Apart from Venice solves no other northern Italian city so pleasant associations like Verona (255 000 pop). Arche Scaligere Squiggled behind wrought iron are the tower tombs of the Prince family della Scala. Scala means stairs, which is also the emblem. Piazzetta delle Arche Arena 22 000 people fit into the amphitheater from the 1st century AD, a gigantic oval made of limestone 140 m long and 100 m wide. In 1913 the Veronese had the brilliant idea thanks to the good acoustics to make the largest and most spectacular opera theater in the world - with space for 18 000 visitors. Tue-Sun 8.30am-6.30pm, Mon 1.30pm-6.30pm, July/Aug. to 4pm. Piazza Bra

Casa e Tomba di Giulietta In this medieval house (13th century) in the Via Cappello 21-23 was Julia living and the little stone balcony (reconstruction) where she whispered with Romeo. She also has a grave - no matter whether she has ever been - in the south of the city (Via del Pontic 35).

Duomo Under the elegant porch canopy from 1138you can reach the Cathedral. Openingtimes of the churches in Verona: March to Oct Tue-Sat 10am to 5.30pm (Nov.-Feb. 10am-4pm), Sun 1.30pm to 5.30pm. Piazza del Duomo

Piazza delle Erbe Already at the time of the romans was the marketplace shopping center, the forum. Diverse palace facades are surrounding the rectangular Piazza.

Piazza dei Signori The square with a monument of Dante (19th century) in the middle and under awnings, the elegant restaurant Cafe Dante frame the historic facades of stately official and government buildings.

San Lorenzo A particularly evocative romanesque church. Corso Cavour

San Zeno Maggiore This large Romanesque basilica a bit away from the center originated in the 12th century in honor of San Zeno the protector of the city (in the 4th century bishop of Verona). It is regarded as one of the most beautiful churches in northern Italy. Piazza San Zeno

Teatro Romano On the left side of the Etsch river loop is the roman theater (early 1st century AD), today framework for summer theater and jazz concerts. The Museo Archeologico al Teatro Romano (1.30pm-7.30pm Mon, Wed-Sun 8.30am-7.30pm) has a rich collection of artefacts from roman times in Verona to see.

shopping Veronas downtown is a unique showcase. Clothes, shoes, jewelry dominate in the Via Mazzini. Antiques in Corso Anastasia. The finest gourmet shops are located at the Piazza delle Erbe.

food                                                                                                                                                                         La Bottega del Vino Verona's finest wine with a good kitchen, now quite touristy. Tue closed. Via Scudo di Francia 3                   Il Desco Finest cooking ingredients from classic, elegant warm atmosphere, Veronas gourmet temple in the center. Sun closed. Via Dietro                                                                                                                                                                       San Sebastiano 7 Mondo d'Oro Wine cellar with selected good sausage and cheese in a street parallel to Via Mazzini. Mon closed. Via Mondo d'Oro 4                                                                                                                                                     Alla Stueta A nice trattoria at the roman theater with a tasty, typically Veronese kitchen, low prices for the bid. Mon closed. Via del Redentore 4 b                                                                                                                                                            La Taverna di Via Stella Local kitchen under careful medieval vaults in a lane near the Casa di Giulietta. Mon closed Via Stella 5 c    Osteria al Duomo (via Duomo 7A) is the place to blend in with the Verona crowd.                                                                    The menu at tiny Ostaria La Stueta (via Redentore 4B) is limited and traditional, but unfailingly delicious.                                     Off via Mazzini, Ristorante Greppia (vicolo Samaritana 3) boasts some of the best food in Verona.                                              Gelateria Pampanin (via Garibaldi 24, closed Tue, 2wks Aug) has Verona’s best

gelato

where to stay                                                                                                                                                     Gabbia d'Oro Surely the most charming hotel of Verona, small, but beautiful, tastefully furnished with antiques. 27 rooms. Corso Porta Borsari 4 a                                                                                                                                                    Giulietta e Romeo Cultivated central hotel nearby the Arena. 30 rooms. Vicolo 3 Marchetti 3                                           Mazzanti Very simple, but unique situated is this house between Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza dei Signori. 23 rooms. Via Mazzanti 6 Ostello Villa Francescatti Youth hostel in a beautiful renaissance villa on the hills of San Pietro, open all year-round. 100 beds. Salita Fontana del Ferro 15

Train The train journey takes you through Austria via Innsbruck and the Brenner, from Vienna via Graz and Tarvisio, or via Switzerland (Basel and Zurich-Milan Gotthardtunel).

Plane You can go to Verona with Ryanair. From the airport you have busconnections. Lake Garda (Lago di Garda) Verona and the Garda are symbiotically together, so the 23 km on the SS 11 to Peschiera on the weekend can take hours in traffic jams. This, with its 370 km ² largest Italian lake in the north between the Trentino Alps starts spreading to the south in the flatter landscape: From the mountains it is pretected from northern cold and also open to the warmth of the South. It has a uniquely mild climate, so its shores lemons and olives and even thrive here, the Romans built their holiday villas here.