Verona – Cultural & Culinary Wonders in ‘Little Rome’
Italy is renowned for its irresistible cuisine and rich, artistic cultural history, and the city of Verona is certainly no exception to this rule, boasting an array of Michelin star restaurants and a listing as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its variety of important monuments and artworks, and its status as the home of literature’s most legendary lovers, Romeo and Juliet, it is unsurprising that fair Verona is one of Italy’s most visited cities, welcoming thousands for long stays and weekend breaks each year. Particularly popular with visitors to nearby Lake Garda and Venice, Verona’s cosmopolitan, romantic atmosphere and focus on the finer things in life make it an alluring destination. Visit in spring or summer to make the most of the city’s inviting warmth and sun, which undoubtedly shows the ancient streets at their best and brings the centre to life.
Affectionately known as ‘Little Rome’ during the time of the Roman Empire, this North-Eastern Italian hub has lived up to its nickname even further since its fall, welcoming the amphitheatre Arena di Verona, the now world-famous home of Verona’s annual opera festival which bears a resemblance to Rome’s iconic Collosseum, in 30AD. Verona has thrived throughout history, with a prominent past as a prosperous Roman trade centre in the 3rd Century BC, thanks to its useful and easily accessible position on the banks of the River Adige. Such history, together with the drive for artistic development and expression during the rule of the della Scala clan in the Middle Ages is largely to thank for its richly artistic culture and its continuing prosperity today. Medieval and Romanesque architecture meet in a haven for historians, artists, musicians, and connoisseurs of fine-dining, as well as those who simply long to soak in the dramatic ambience of this ancient city.
Romance & Renaissance
Appreciate ancient architecture or an evening of classic entertainment at the magnificent open-air Arena di Verona, which once held the Roman Ludi public games, and today annually hosts the biggest names in Italian opera. For a spectacular introduction to Verona’s religious history, visit the towering and majestic 12th Century cathedral, Duomo di Verona, which merges Gothic and Romanesque architectural elements with Renaissance art, or the 5th Century Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore, rumoured to be the site of Romeo and Juliet’s marriage. Medieval castle, Museo di Castelvecchio, provides a wonderful overview of Veronese history, housing countless captivating medieval artefacts, artworks and jewellery pieces.
Nowhere is Verona’s romantic and artistic influence more evident than at Casa di Giulietta, a 14th Century house featuring a balcony many claim to be that of Shakespeare’s star-crossed literary heroine, Juliet. Leave a romantic wish in the courtyard, as lovers the world over come to do, or muse over 19th and 20th Century paintings by influential Italian artists such as Boccioni in the impressive Galleria d’Arte Moderna Achille Forti. Across the river, stroll through the enchanting Renaissance landscaped Giardino Giusti, admiring its immaculately sculpted gardens and historically influenced terraces and mazes.
Spend your leisurely Italian afternoons exploring the Piazza Bra, Verona’s main square, which is partially surrounded by the old walls of the city and was once a Roman arena itself. Today it showcases the magnificent, pillared town hall, the Gran Guardia Palace, and the imposing and noble Lapidary Museum which houses a number of Ancient Etruscan, Roman and Greek artefacts. The Piazza delle Erbe, also previously a Roman forum, features the opulent historical palace, Palazzo Maffei, as well as a number of exquisite traditional Italian cafés and restaurants. Serious shoppers will find their dreams come true amidst the wide range of Italian designer stores in the streets of Via Mazzini.
An introduction to the dishes behind Italy’s outstanding culinary reputation
Verona is the ideal location in which to experience the dishes behind Italy’s outstanding culinary reputation. Sample imaginative seafood dishes such as Black Ink Gnocchi with lobster ragu at sophisticated Pescheria I Masenini, taste exclusive dishes like Veal Marrowbone with salted onions paired with wine from a vast and varied cellar at rustic Antica Bottega del Vino, or opt for traditional Italian fare at Osteria da Ugo. Discerning travellers can experience Michelin-starred perfection with Braised beef cheek and foie gras at sultry Il Desco, tailored dining experiences in classically elegant Ristorante Oselata and authentic Italian and game dishes at Osteria La Fontanina.
Patisserie, Pasticceria Miozzi, offers irresistible biscotti, handmade chocolates and pastries, the perfect treat for those resting in the shade during a warm afternoon. Local sweet snacks, including chocolate-filled, bite-sized cookie sandwiches known as Baci di Giulietta (Juliet’s Kisses), cornmeal Zaletti cookies and Castagnaccio cake, made exclusively with chestnut flour, are available in many eateries. A savoury taste of the local cuisine can be appreciated with a dinner of Risotto al Tastasa, a risotto dish with sausage dressing, or Risotto with radicchio, a traditional Treviso salad, and the pizza and pasta dishes you’ll find here are guaranteed to be some of the best you’ve ever tasted.
Italy is world famous for its wine, and its finest wine country, including internationally known Valpolicella, is just a stone’s throw from Verona. Make the most of your proximity to such fine vineyards by embarking on a winery tour, visiting large, industrial plantations and rustic family-run wineries that uphold centuries-old wine making traditions. Many tours also include visits to locations of historical significance, chances to appreciate the breathtakingly beautiful surrounding scenery, and, of course, to taste a variety of the wines produced. There is no better way to get acquainted with one of Italy’s proudest and most revered achievements.
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