Behind the Scenes in Verona, Italy
At a Glance
Verona Italy
Transportation: Delta and United airlines offer a 12- 18 hour flight from Portland to the Valerio Catullo Airport.
Best Time to Visit: April- May and September-October for cooler weather and less tourists
Geography: Located in the Veneto region of Northern Italy, on the Adige River and near Lake Garda
With my eyes closed I can hear the nearby roaring of the Adige River. I can hear tourists and locals chattering in both English and Italian. I catch a whiff of the intoxicatingly strong espresso that lingers in the air of the Piazza I’m sitting in.
If I were to open my eyes I would see endless rolling hills in the distance and colorful buildings of varying colors and sizes but of a similar architectural style.Across the Atlantic Ocean and 5,543 miles away from Portland, Oregon, is the setting of one of the most famous and tragic love stories in history. Verona, Italy, is home to Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet. Shakespeare’s timeless romance burns strongest and brightest in the beautiful city of Verona.
These two young, albeit fictional lovers, have inspired songs such as Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” and movies such as “Letters to Juliet.” As described in “Letters to Juliet,” in Casa di Giulietta is Juliet's wall. On this wall people leave notes, messages, and love letters for the secretaries of Juliet to answer. There is a Club di Giulietta that is composed of members, tourists, and volunteers who call themselves the secretaries of Juliet (as coined in the movie). It is their job to keep Juliet's romantic spirit alive by responding to each note or letter left on the wall with personalized romantic advice.
A trip to Verona, Italy has been my dream destination for years. The image I have in my mind of a perfect day there starts with a walk through the village and the Piazza with a cappuccino in hand and a cornetto (the Italian croissant) in the other. Next I'd take a vespa tour of the city in order to experience a unique and authentic form of local transportation. I would also volunteer to answer letters posted on Juliet’s wall. I would go embark on at least one tour or a cooking class that entails classic Italian dishes and history. Lastly, I'd end the day at a restaurant overlooking the nearby and picturesque Lake Garda.
I know that the most surreal part of my trip would actually be waking up in Italy and having the chance to experience another incredible day there.
Diving into the specifics of traveling to Italy, let’s start with the airport you’ll be landing in. The airport in Verona specifically is the Valerio Catullo Airport. You will be able to fly internationally from the U.S. with several major airlines; both United and Delta have flights from Portland to Verona. These flights are between 12 and 18 hours but upon landing, the airport is close to the center of Verona and at most a 15-minute drive from your destination.
When traveling to a new city, especially internationally, it is always wise to research attractions and restaurants that are locally known and enjoyed. This guide from Tripadvisor lists 10 hidden gems in Verona. The top rated amongst this list are the Piazzale castel San Pietro, Liberia Antiquaria Perini, and the Agricola Montegio winery.
For the ultimate sightseeing trip, go to the Piazzale Castel San Pietro, where you walk or take a cable car to the top of a castle-like building for a panoramic view of the Adige River and the heart of Verona.
The Liberia Antiquaria Perini is a special place for the lover of antiques and rare books. It is family owned and has published 50 catalogues of rare books, maps, and historical drawings.
At the Agricola Montengio winery you will be welcomed by the owners and taken on a uniquely charming tour and tasting. Verona has something to satisfy every traveler no matter how particular, and looking at lists such as this one is a great way to make sure you take advantage of all the possibilities.
Upon visiting Verona you will soon see the rich history tucked away in every corner. Parts of it are obvious as the city is a shrine for Shakesperea’s Romeo and Juliet, from Casa de Julietta in the heart of the city to a themed evening at the Ristorante Maffei.
Another more subtle part of Verona’s history lies within the culture and hearts of the locals. The art of making wine is one of the most time honored traditions which is represented by the multitude of family owned and run vineyards and wineries. The Serego Alighieri winery is one of the oldest family run wineries in not only Italy but the world. The estate was purchased in 1353 by Pietro Allghieri whose father was Dante the Poet. Twenty one generations of Pietro Alighieri’s descendants have lived, run, and passed down the tradition of the winery and its recipes.
While enjoying your glorious meal, take note of the architecture. Everything in Europe but especially Italy seems to be so beautiful, even a simple store. The architecture has Roma, medieval, and Renaissance influences. The city consists of stone buildings, statues, and archways. The colors are natural and seem to blend in with the earth, complementing Mother Nature. One place worthy of note is the Arena di Verona,which showcases the city's resemblance to Roman architecture as the arena is modeled similar to the Colosseum.
If you're anything like me you too will associate Italy with the food there. All the authentic and homemade pasta, pizza, meats, cheese, wine, and gelato that your heart desires can be found in Verona’s restaurants, piazzas, and food carts. One dish that is brought out on special occasions, and has a lot of history behind it, is the often overlooked boiled meat with peara sauce. The sauce consists of breadcrumbs, beef marrow, broth, grana padano cheese, and salt and pepper. It is only prepared in Verona -- no other city or region as the dish was first served in 568 AD by a court cook for the queen Rosmunda in hopes that it would cure her depression.
Verona, has caught the eye of many travelers and Laura Itzkowitz wrote a piece for "Travel + Leisure" that highlights similar attractions such as Juliet's house. Itzkowitz also mentions neighborhoods with Verona such as Veronetta which is home to the University of Verona. Itzkowits writes, "most famous as the hometown of Shakespeare's tragic couple Romeo and Juliet, Verona isn't typically one of the first cities in Italy that tourists visit, but it's definitely worth a trip."
I could dedicate pages and pages to Verona, Italy but simply put it is my number-one dream destination and there is nothing but beauty, romance, and great food waiting to be experienced.
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