Verona

"Two households, both alike in dignity (In fair Verona, where we lay our scene), from ancient grudge break to new mutiny, where civil blood makes civil hands unclean" is the opening line of Romeo and Juliet, the famous work by William Shakespeare set in Verona. And what better way to start our tour in one of the most romantic cities in the world? Verona, located on the banks of the river Adige, in the northeastern region of Veneto, is after Rome, the second Italian city for the presence of well-preserved Roman remains. And in fact, to take a step back in time, just get lost in the arches of the Arena, Roman amphitheater temple of international opera, walk between the steps of the Roman Theatre, also used today for shows and performances, or walk on the Stone Bridge, built by the Romans around the first century BC.

What makes this city, which was Roman, Gothic, Byzantine, Lombard and then Scaligera, Visconti and finally Venetian, unique is the harmonious combination of all these dominations. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the historic center of Verona boasts countless monuments and attractions not to be missed, in addition to those already mentioned, such as Juliet's house, one of the most visited sites in Italy, and the medieval Piazza delle Erbe, the "living room" of the city, where a characteristic market is held daily, and then Castelvecchio, an imposing military fortification commissioned by the Scaligeris, now houses the Civic Museum, which houses significant works of Italian art. And if all these wonders are not enough, you should know that Verona is surrounded by territories of great cultural and enogastronomic interest, such as Valpolicella, an area of hills covered by vineyards, where the famous Amarone wine is produced, and Lessinia, with its rich environmental and naturalistic heritage, famous especially for its cheese production.