the basement of the Due Torri Hotel you will find the Arena Casarini, an authentic masterpiece by one of the great master fresco painters of the 20th century. Careful restoration work performed in recent years has brought a spectacular work back to life, returning it to its former glory.
Pino Casarini, an eclectic and refined artist, known for his work on the scenery of the Arena di Verona’s opera seasons, brought to life a fascinating equestrian circus here, inspired by the scenery language of the theatre and opera. The circus figures, painted in the decorative panels, seem to be animated in a continuous dialogue with the room's architecture, which amplifies their movements and dynamism. Lively colours, rhythm and lightness meld into an engaging composition, able to evoke the suggestive imagery of a travelling circus.
