The City of Verona

    

Verona, the largest city in the Veneto with a population of a quarter of a million people, is world famous for the ill-fated love affair of Romeo and Juliet. The medieval core of the city boasts numerous attractions, immortalized by the pen of William Shakespeare: thousands of tourists come to visit Juliet’s balcony from all over the world, and every summer the city hosts a Shakespearean Festival in its Roman Theatre.

In 2000 Verona has been awarded the status of “World Heritage Site” by UNESCO, as “an outstanding example of a town that has developed progressively and uninterruptedly over two thousand years”: starting with the Romans conquering Verona, and ending with its contemporary history, the different ages of the city are visible through all the various monuments scattered around its historical centre and also beneath the level of the street, where you can see very well preserved archaeological remains of Roman villas and mosaics.

              

Verona can be considered a work of art in itself, with many monuments that have resisted almost intact through the centuries: from the Arena, the imposing amphitheatre that, with its thousands of seats, testifies to the grandeur of the Roman Empire, and in the summer becomes the largest open air theatre in the world, when it hosts the popular Opera Festival; to the 12th century Duomo, located in the Medieval part of the city. The San Zeno Basilica is a masterpiece of Romanesque art, with a splendid triptych by Mantegna.

You can also admire the imposing building of Castelvecchio, the old castle built in the 14th century; the small towers in the hills that guarded the city during the second half of the 18th century; the magnificent Renaissance Palaces, with their frescoed facades alongside the ancient Roman Via Postumia; not to mention San Pietro Castle, built under Austrian influences, from where it is possible to admire the most beautiful panorama of the city …

   

Visiting Verona is also an unforgettable culinary experience, with its delightful restaurants and wine bars hidden away in its charming back-streets and beautiful Piazzas. Verona also provides ample opportunities to shop at its numerous boutiques and fashionable stores.

The hills that rise directly behind the city and their numerous olive trees give a Mediterranean feel to the area. These hills are home to the Valpolicella wine region, and the famous “Amarone” wine.

Verona is located in an excellent position, only one hour away from Venice.