EVENTI

EVENTI

Who was Theoderic really? An enlightened ruler, a barbarian king, or the protagonist of dark legends?

The new exhibition at the Biblioteca Capitolare of Verona invites visitors to explore this complex and fascinating figure, suspended between history and myth, and to rediscover the deep bond that links him to the city.

King of the Ostrogoths and ruler of Italy between the 5th and 6th centuries, Theoderic the Great ruled for many years from Ravenna, yet Verona held a special place in his political and symbolic geography. Here, his presence has been etched not only in historical sources but also in the collective memory, fuelling often divergent tales and interpretations over the centuries.

Through manuscripts, chronicles and printed texts, the exhibition reconstructs the historical context in which Theoderic lived: an era of transition, marked by the encounter – and sometimes the clash – between the Roman world and ‘barbarian’ kingdoms, between different religious traditions and new political balances. Alongside the historical dimension, the legendary one emerges: a figure who, over the centuries, transforms, changing face and meaning, becoming the protagonist of narratives increasingly distant from the original reality.

Special attention is paid to the Veronese tradition, which preserves significant traces of this evolution. Local chronicles, together with other sources, allow us to trace the development of a layered memory, in which historical facts intertwine with the imagination, giving rise to a complex and fascinating narrative.

The exhibition thus offers not only an opportunity to explore a key figure in early medieval history, but also to reflect on how history itself is told, reinterpreted and transformed over time.

The exhibition will be open to the public in the Capitolare exhibition spaces from 28 May to 30 June.

A preview themed tour is scheduled for Wednesday 20 May at 5.30 pm, during which the books at the heart of the narrative can be viewed up close. Limited places! To purchase tickets, click here.

 

Under the Sign of Theoderic – History and myths of Gothic Verona

Temporary exhibition about Theoderic the Great

Who was Theoderic really? An enlightened ruler, a barbarian king, or the protagonist of dark legends?

The new exhibition at the Biblioteca Capitolare of Verona invites visitors to explore this complex and fascinating figure, suspended between history and myth, and to rediscover the deep bond that links him to the city.

King of the Ostrogoths and ruler of Italy between the 5th and 6th centuries, Theoderic the Great ruled for many years from Ravenna, yet Verona held a special place in his political and symbolic geography. Here, his presence has been etched not only in historical sources but also in the collective memory, fuelling often divergent tales and interpretations over the centuries.

Through manuscripts, chronicles and printed texts, the exhibition reconstructs the historical context in which Theoderic lived: an era of transition, marked by the encounter – and sometimes the clash – between the Roman world and ‘barbarian’ kingdoms, between different religious traditions and new political balances. Alongside the historical dimension, the legendary one emerges: a figure who, over the centuries, transforms, changing face and meaning, becoming the protagonist of narratives increasingly distant from the original reality.

Special attention is paid to the Veronese tradition, which preserves significant traces of this evolution. Local chronicles, together with other sources, allow us to trace the development of a layered memory, in which historical facts intertwine with the imagination, giving rise to a complex and fascinating narrative.

The exhibition thus offers not only an opportunity to explore a key figure in early medieval history, but also to reflect on how history itself is told, reinterpreted and transformed over time.

The exhibition will be open to the public in the Capitolare exhibition spaces from 28 May to 30 June.

A preview themed tour is scheduled for Wednesday 20 May at 5.30 pm, during which the books at the heart of the narrative can be viewed up close. Limited places! To purchase tickets, click here.

 

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