J'AIME JANUARY 2019

VERONA IS THE
CITY OF LOVE
if your legs aren’t quite up to the climb!
More fantastic views of Verona can be found at
Castel San Pietro, which interestingly is the exact
point that Verona was founded. Here you will find
remains of the first settlements dating back to the 7th
century BC, and if you are prepared to climb quite a
few steps, the views across to the Adige River and the
city beyond are simply stunning. A little local secret
that I learnt is that the best time to visit is at dusk -
watching the sunset over the red rooftops of Verona
with a loved one would be an experience never to
forget.
Verona is a walking city - small and compact enough
to experience all of the major sights on foot. The
historic streets are lined with the most amazing
restaurants and bars, and an outdoor way of life is
in abundance here. People-watching while sipping
on a glass of locally produced Soave or Prosecco and
sampling various cicchetti (savoury Italian snacks
very similar to Spanish tapas) is a standard pastime
in Verona - and my idea of absolute bliss! Sweet
toothed visitors will be in their element with the most
tempting dessert and macaron delicatessens and, of
course, as you would expect in Italy, the coffee is to
die for!
I found the food and drink in Verona to be very
reasonably priced, and if you wander away from the
main piazzas you will find the most amazing eateries
with fantastic prices. Another tip, and to blend in
with the locals, is to drink your coffee standing up
at the counter - you will pay as little as one euro
for a delicious cup of your choice! I discovered
a wonderful little wine bar and eatery called La
Tradision, tucked away in a quaint side street just off
the Piazza Bra. Every drink you could imagine, both
hot and cold, was served here and the Aperol Spritz
was to die for - a bargain at just two euros!
To experience a little more of Italy, I think Verona
would make the perfect base for a longer holiday
duration, because of its location and Italy’s excellent
rail networks. Within an hour and ten minutes,
myself and Freya were in Venice, a complete contrast
to Verona. The short journey was taken in comfort
and I was amazed by the standard of the trains in
Italy - they really do put ours to shame. Verona is,
of course, the gateway to Lake Garda and you can
be transported from the city to the Lake by either
car, bus or train. The quickest way is by car which
takes around 30 minutes to the nearest town at Lake
Garda or, if you don’t fancy hiring a car, there is a
regular daily bus service from Piazza Bra to various
resorts. A 90-minute train ride will take you into the
heart of Milan, giving the opportunity to sample an
alternative Italian city. Using Verona as a base is the
perfect solution for those who don’t enjoy packing
and unpacking a suitcase several times while on
holiday.
Out of all of the Italian cities I have visited, I think
it’s safe to say that Verona is my favourite so far.
Everywhere I looked was a feast for the eyes with the
most beautiful and historic architecture all across
the city. I particularly liked the fact that it didn’t feel
too touristy, and there was just the right amount of
sightseeing to enjoy at a leisurely pace over our three
nights’ stay. Verona definitely lives up to its nickname
as the city of love - and it most certainly captured my
heart.
VERONA ARENA IS A
STUNNING LANDMARK IN
THE CITY
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