Verona

Best known for its Shakespeare ties, Verona appeals to fans of "Romeo and Juliet" with themed tours of the sights that allegedly inspired the play. But there is more to this city than its literary link. Verona, located about 15 miles east of Lake Garda, is also home to several impressive attractions and historic buildings (the whole city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, after all). Travelers won't want to miss the Arena di Verona, a first-century Roman amphitheater that is still in use, and Giardino Giusti, a beautifully sculpted Renaissance garden.

History - Art and Culture

The historic city of Verona was founded in the 1st century B.C. It particularly flourished under the rule of the Scaliger family in the 13th and 14th centuries and as part of the Republic of Venice from the 15th to 18th centuries. Already existing as a small centre populated by the Veneti and the Cenomani Gauls, in the 1st century BC Verona became a Roman municipium and in the following centuries saw the domination of the Ostrogoths, the Lombards and Charlemagne. The impressive monuments of Roman Verona were enhanced by the della Scala family and the city became an important seat of political and administrative power in the province until the oath of allegiance to Venice. The city remained part of the Venetian Republic for four centuries, until its occupation by Napoleon and its cession to the Austrians in 1797. Verona is a UNESCO site Because of its urban structure and its architecture made up of Roman monuments that marry the Renaissance art Verona has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000 as a splendid example of an city of art.

Food

In Veneto, good wine is an important reality and Verona is no exception. Valpolicella arrives on Veronese tables directly from the hilly area above the city, as does Amarone, a powerful red wine to pair with autumn and winter foods such as stews, stews and roasts. Amarone is also the protagonist of a first course that you can find in every restaurant or trattoria in the city: risotto all'amarone, prepared strictly with Vialone Nano rice, a particular variant of rice cultivated in the Veronese lowlands. While sipping a glass of wine, you should try the Venetian soppressa, a tasty salami enriched with garlic that cannot be missed at aperitifs in the streets of the city. And at Christmas, don't miss out on a delicious Pandoro, born right here. You cannot leave without enjoying the olio del Garda, an extra virgin olive oil produced in the Lake Garda region and also widely used in Verona.

Something to do - Sport and Fun

Verona is a magical city in northern Italy where art, history and culture combine to give you wonderful memories. Home of Romeo and Juliet, it is known all over the world as a city to fall in love with. Verona stands on a strip of land drawn by the loops of the Adige River, in the heart of the Po Valley and just a few kilometres from Lake Garda. The urban layout of the city is linked to the Scaligeri family, who in two centuries transformed Verona into a powerful Signoria in all of Italy.

Something to see