I awake to my last morning in Venice. I open the shutters and lean out of the window to drink in the cool air. I’m sad to be leaving my beautiful little apartment over the canal but new adventures await. Upon arriving at the train station I hear a statement over the loudspeaker there’s to be a transport strike. Um, what?
Once I board my train I do some research and read there’s a scheduled strike (considerate of them to give you the heads up) for a 24 hour period starting at 9pm tonight. The workers are pissed off at the government’s spending to assist the Ukraine and feel the money would be better spent on raising wages instead. It will most likely affect my last train in Italy which is supposed to depart in the morning for Milan. It’s too early in the morning for problem solving but I don’t want to leave it since I’m supposed to be leaving tomorrow. When I arrive in Verona I speak to a customer service rep and he assures me my high speed train won’t be affected by the strike. I dubiously say,
Are you sure? I’m putting my trust in you Vittorio.
He nods and says it will be fine. Problem solved and I go check in to my hotel. The hotel is in dire need of a renovation but it’s close to the centre and train station, clean and in my price point. The staff let me check in despite it only being 8:30am so it’s a five star rating in my mind. I dump my bag and head off to pick up my Verona Card.
The card is the best thing I’ve seen for tourists in Italy. You pay 20 euro for a 24 hour time period and you have skip the line access to The Arena and you can book a time slot so no waiting. I’ve also booked a time slot for Juliet’s house (the Juliet made famous in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet) and a museum. The card allows you free entry to the biggest churches, most of the museums and the city bus. This is so fantastic. No booking separate tickets and no waiting in line. I love it! The woman at the information centre where I get my card is super friendly and helpful. Off I go.
My first stop is Torre dei Lamberti for a bird’s eye view of Verona. I could climb the 300 plus stairs to the bell tower but opt for the lazy way and take the elevator. The view is beautiful. At 10:30am the three massive bells beside my head are going to gong and I want to avoid my eardrums bursting so beat a hasty retreat to ground level.
The streets are dotted with colourful buildings with plants hanging from their balconies. It’s quieter here than the other towns I’ve visited. There doesn’t seem to be the same amount of tourists and the locals are friendly. I’m in love with Verona. This may be my favourite town I’ve been to so far.
I visit several churches and they are stunning. Massive cathedrals with wood carved ceilings, frescos, paintings and marble. At one of the churches the woman tells me I can’t take my tripod inside and I ask to leave it with her. She picks it up and gasps,
So heavy! You carry this all day?!
I laugh and point to my camera that has a large lens attached to it and my small bag and tell her I carry all of this all day.
“Builds muscles”, I tell her and imitate doing a bicep curl and point at her holding the tripod. She giggles and I head inside.
My tummy is rumbling so time for lunch before things shut. I start to Google for best restaurants in Florence and I’m confused as to why they’re showing so far away. It finally dawns on me. Jenn, you’re not in f*$cking Florence. You’re in Verona! Get a grip.
I have a fabulous pasta lunch at Caffè Monte Baldo that’s located on a little side street. The food is delicious and the service is impeccable. My waitress brings me a free appetizer which is a piece soft bread topped with Brie cheese, a cream cheese and a thin slice of apple. I have tortellini stuffed with a pork ragu and cream asparagus white sauce. Heavenly.
My hunger sated, I head off to the last church I’m going to visit before my reserved visit to Juliet’s house later this afternoon. Again, I’m overusing the word beautiful but it’s all I can think of as I walk the streets of Verona.
Juliet’s house is a tourist trap (the balcony was added in the 20th century), but hey I’ve gotta do it. Next stop is the Museo di Castelvecchio which is literally filled to the brim with art from the 13th-15th century. I’m not an aficionado but it’s impressive. And my last stop is The Arena which unfortunately is under major renovation before opera season starts (they hold performances here in the summer). It’s grand despite the scaffolding and I would love to come back here and go to an opera. Have I mentioned that I LOVE Verona?
It’s been long day but I’m in search of a sunset to finish it off and I find a great spot on the Ponte Pietra with a church dome in the foreground. I patiently wait for the sun to go down and it’s colours to shine.
I get back to the hotel and I’m a hot mess. Twelve hours of exploring will do that to you, but I’ve loved every minute of it. I wish I had more time here but it’s off to Milan tomorrow morning. I’ll be back.
