Today’s Schedule
Highlight - Verona - Arena di Verona and evening performance – Don Giovanni opera.
Breakfast: At the hotel
Morning: Discover the sites and monuments related to the legend of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet during this morning's guided walking tour of Verona. See the famous balcony in Juliet's house and Juliet's tomb, alleged scene of their tragic demise . Later visit the city's renowned and remarkably well preserved Roman Arena & Theater and the monumental 16th Century city walls and gates.
Lunch: Enjoy typical Italian Pizza at a local Pizzeria in Verona
Afternoon: Take advantage of some free time before transferring back to hotel
Dinner: At hotel.
Thomas, our guide, is quite a good artist. I will supplement the usual agenda details with his sharing of comic approach.
My Observations
The breakfast bar is outstanding. As you might see below on Q3 – Eat – I had a Happy breakfast.
When we get on the bus, find we added in special city guide who will shows us a few of the special offerings of Verona. Our entire group – 40 people, adults and young folks – board a luxury bus for a 20 minute ride to Verona. We start our walk tour along the Adige river that flows from the melting snows of the Dolomite mountains to the North.
We continue to walk to the Ponte della Vittoria bridge that crosses the Adige river.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187871-d3822461-Reviews-Ponte_della_Vittoria-Verona_Province_of_Verona_Veneto.html
Although some comments may not see the artistic value of the bridge, note the number of comments written in Russian. Yes, we heard and saw many visitors from Russia.
Next stop along the walk Porta Bosari. It was originally a gateway into a part of the city and was built in first century C.E. From there, many of other stops of interest.
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Verona-140824/Things_To_Do-Verona-Porta_Borsari-BR-1.html
Piazza Della Erbe
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazza_delle_Erbe
Casa di Giulietta
http://www.viator.com/Verona-attractions/Juliets-House-Casa-di-Giulietta/d945-a4037
http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20120416-shakespeares-italy
Verona Arena
http://www.italyguides.it/us/italy/veneto/verona/arena/verona-arena.htm
Leon D’Oro Pizzeria
http://www.pizzerialeondoro.com/en/index.html
Free time after lunch to wander around. I look for a gelato place nearby and return to the pizza near the arena to people watch. After the group returns to hotel, have dinner, then back to town to see an opera in the arena.
There is just too much to write about. So... to simplify things, since I did my usual in-depth research, am giving you a 3-link highlight of the experience. My thoughts of the event? Bravo!
http://www.arena.it/en
Check out link to PLOT: http://www.arena.it/arena/en/shows/don-giovanni.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9UYEoE8oQs
Photo 1 - See. Many wonderful sites along the Verona Adige river.
Photo 2 - Do. Attend the opera in the Arena – wonderful.
Photo 3 - Eat. A Happy Birthday.
Click here for today's online photo album.
