THE CITY OF ROMEO AND JULIET
During our very short Italy visit, we decided to spend a day and half in Verona, an ancient city on Adige River. This amazing city was a setting for two Shakespeare’s plays, Romeo and Juliet and The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Every summer, Verona hosts annual Arena Opera Festival in an ancient Roman Arena.
Verona became UNESCO World Heritage site, due to its architecture and historic urban city center that stretches from Castelvecchio to Castel San Pietro, from which you can get some amazing panoramic views of Verona, especially at sunset (picture above). To access the views from the Castel San Pietro, you can climb stairs all the way to the top, or take a cable car for 2 euro. Arena di Verona, an ancient Roman Amphitheater is still operational, and Verona hosts annual Arena Opera Festival, with performances of Aida, Turandot, Nabucco, La Traviata and others. A few free walking tours are available to see and learn Verona’s history, as the area is fairly small, perfect for a short visit.
We stayed in amazing Atto Primo apartment in Via Fratta, just 1 block away from Arena di Verona. This is a perfect place for a family of 4 to stay while in Verona, and it is close to all the main Verona attractions. The super market is few blocks away, and for a 20 euros/day owner Monika will provide you with a secure parking spot in near garage.
Monika from Atto Primo recommended the following restaurants, and we tried them all: Pizzeria da Salvatore (local pizzeria with fantastic vibe and food) in Piazza S. Tomaso 6; Hosteria Il Punto Rosa in Via Fratta (fantastic dinning just few yards away from the apartment), Terrazza Bar Al Ponte in Via Ponte Pietra 26 (cute little place for a drinks and snack near Ponte Pietra); and Gelateria Patagonia in Via Giuseppe Mazzini (ice cream shop in a pedestrian area near Arena).
We decided to see Puccini’s “Tosca” at Arena Opera Festival, and it was an amazing experience. If interested visit Arena Opera Festival to purchase tickets online. It is highly recommended to buy them in advance, as some performances are sold out quickly.
