Cicerone Ciara to Verona

Cicerone Ciara here, your personal travel guide to the world! I’m here to give you a look into life around the globe.

“In fair Verona, where we lay our scene…” A tour of the City of Love is just what we need. Best known as the setting in Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” Verona, Italy sits along the Adige River in Northern Italy. The UNESCO declared World Heritage Site is somewhere you should visit at least once in your life, if not stay there for a whole semester studying abroad.

Weather

TripAdvisor gives us a pretty good look at what the weather is like in Verona. Similar to central Europe, Verona boasts hot summers and cold winters. Winters usually stay between 30*F and 50*F with foggy mornings and evenings—sounds like sweater weather to me. Summers usually sit with low temperatures of 50*F and highs of 90°F. Our TripAdvisor traveller tells us that “August is famous for thunderstorms,” so if you find yourself in Verona in August, I hope you brought your umbrella or raincoat to throw over your t-shirt. That being said, I always bring some layering clothes. Sun, rain—you never know what the day may bring.

Oh the Places You’ll Go

The Arena di Verona

Piazza Bra and Arena di Verona sit side by side offering a view for tourists. According to TripAdvisor, the Arena di Verona is one of “the best conserved Roman amphitheaters.” So well conserved in fact, I caught an opera show last week!
Basilica di Sant Anastasia: This is the largest gothic cathedral in Verona. I don’t know about you, but I love checking out all of the architecture of a city. And let me tell you, the beautiful architecture inside Basilica di Sant Anastasia is well-worth a visit.
Museo di Castelvecchio: Looking to feel cultured? This museum features medieval and modern works of art. I really find it fascinating to look through the different piece of art and see how styles have changed (or sometimes not) throughout the years.
Giardino Giusti offer a relaxing atmosphere and beautiful views of the city. When I’m looking for a nice escape from the hustle-bustle of the city, these gardens are my go to.
Casa di Romeo: You can’t visit Verona without a visit to the homes of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Totally a tourist thing to do, but I think it’s still fun to say that you got to see Juliet’s balcony and her statue (which has its’s own superstitions attached to it).

Now that we’ve gotten some of this touristy stuff out of the way, I think its snack time…

Feeling Hungry?

You know I am! I’ve done a little bit of exploring with the help of The Guardian, and I know the best places to go (especially on a student budget)!

The Hosteria la Vecchia Fontanina located in piazzetta Chiavica gives you a taste of “traditional Veronese cuisine.” Pasta costs around 7 Euro a plate and from risotto all’Amarone to gnocchi made with ricotta cheese topped with a chive sauce, my mouth is already watering.
If you’re in the mood for something a bit more extravagant, let’s take a look at Enocibus. Nestled behind the Piazza Bra you can find the restaurant run by a lovely and kind husband and wife duo. Prices are a bit higher here, but well worth the variety of options you can find on their menu that is ever-changing.
Osteria Carroarmato which means “The Tank” is “one of the oldest osterie in town.” This is the perfect place to meet locals as you sit and eat at one of the many long communal tables, all inside this historic venue.

Speaking of locals… where are they?

Where are the Locals?

The best part about studying abroad is always the wonderful people you meet. Here are the best places to meet people.

Osteria Magna e Tasi is another restaurant recommended by The Guardian and apparently is quite popular among the locals. Usually full of students, shoppers and businessmen stopping for lunch during the week, the weekend turns into a popular hangout.
Piazza Erbe

Piazza delle Erbe: The Ramble did an “Ask a Local” interview with Anna Colage who has lived in Verona for over 20 years. She raved about the Piazza delle Erbe, recommending visiting around 6pm to meet locals. She says it was voted one of the most beautiful squares in the world. It offers a street market, coffee shops and restaurants, all nestled into beautiful architecture. 10/10 would recommend.

What’s Happening?

Want to know what’s going on in the city while you’re there? World Travel Guide can help us out and with some good things to check out!

Verona Opera Festival runs for two months through June and July and consists of around 50 performances. In the city famous for its opera, you have to go see at least one show.
Olivia Bonneville in Verona during “Verona in Love”

Verona in Love happens every year around Valentine’s Day. The city of love ups the romance with street decorations and concerts, in true Shakespearean love spirit.

Can’t Stop [Traveling], Won’t Stop [Traveling]

There are plenty of things just outside of the town that are well-worth a visit while you’re in the area.

Our friend Anna suggested taking a trip to Lake Garda in her The Ramble interview and I must say I agree. Lake Garda is the largest alpine lake in Italy. The villages along the lake, like Bardolino, Torri del Benaco and Borghetto, are worth a visit. On the north side you can find hills and mountains offering vineyards, hiking and skiing. You can hike up to Santa Barbara Church or Arco Castle for some great views too.
Dolomite Mountains: These dramatic mountains are quite the sight to see. With rock-climbing, skiing, hiking and biking, the opportunities (and views) are endless.

It looks like it’s time to wrap up our stay in Verona. Thanks for joining me! If you’d like to learn more about Verona and how you can spend a semester there, check out our website! If you’d like to go on another trip with me, check out our last adventure in Valencia, Spain.

Until next time—

Cicerone Ciara

P.S. Did I miss anything? Let me know if you have any suggestions or additions in the comments below or email us at studyabroad@usac.unr.edu.

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