Italy

Cityscape

Piazzas, porticos, palazzos

City life

Romance and ruins

Shakespeare chose to set his smoldering tragedy, Romeo & Juliet, in this green- and honey-coloured historic city, and no wonder: these are streets to fall in love in.

The Romans once rested their shields and spears in Verona, leaving behind an impressive cultural and architectural footprint: mediaeval palaces, fresco-festooned churches and of course, the ancient Arena, where some of Italy’s finest opera seduces the ears. The other senses aren’t neglected here, either: sample polenta or peperita (boiled beef with a spicy cheese sauce); gaze at the glittering Adige river and the city’s stash of statues and mosaics; touch the statue of Juliet by her balcony. And if (if) you should long for adventures further afield, Venice is only an hour and a half away by train…