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Ingrida Kurlinkute

Editor (Travel)

 

The city of Verona, situated in northern Italy, has been listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Not just a part of Verona but the entire city. You will understand why as soon as you get there – sculptures from antiquity, the Renaissance epoch which flourished in Verona and has left its marks in the architecture and the city’s structure itself dates back to the 1st Century B.C. when Verona was founded. It should not be a surprise that Shakespeare chose Verona for his romantic play Romeo and Juliet. Please charge your camera batteries before you arrive because Verona is like a photo book where every corner holds back a rich history yet nicely blends together with the hectic modern lifestyle of Italians. Verona is not far from the famous city of Venice, yet Verona is much more laid-back and not jam-packed with tourists, what makes it enjoyable to visit.

Just like the Coliseum in Rome or the Leaning Tower in Pisa, Verona is famed by the Verona Arena. It is a Roman VeronaArenaamphitheater which still operates and where you can see a splendid opera performance or a concert. Furthermore, every summer, there is a traditional Arena di Verona festival. The spectacles usually start in the evening and the onlookers bring little candles which are lit when it becomes dark and the spectacles commence. The tradition of the festival began back in 1913 with staging of Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida to commemorate the birth of Verdi 100 years before in 1813. After that, the number of performances has increased and the festival has been getting more and more popular with each year. Finish your visit to the Arena by tasting some luscious gelato in Piazza Bar. Italy is renowned for its gelato and after indulging in one, you will soon realize why. During your visit you should also try a local specialty of Verona, Pastisada de caval, a dish of stewed horse meat.

A second symbol of Verona can be considered Juliet’s House, which is alleged to be the location of the Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet’s romantic balcony scene. It is a very popular place with a tiny amount space so be prepared to see crowds of tourists and stand in a queue for your chance to take a photo. To be honest, the house is not related to the characters of Romeo and Juliet – the house did not have any balcony before but in 1936 it was built in order to appeal to trippers. It is possible to see the house from inside, there are some Renaissance frescos and other historical things. You can leave your love message to Juliet on any type of material like the floor or a chair. Outside in the courtyard there is a sculpture of Juliet with her breasts shining bright – it is believed that the ones who touch the bosom of Juliet will find true love.

If you have energy, climb to the Lamberti Tower in the center of Verona, Piazza delle Erbe and enjoy wonderful views of Verona from above. The purpose of building the tower was to watch over Verona and protect it from the possible disasters. Two bells were put in: one to warn the citizens of upcoming cataclysms and the second one to arrange an assembly with the city council. Even if you are tired, do not miss the chance to snap your best photos of Verona – there is a lift.

Thinking of souvenirs? In Via Mazzini, Verona’s golden mile of shopping, all the world-famous Italian brands are placed there and you can get that unique piece of clothing you have always dreamed of. Even if you cannot afford to buy such items, you can take a stroll and window shop. Alternatively, you should try out shopping in those little narrow streets like Corso Santa Anastasia. In fact there are dozens of places to shop and places to see as well, just find your way around the city and do not be afraid of getting lost – maybe on the corner will stand a charming man/woman whom Juliet has sent to you after reading your pathetic note left in her house.

 

 

Image Courtesy: Andreas Tille, Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported, 2.5 Generic, 2.0 Generic and 1.0 Generic license¦ Wiki Commons; Shaun Dunphy (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sjdunphy/7803142938/)

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Ingrida Kurlinkute

Ingrida is currently a student at the School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies at Cardiff University, United Kingdom. She is very curious about the world around her and is keen on sharing her opinion and knowledge with others. One of the biggest passions of Ingrida is travelling and therefore she heads the Travel Section on the website.