A day in Verona

This was our final big trip from Trieste. We had planned to visit Padua too but it proved to be too ambitious so Verona it was. We left at about 7.30 am and Nuvi sent us to the high road - Via del Friuli. I love it but it is a bit difficult for the driver. On the autostrada there were lots of trucks - I have never seen so many in my life. Anyway we reached Verona around 11, parked in the Arena underground car park and made our way to Piazza Bra where the Roman Arena is situated. It is now Verona's open-air Opera House.

Outside the arena there were a number of "Gladiators" vying for attention for tourist photos. I rejected some who were clearly very disappointed and about to fall on their swords. However one was more persistent.

Jim was much more enthusiastic than I was!

Before looking for the Romeo and Juliet sights we went into the arena. I made a very stupid mistake of ascending the steps. At the beginning there were handrails but more than halfway up it was just deep steps which severely tested my stamina not to mind my poor foot and thighs unused to such muscle action. About 10 steps from the top I experienced a sudden paralysing fear of heights and felt myself swaying and in danger of toppling to the lions! I called for my hero the Dauntless Giacomo who, to be honest, appeared to be a bit overwhelmed himself. He came to the rescue and encouraged me down to where I refound the handrails and hand over hand and step after step I slowly descended. I was certainly a sight but no one knew me. At the bottom I breathed in relief, wiped my dripping brow and swore "Never again!". My legs were like jelly and my heart was pounding but I was safe!

The view Jim had of Piazza Bra from the top of the Arena. If I had made it, I think I would have fallen off and landed splat at some poor tourist's feet!

On our way to Piazza Erbe around which most of the main sights are situated we looked at the shops - all high end and ultra expensive. We also had a look into any churches we saw but had no time for perusing so were not willing to pay to get in.

Piazza Erbe

The Osteria where we had a disappointing Veronese lunch. Jim had pasta with donkey sauce, followed by a slice of horse. Typical Jim!

Chiesa do S. Anastasia

Stolen view of inside the church

Jim's favourite shop!













As usual there were many street artists. Some were ordinary enough but another had us quite puzzled.

How did they do that? The top is a dummy but the other two were real people.

In this case the real person had gone to lunch!









I very much wanted to visit Basilica di S. Zeno and knew it was a bit away but felt we were fit for it. Two hours walking later, I felt a bit different! On the way we saw the Castel Vecchio.

One of the city gates

Arco dei Gavi

After the castle we got lost which accounted for how long it took us to find the Basilica. I was hoping that it was going to be worth it. It was! Basilica San Zeno is considered to be one of the most beautiful and better preserved examples of Romanesque architecture in all of Northern Italy.

The Cloisters

The Stations of the Cross

The Renaissance Altar

The Stational Cross

The Bronze Doors considered to be the real masterpiece.

San Zen che ride (Laughing St. Zeno)

Important Crucixion fresco attributed to Altichero, a painter of the Giotto school

The Crypt

There was no way of avoiding a long walk back so off we went despite achiung feet and thighs.

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And finally Juliet's balcony and her statue whose right breast shines from the numbers of tourists wishing for a new relationship. I didn't see Jim rubbing it!

 And that was all I was fir for. There was a garden I had planned to see but the legs were on strike!