Verona: my home away from home

Every once in awhile, I stumble upon something great. Something that makes me wonder how I have lived without it for so long. Usually it is a certain kind of food, a new store or some other minor perk in life. It has never been a city. Until now. 

Verona is appropriately chosen as the setting in Shakespeare's famed Romeo and Juliet. With the Adige River winding through the Veneto region of green hills and beautifully preserved buildings, I can't imagine anything more picturesque. Often overlooked because of the nearby cities of Milan and Venice, Verona does not receive the attention it deserves. 

I can honestly state that I would have made the same mistake as most other tourists if my studies did not take place in this wonderful town. Thankfully, I didn't because Verona is easily one of my favorite cities in the entire world. 

Verona's bell tower is the perfect place to get a feel for the city as a whole. I gasped when I reached the top- mostly from excitement but also from the physical exhaustion finally catching up to me after climbing hundreds of stairs. 

Once at the top, it becomes apparent how the city is mapped out. Small squares, known as piazzas, form from the narrow cobblestone streets that run along the river. Nothing is even slightly close to the height of the bell tower- most buildings are only a few stories high. 

The ancient arena is the third largest in Italy and houses operas during the summer season. The inside of the arena resembles Rome's Coliseum with its similar architectural styles. If you walk to the top row of seats, you can see Castlevecchio, an ancient castle that lies along the Adige River. The street Via Roma will take you directly there from Piazza Bra, and there is a wonderful geletaria just before the water. 

I could write about all the sights Verona has to offer for pages and pages, but part of the fun in discovering a new city is discovering it yourself. I realized that when I put down the guidebooks and maps (which, if you know me, is incredibly hard to do!) I discovered the cutest little corner bakeries, tiny alleys and breaktaking views that seemed to pop up from nothing. Part of the fun is getting lost and discovering something new. Try it!