Yes, I've seen the 'Letters to Juliet' movie before visiting the area, but I have to admit that the Verona charm is very much there. This must be one of the most picturesque Italian towns I have ever been to.
But in order to experience it's full beauty it's best to rent a car or get a taxi and get up to Verona hills. You can easily take a walk up the hills yourself, however it's best to do this when the weather is cooler. The views from the hills are spectacular and you are immediately transported into a zen like state. Enjoy a glass of local wine in one of the splendid restaurants, whilst marvelling at Verona's old town, the Adige river and bridges, poplar trees and vineyards.
If shopping is on your mind, Via Manzini, which until the 19th century was lined up with warehouses and barracks, is the main shopping street in Verona. Here, on this lively designer street, dotted with cream, yellow, rusty and pink buildings with green shutters and flowers, you will find lots of Italian brands, selling everything from clothes, shoes, accessories to books and more..
If you are more of a window shopper, you will have plenty of opportunities to mingle in with the crowd. Most of summer and especially July and August are very busy and typical temperatures are well above 30 degrees.
As we were travelling with children, and the heat of the day became to much to bear, we found cooling off with ice creams and splashing out with water our favourite thing to do. We have filled our drinking bottles as did many other people. The water from this well was unusually tasty, clean and refreshing.
Wondering the busy Verona streets in the full hot summer sun may not be ideal for children, instead visit the tourist office and choose from the many local attractions, such as the stunning Giardino Gusti, about which, I wrote in my previous post.
The beautiful Arena (Verona's answer to Rome's Colosseum) completed in AD 30, and is the world's third largest Roman amphitheatre, still used today for opera shows in summer.
Wonder along the Adige river, admire Ponte Pietra the Roman arch bridge and see how the weather can change in an instant, from cloudy to sunny, revealing Verona's full charm.
We will definitely be back for more, as there is so much to discover in this area - vineyards, palaces, museums and the rich history.
Practical info:
- The VeronaCard available at newstands, hotels and travel agents, gives you free access to the Arena and other sights, discounted admissions to museums and free travel on city buses.
- Opera Festival performances from mid Jun to early September, start at 9pm.
- The summer months are very hot, much hotter then expected, bear in mind when travelling with children.
- Allow a minimum of 3 days to fully immerse into the beauty of this town and surrounding area.
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