We returned from our vacation in Verona just before the big tourist influx to Lake Garda got underway. In Verona it was really hot that year, 30 degrees in June, but fortunately, it cools off nicely in the evenings giving the opportunity to relax, enjoy a cool drink and do some people-watching.
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It is a city of legends, where fairy tales come true. The city of a thousand piazzas, every one showing off its own charm. Verona is a city where you can spend hours strolling along the banks of the Adige River, dotted with castles, churches and cypresses, rolling hills against a backdrop of snow-capped peaks of the Dolomites.
People-watching in the piazza in Verona
Piazza delle Erbe is a typical tourist spot during the day, but come evening it is hijacked by the Veronese, many a local is enjoying his favorite aperitivo: Spritz Aperol on the terrace of Osteria Veronese, for example. Later in the evening the nightlife moves around the corner at Sottoriva, a long alley under arcade that runs parallel to the river, a district full of bars, lounges, restaurants and pizzerias that stay open until the early hours.
It's crowded with sidewalk café's in the heart of the city at the massive Piazza Bra, dozens of grand cafés invite you to take a seat and enjoy a cappuccino and a view of the 2,000-year-old Roman Arena. Everyone has his own taste, but I clearly prefer the Piazza delle Erbe, the grandiose Renaissance palaces adorned with pastel-colored frescoes are a sight to behold.
On a tourism pilgrimage
A pilgrimage in Verona begins, of course, at the house to Giulia in the Via Capello, a romantic mansion that may or may not be the real house, but that doesn't really matter. Tourists love to take their picture or scribble some amorous graffiti on the wall. Of course, don't miss a visit to the breathtaking Roman Arena, where Europe's largest opera performances take place every summer and many a star of contemporary pop music graces the Arena's open-air stage during the season.The atmosphere of an opera performance cannot be matched.
Verona offers visitors a serious dose of culture at any time of year, visiting the magnificent collection of paintings by Titian, Tintoretto, Canaletto and Tiepolo at the Museo Castelvecchio, an imposing medieval fortress. For contemporary culture, Verona also offers a host of options, one of which is the not-to-be-missed Byblos Art Gallery on Corso Cavour.
To end the day on a romantic note, visit the Giardini Giusti, one of the most beautiful Italian Renaissance gardens.
Santa Lucia Christmas Market
Santa Lucia has been celebrated in traditional fashion in Verona for more than 100 years with a 3-day Christmas market on the second weekend of December in the enchanting Piazza Bra. If you are in Verona in December you and especially kids will enjoy the enchanting atmosphere.
Maison Vicentini
One of my friends wrote to me about Vicentini "lf your trip takes you to Lago di Garda and Verona next summer don't miss Maison Vicentini. This fantastic studio in Via Pietro Cossali 14 (just south of the historic center and the train station) is housed in a former factory from the 1920s. In a space of 500 square meters, you'll find unique pieces of restored and original furniture, inspired by the history of the world of international design. A hallucinatory experience!"
Maison Vicentini - Via Pietro Cossali, 14, 37136 Verona VR - website: https://www.maisonvicentini.it/Archivio Carlo Scarpa / Museo di Castelvecchio
"If you want to be happy for an hour, get drunk. If you wish to be happy for three days, get married. If you wish to be happy for a week, slaughter a pig and have a party. If you wish to be happy all your life, make a garden."- Carlo Scarpa
Between 1958 and 1974, the Castelvecchio Museum was masterfully restored and furnished by Carlo Scarpa, one of the most important architects and designers of the 20th century. The museum is open to the public and it is possible to visit the Carlo Scarpa Archive inside. This archive contains historical photographic material and technical research. The museum tour includes about thirty rooms with works of art and historical objects, as well as a collection of all documentation materials related to the restoration and furnishing of the Castelvecchio Museum between 1958 and 1974.
Castelvecchio Museum, Corso Castelvecchio 2, Verona.Recommended places to eat and stay in Verona
Recommended restaurants in Verona:
Trattoria Il Desco - Via Dietro S. Sebastiano, 5/7, 37121 Verona VR - https://ristoranteildesco.it/menu/ - Why: Try the Amarone risotto! Upscale restaurant centrally located and awarded a Michelin star.Locanda del Castelvecchio - Corso Castelvecchio, 21, 37121 Verona VR - http://www.ristorantecastelvecchio.com/ - Why: offers typical local dishes and is located near the museum.
Al Capitan della Cittadella - Piazza Cittadella, 7/a, 37122 Verona VR - http://www.alcapitan.it/ - Why: Has a modern interior and is an excellent seafood restaurant.
Recommended hotels in or near Verona:
