Verona

Must See

• Roman Arena, Piazza Bra Magnificent and 2,000 years old, it seated 30,000 people during gladiatorial times.
• Castelvecchio Across the river, it houses one of the region’s finest art galleries.
• Casa di Giulietta Juliet’s famous balcony, the alleged setting for the scenes of Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers.
• Piazza delle Erbe The heart of medieval Verona, today the setting for a lively daily market, surrounded by beautiful frescoed buildings and loggias.

Must Do

• Walk through the archway at the end of Piazza Signori to view the elaborate Gothic tombs of the Della Scala family that ruled Verona during the 13th and 14th centuries.
• For superb views of Verona, take the lift or try the stairs of the Torre dei Lamberti, the 84m high medieval bell tower, used to call council meetings or to warn citizens of fire.
• Make sure you enjoy a night at the opera and experience the effect of the natural acoustics of the open-air theatre.
• Take time to relax and enjoy a drink or an ice cream on the terraces of the cafés in Piazza Bra.

Food and Drink
Inspired very much by the climate in the north east of Italy, the cuisine of Verona tends to be quite hearty. The bigoli (thick spaghetti) and paparadelle (ribbon pasta), often served with duck or liver-based sauces, are good to try, and Verona’s beloved pastizada de caval (braised horse meat) is often found on menus. The windows of the many pasticcerie of Verona are crammed with tempting sweet cakes and desserts.
Verona and the surrounding region’s importance as a wine-producing area is in evidence throughout the city: the cobbled streets house many authentic wine bars and shops devoted to selling wine. The Bottega del Vino is one of the city’s oldest wine cellars, and also serves food typical of the area to accompany the vast wine selection on offer. As you might expect, the local digestif, grappa, is also on the menu.
Shopping
The Via Mazzini is the main shopping street in Verona, lined with shops for all interests, including glamorous Italian shoe shops, old and interesting book shops, perfumeries and glitzy boutiques. The Piazza delle Erbe is home to the fruit and flower market and offers a colourful insight into local life, while the quieter cobbled streets of Verona contain many smaller and authentic shops with some unusual finds.
Traditional goods include shoes and other leather items such as belts and handbags. The many local food stores scattered around the city have wonderful displays of hams and cheeses, and offer an excellent opportunity to stock up on some more uncommon and local brands that you may not find back home.
Where To Stay
A small and compact city, Verona can be easily explored on foot. The Via Mazzini is the main street which cuts through the heart of historical Verona, while the area around the Arena and Piazza Bra is ideal for soaking up the atmosphere before and after opera performances. Some of the smaller cobbled streets around the Piazza delle Erbe are also well worth exploring.
Things To Do

• HOP ON HOP OFF CITY BUS TOUR tour Enjoy the sights of the city at your own pace on a hop on hop off bus tour. Tickets valid for one day.
• VALPOLICELLA Visit the Valpolicella region for an insight into this rich wine-producing area and some wine tasting.
• OPERA INTRODUCTION WITH WINETASTING In the beautiful setting of an ornate Veronese palace, close to the Arena of Verona, you will have an introduction to the opera that will be performed that same evening, with piano, maestro and soloists. With winetasting

Insider Tip
Don't forget to make dinner reservations during the opera season as the city's restaurants do become very busy.
Celebration
Why not celebrate a special occasion with a night at the opera? We can pre-book your seats for your chosen performance.

• 88TH ARENA DI VERONA OPERA FESTIVAL 2010 18th June – 29th August. Book seats at the spectacular Roman Arena (subject to availability). The following performances will feature in 2010.
• AIDA 19, 25 June 3, 8, 13, 18, 22, 25, 27, 31 July 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 26, 19 August
• CARMEN 10, 15, 20, 23, 29 July 12, 18, 21, 24, 27 August
• IL TROVATORE 7, 11, 14, 19, 25, 28 August
• MADAME BUTTERFLY 26 June 2, 9, 14, 17, 21, 28 July 6 August
• TURANDOT 18 June 1, 16, 24, 30 July 13, 20 August
• Ticket prices will vary according to the seats chosen and pre-booked tickets are collected from the Arena from 5-8pm on the day of the performance. Adult prices start at £23 for a seat in the unreserved stone step section at the edge of the amphitheatre. We can also reserve the numbered seats on the steps which are closer to the stage, the back, side, and central stalls. The premium Gold central stall seats, the best seats in the house, are also available. More information on the seating plan and prices is available at crestaholidays.co.uk