Verona (12th May 2010)

Verona was built along the banks of the “Adige” river sometime in the 6th century BC. It was occupied by the Euganei and the Veneti who ultimately gave their name to the region, the Veneto. In the 3rd century BC the Romans conquered the Veneto region and it took all the way up to 89 BC for the people of the region to be given full Roman citizenship.

My expectations:
1) Arena
2) Find traces of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
Actually I do find it an irony to have wedding plans surrounded by this ill-fated couple.. so I pray that these couples will end happily ever after. And I wonder if I get to see Romeo's first love too...

***** Butterflygal's Trip Update *****

Bought the morning train ticket to Verona the night before so that we will not fumble in the morning. It was the first time we bought our tickets from the self-ticketing machine (and we thought we met a good smaritan till he asked for a token of appreciation. How 'helpful'.. really is minus points for me again towards Italian guys.)

Check Bflygal Trails: How to buy train tickets in Italy.

Then bought the Verona Card for one day. As Verona is pretty small, I felt one can finish visiting the popular attractions in a day.
Check Bflygal Trails: Purchase Verona Card

And off to tour around Verona for a day...

Verona: Art, Love and Music
If You love Shakespeare
don't leave Verona
without dropping a flower
on Juliet's grave

There is no world
without Verona's walls

Source: Club di Guilietta (Forgive me but I cannot decipher the author's name)
Location: Near the Arena

The actual walking plan is more haphazard though. If you happen to stay in the same hotel as me - Hotel Piccolo, the plan is to first visit Castelvecchio which is 10-15 minutes walk. The receptionist will provide you a map of Verona.

This is a rough plan of how I toured Verona in a day.
1) Castelvecchio
2) Piazza delle Erbe / Lamberti tower
3) Arche Scaligere
4) Casa di Giulietta
5) Verona Duomo
6) Piazza Bra / Verona Arena
7) Tomba di Giulietta

Oh and I like this hotel very much. The breakfast it provided reminded me of those Europe hostel days with a wide spread of bread, ham, cheese, very unlike the typical Italian Colazione.

So first stop Castelvecchio or Old Castle.
Check Bflygal Trails: Visit Castelvecchio

Then had lunch before heading towards Piazza delle Erbe (Market Square). From the Castelvecchio, once you got your bearings, it is a fairly straight path all the way till you reach Piazza delle Erbe.

The central area is occupied with little umbrella stalls selling tourist souvenirs e.g.

masks, keychains, magnets....

The main attraction though is the Lamberti tower which I have set my mind to climb. Of course you can take the elevator too.

Top of the world... or more appropriately Top of Verona feeling!!

Was curious how it will look like at night and went back. Surprised to see the top in blue light this time. Unfortunately it is closed so unable to climb the tower again and see the Top of Verona at night.

Check Bflygal Trails; Visit Piazza delle Erbe

After you climb the Lamberti tower, around the same area, you can also find Dante Alighieri statue. Dante was born in Florence (which I will visit later) and in my memory is best known as the one who constructed the Italian language. Thus he is also fondly remembered as the "Father of the Italian language".

In 1314 Dante, a famous Italian writer and a public office holder arrives in Verona. Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) was an envoy and a prior at the magistrate in Florence. He lived in Verona until 1319.

You can read more about Dante Alighieri in Wiki.

Further round the corner you can find Arche Scaligere (Romeo's House). The only telling sign is the sign

O, Where is Romeo?
Tut, I have lost myself, I am not here;
This is not Romeo, He's some other where.
(Act 1, Scene 1)

Check Bflygal Trails: Visit Romeo and Juliet in Verona

Walking down Romeo's house, around the next corner, a few steps more and you can find Casa di Giulietta or Juliet's house. You might not recognise this romantic twelth century house though because at the entrance, the walls are plastered with little pieces of paper. I personally was wondering what is so special about this building and had to take a double look to confirm it is Casa di Giulietta.

These little pieces of paper contained names and messages written by lovers all over the world and is supposedly a symbol of good fortune and everlasting love for one another.

All these reminds me an article in Marie Claire on the movie Letters to Juliet. Set in Siena and Verona, this movie was adapted by the book Letters to Juliet by sisters Lise and Ceil Friedman in 2006. The book probably made gave The Juliet Club and its penpals more attention which is good in some sense. Hope I will be able to watch the movie soon. Sadly I did not drop by Siena...
CLUB DI GIULIETTA - THE JULIET CLUB
via Galilei 3 - 37100 Verona
Tel: (+39) 045 533115
Email: info [at] julietclub.com

I wish to be in the Juliet Club reading the letters, translating the letters and replying the letters... can I?

Go through the passage way into the court yard.

Anyway going through the passage way into the court yard and you will see lots of tourists..

as well as a bronze statue of Juliet by sculptor Nereo Costantini standing in the courtyard.

In my memories, Romeo is just a tragic guy who forgot his first love after meeting Juliet, and who is rash and thus easily provoked to make lousy decisions causing grief to everybody around him.. Juliet on the other hand is the calm and resourceful character who gives much thoughts before staging her fake death. She is like the heroine in the love story, someone who is not afraid to love and to die for love.

To the right is the famous balcony.Visit the house and you can have a feel of being Juliet on the balcony too.

Credits: Pwnstar

You can also preview how Juliet's bedroom looks like.

After finish touring this 5-floors building, (I did not expect it to be so big from the outside), drop by the souvenir shop and see if there is anything interesting to bring back home as souvenirs.

Check Bflygal Trails: Visit Romeo and Juliet in Verona

Next stop is Piazza Bra or Verona Arena
Check Bflygal Trails: Visit Piazza Bra / Verona Arena

It is where the bronze book is located as mentioned at the top of the post.

You may also find some gladiators in Arena who is hoping you will take photos with them and earn some quick bucks from you. So please discuss your prices with them before taking photos with them else woe betide you should you be ripped off (especially true in Rome's Coloseum).

Of course I cannot miss out visiting the Verona Duomo. This one charge admission fees but if you possess the Verona Card, you can enter for free. It is also special because below the ornate romanesque church, is an earlier "pagan" temple. Worth a visit!

Check Bflygal Trails: Visit Verona Duomo

Last stop is Juliet's tomb. Had to rush all the way there for fear it will close soon. And this is one place I cannot missed because the bronze book has dictated that one must drop a flower on Juliet's grave before leaving Verona. (Did I really drop a flower though is for me to know and for you to find out.. when you visit Juliet's tomb too "p )

Check Bflygal Trails: Visit Romeo and Juliet in Verona

Locks can be found in most bridges in Italy. This is an interesting sight and the story behind it was highlighted to me later in Florence by a walking tour guide.

Check Bflygal Trails: Copy Italian Love Expression

Last topic as usual is on food...