Verona, A City To Discover Loved From The Tourists Of All The World

Yield famous and popular all over the world from the famous tragedy of William Shakespeare " The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet" , it is a coveted destination from the tourists of every corner of the world. Indeed, the capital of Veneto, offers a lot of opportunities starting from the cultural point of view, to the culinary and the entertainment.

In particolar, who wants to visit Verona for a short time (also of 2-3 days), cannot miss some fundamental appointments that characterise this laughing city in the heart of the Veneto region. In these terms, we can list what the tourist/visitor of the weekend must absolutely see and try for really living the spirit of the city:
• Arena di Verona: “small” masterpiece of the roman architecture, it is still in good conditions and is used for concerts and other manifestations
• Piazza delle Erbe(Square of the Grass): it rises where the ancient Roman Forum resided, is the heart of the city
• Palazzo del comune (Palace of the Municipality): with a nice romantic garden
• Palazzo della prefettura (Palace of the Prefecture): ancient residence of Scaligeri
• Santa Anastasia: ghotic church erected from the Dominicans
• Duomo (Dome): elegant construction dedicated to Santa Maria Matricolare
• Balcony of Giulietta: small, but somewhat evocative where also is found the famous statue of Giulietta
• Arc of the Giovi: another direct evidence of the Roman domination
• In the pauses, to be based calmly in a tavern and to savour a Recioto di Soave (typical white wine of Verona) with cold cuts and the typical polenta of Veneto region.

Where to sleep in Verona

Of course, there are many touristic structures that allow to sleep in Verona or near the city.
To such purpose, the Gardenia Hotel is situated in San Michele area, ideal for passing days or vacations around Veneto, above all for visiting Verona without having to spend the night in a hotel of the city center.
This 3 stars hotel, offers refined services like cable TV, safe in each room and air conditioning, a part from the prestigious inner restaurant.

The Gardenia Hotel has a comfortable private parking and offers cordiality and hospitality to all its customers, both to businessmen and families on vacation. Moreover, the hotel website (hotelristorantegardenia.it) offers the chance to the Internet customers to reserve on-line directly their own rooms for the night's passing also at the Hotel San Michele (at Verona periphery, near to the historical city center).

A Guide To Car Hire At Verona Villafranca Airport

Easily one of the most romantic destinations in the world and mythical home to Shakespeare´s Romeo and Juliet, Verona is an achingly beautiful and interesting city to visit throughout the year. Whether you enjoy uncovering the background of a destination through its ancient palaces and historical remains, or prefer to indulge in some serious shopping and fabulous cuisine, Verona is the place to go.


To get to Verona Villafranca Airport, it is possible to fly direct from Gatwick with British Airways and then the best option is to hire a car. This enables you to take in all the wonderful sights, from The Arena Roman amphitheater to the magnificent Lake Garda, and set your own agenda. There are 8 Verona Airport car hire companies in total based in the arrivals hall. These are Autoeuropa, Avis, easyCar, Europcar, Hertz, Italy by Car, Maggiore and Sixt.

Remember that when you arrive at the check-in desk you will need to present your full driving license, passport and a valid credit card, as a debit card will not be accepted. Even if you have already paid in advance you will need to do this as it is used to authorise your request. Many of the companies have an age restriction, such as Europcar which only allows drivers aged 21 and above to car hire at Verona Villafranca Airport. Even those of the correct age may also be changed an additional Young Driver Surcharge when hiring from certain vehicle categories.

Each of the Verona Airport car rental firms has a diverse range of vehicles. For example from Autoeuropa you can hire anything from a Smartcar to a minivan, a sports car to an off-road vehicle and even bigger trucks for removals, through to scooters. If you choose Avis Prestige, you could even indulge in a Aston Martin Vantage and really experience the Italian landscape in style. The only way to top this would be to arrange one of the chauffeur driven hire cars, a service offered by firms like Maggiore.

If you are planning to do most of the trip by foot but would like to maybe have one day of the holiday to explore the surrounding countryside and towns, then certain companies offer short-term rentals. Hertz has a scheme called Hertz 369 where you can rent a car for just 3, 6 or 9 hours. With it you get 24 hour roadside assistance and it is often a much cheaper and more convenient alternative to hiring a taxi or slumping around on buses. Plus with their Rent-It-Here/Leave-It-There option you could even rent a car to get you between destinations if you are planning a multi-trip excursion.

Rental firms will often work in partnership with the airlines to provide great deals for customers and in this case Hertz have teamed up with the AA to give all their members a 15 percent discount on their quote. Also Italy by Car, run by both Thrifty and Dollar, give those who pay by American Express a 10 percent discount. It is also possible to join up to the variety of groups or privilege card schemes on offer. By signing up to be part of Avis Preferred you get such a fast service that they guarantee if you do not receive your keys in 3 minutes from the moment you arrive at the check-in desk with your ticket, you receive £20 cash.

Most like Maggiore, provide discounted rates and promotional offers to their members, while easyCar offers exclusive discounts if you sign up to their newsletter, plus free cancellation within 7 days of booking. Insurance tends to vary between the Verona Airport Car Rental companies and you should check how much is included in the price and what you may have to pay as an additional charge. For optional extras such as child safety seats, ski racks, satellite navigation systems or even in-car DVD players in some cases, make sure to reserve in advance at the point of booking to avoid disappointment.

Verona Airport Car Hire - How to Rent a Car at Verona Villafranca Airport

Easily one of the most romantic destinations in the world and mythical home to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Verona is an achingly beautiful and interesting city to visit throughout the year. Whether you enjoy uncovering the background of a destination through its ancient palaces and historical remains, or prefer to indulge in some serious shopping and fabulous cuisine, Verona is the place to go.

To get to Verona Villafranca Airport, it is possible to fly direct from Gatwick with British Airways and then the best option is to hire a car. This enables you to take in all the wonderful sights, from The Arena Roman amphitheater to the magnificent Lake Garda, and set your own agenda. There are 8 Verona Airport car hire companies in total based in the arrivals hall. These are Autoeuropa, Avis, easyCar, Europcar, Hertz, Italy by Car, Maggiore and Sixt.

Remember that when you arrive at the check-in desk you will need to present your full driving license, passport and a valid credit card, as a debit card will not be accepted. Even if you have already paid in advance you will need to do this as it is used to authorise your request. Many of the companies have an age restriction, such as Europcar which only allows drivers aged 21 and above to car hire at Verona Villafranca Airport. Even those of the correct age may also be changed an additional Young Driver Surcharge when hiring from certain vehicle categories.

Each of the Verona Airport car rental firms has a diverse range of vehicles. For example from Autoeuropa you can hire anything from a Smartcar to a minivan, a sports car to an off-road vehicle and even bigger trucks for removals, through to scooters. If you choose Avis Prestige, you could even indulge in a Aston Martin Vantage and really experience the Italian landscape in style. The only way to top this would be to arrange one of the chauffeur driven hire cars, a service offered by firms like Maggiore.

If you are planning to do most of the trip by foot but would like to maybe have one day of the holiday to explore the surrounding countryside and towns, then certain companies offer short-term rentals. Hertz has a scheme called Hertz 369 where you can rent a car for just 3, 6 or 9 hours. With it you get 24 hour roadside assistance and it is often a much cheaper and more convenient alternative to hiring a taxi or slumping around on buses. Plus with their Rent-It-Here/Leave-It-There option you could even rent a car to get you between destinations if you are planning a multi-trip excursion.

Rental firms will often work in partnership with the airlines to provide great deals for customers and in this case Hertz have teamed up with the AA to give all their members a 15 percent discount on their quote. Also Italy by Car, run by both Thrifty and Dollar, give those who pay by American Express a 10 percent discount. It is also possible to join up to the variety of groups or privilege card schemes on offer. By signing up to be part of Avis Preferred you get such a fast service that they guarantee if you do not receive your keys in 3 minutes from the moment you arrive at the check-in desk with your ticket, you receive £20 cash.

Most like Maggiore, provide discounted rates and promotional offers to their members, while easyCar offers exclusive discounts if you sign up to their newsletter, plus free cancellation within 7 days of booking. Insurance tends to vary between the Verona Airport Car Rental companies and you should check how much is included in the price and what you may have to pay as an additional charge. For optional extras such as child safety seats, ski racks, satellite navigation systems or even in-car DVD players in some cases, make sure to reserve in advance at the point of booking to avoid disappointment.

I Love Touring Italy - Verona

If you are looking for a European tourist destination, consider the Veneto region of northern Italy on the Gulf of Venice. Venice is its best-known city and one of the most popular tourist destinations on earth. But the Veneto region is a lot more than this great city. There are excellent tourist attractions elsewhere, and you won’t have to fight the huge crowds. With a little luck you’ll avoid tourist traps, and come back home with the feeling that you have truly visited Italy. This article examines tourist attractions in the Shakespearean town of Verona, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Be sure to read our companion articles on northern Veneto, southern Veneto, and the university city of Padua.

Verona. I don’t know about you, but I can’t hear this word without thinking of the phrase, Two Gentlemen of Verona, a not particularly well-known Shakespeare play. Verona was the setting of a particularly well-known Shakespeare play, Romeo and Juliet. This city of more than a quarter million has a long and bloody history. Its residents are proud that on an Easter Monday more than two hundred years ago they drove out the French occupiers. The German writer Goethe and the French writers Stendhal and Valéry included Verona in their travel diaries. The Roman emperor Julius Caesar spent a lot of time here, and probably enjoyed many of the sights described next.

Verona has quite a collection of vestiges from its Roman days. Let’s start with its Roman amphitheatre, the third largest in Italy. This structure is approximately 400 feet (140 meters) long and 350 feet (110 meters) wide, giving it a seating capacity of about 25,000 spectators in 44 tiers of marble seats. While only fragments of the outer walls remain, its interior is virtually intact. This edifice often hosts fairs, theatre, opera and other public events, especially during the summer.

A First Century B.C. Roman theatre was eventually transformed into a housing site but in the Eighteenth Century the houses were demolished and the site restored. Nearby you’ll find the Ponte di Pietra (Stone Bridge), a Roman arch bridge crossing the Adige River, completed in 100 B.C. Retreating German troops destroyed four of the bridge arches in World War II but the bridge was rebuilt in 1957 using original materials.

You should also see the First Century Arco dei Gavi (Gavi Arch) straddling the Corso Cavour; once the main road into the city. Look for the architect’s signature, a rarity for the times. French troops destroyed this arch in 1805, and it was rebuilt only in 1932.

Porta Borsari, an archway at the end of the Corso Porta Borsari street, is the façade of a Third Century gate within the original Roman city walls. This street is lined with several Renaissance Palaces. Porta Leoni (Leoni Gate) is what remains of a First Century B.C. Roman city gate. Parts of it have been incorporated into a wall of a medieval building. Even in those days some people believed in recycling. You can see the remains of the original Roman street and the gateway foundations if you look slightly below the present street level.

The Twelfth Century Romanesque Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore is quite a masterpiece. It is built upon a Fourth Century shrine to the city’s patron saint, St. Zeno, the first Bishop of Verona. The basilica’s splendid one hundred ten foot (seventy two meter) bell tower is worthy of mention in Dante’s Divine Comedy. Both the doorway and the inner bronze door have multiple panels of biblical scenes and depictions from St. Zeno’s life. Its walls are covered with Twelfth and Fourteenth Century frescoes. Its vaulted crypt contains the tomb of St. Zeno as well as the tombs of several other saints.

The small but attractive Romanesque Twelfth Century Basilica of San Lorenzo is built on the site of a Paleo-Christian church, some fragments of which remain. The huge Eighth Century Romanesque Santa Maria Antica Church was the parish church of the Scaligieri family that ruled Verona for many centuries. Many of them are buried in the complex. Some of these tombs are quite unique and well worth seeing, even if you’re not a habitué of that sort of thing.

The Twelfth Century Romanesque Duomo (Cathedral) was constructed on the site of two Palaeo-Christian churches destroyed by an earthquake much earlier in the century. The site includes an unfinished Sixteenth Century bell tower. Be sure to see the chapel adorned with Titian’s Assumption.
Verona’s largest church is the Fifteenth Century Sant’Anastasia whose interior is considered one of northern Italy’s finest examples of Gothic architecture, and believe me this competition includes many entries. The construction of this magnificent edifice took nearly two hundred years. Among its items of honor are frescoes and hunchback statues that serve to dispense holy water. It is said that touching a hunchback’s hump brings good luck. Maybe next time.

San Fermo Maggiore is in reality two churches. The tomblike lower Romanesque church dates from the Eighth Century. The huge Fourteenth Century Gothic upper church is notable for its ceiling festooned with the paintings of four hundred saints. There are more churches to see in Verona but we are now going to look at castles and palaces.

The Fourteenth Century Castelvecchio (Old Castle) was built on the banks of the Adige River near the Ponte Scaligero (Scaligero Bridge), probably on the site of a Roman fortress. Built to protect against foreign invaders and popular rebellions, it included a fortified bridge in case the owners had to flee north to join their allies in the Tyrol. Over the years the castle has known many renovations and restorations. Make sure to visit its art museum, specializing in Venetian painters and sculptors.

Those Scaligeris spent a lot of their time in the Palazzo degli Scaligeri, their medieval palace, which today, as then, is closed to the general public. But you can go next door to the Arche Scaligere with its Gothic tombs of selected members of the family.

The Italian Piazza is a meeting place. Verona has some special examples. The Piazza delle Erbe (Herb Square) has been around since the days of the Romans. For ages it was a fruit and vegetable market but now is geared to tourists. It still maintains its medieval look and some of the produce stalls. The Piazza dei Signori (Gentlemen’s Square) is Verona’s center of activities as it has been for centuries. This square is right next door to the Scaglieri Palace. Those gentlemen didn’t believe in commuting.
We can’t leave Verona without visiting those star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet. The Twelfth Century Casi di Giulietta (Juliet’s House) long belonged to the Dal Cappello family and since it’s not a long way from Cappello to Capulet perhaps… This lovely house even possesses a courtyard balcony. Yes, the house at Via Cappello, 23 probably isn’t the real thing, but crowds come to gawk and dream. This could be the place to propose marriage.

What about food? Verona's cuisine features typical dishes of the Po Valley plains: mixed boiled meats, nervetti (calf’s foot and veal shank salad), and risotto, often prepared with a healthy douse of Amarone wine. The Piazza delle Erbe still has some fruit and vegetable stalls selling local produce such as radicchio and asparagus. Not only the wine is classified. Verona is home to a classified cheese, Monte Veronese. But who would think that rice is also classified? The Riso Nano Vialone Veronese is a laboratory-developed rice first introduced into the area in 1945. It now represents 90% of the local production. Is it better than other rice? Locals obviously think so. I promise that I will taste it on my next trip to Verona.

Let’s suggest a sample menu, one of many. Start with Gnocchi (Small Potato Dumplings). Then try Pastissada de Caval (Horsemeat Stew, often simmered in wine). For dessert indulge yourself with Pandoro di Verona (Verona Butter Cream Cake). Be sure to increase your dining pleasure by including local wines with your meal.

We’ll conclude with a quick look at Veneto wine. Veneto ranks 3rd among the 20 Italian regions for the area planted in grape vines and for its total annual wine production. About 45% of Veneto wine is red or rosé, leaving 55% for white. The region produces 24 DOC wines and 3 DOCG wines, Recioto di Soave, Soave Superiore, and Bardolino Superiore. DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, which may be translated as Denomination of Controlled Origin, presumably a high-quality wine The G in DOCG stands for Garantita, but there is in fact no guarantee that such wines are truly superior. Almost 30% of Venetian wine carries the DOC or DOCG designation.

Valpolicella DOC is a world famous wine produced north of Verona from several local red grapes. This wine is usually nothing to write home about and often tastes of cooked cherries. But that is hardly the end of the Valpolicella story. Valpolicella Ripasso is made from young Valpolicella wine put into tanks or barrels containing the lees (one could say dregs, but that might give the wrong impression) of a recioto wine (see below). The mixture undergoes a secondary fermentation and becomes a more interesting wine. Valpolicella Recioto is made from passito grapes, those dried on mats for several months. It may be a still wine, a fizzy wine, or a sparkling wine. Valpolicella Recioto is sweet or bittersweet. Amarone DOC is a type of Valpolicella Recioto whose sugar has been completely transformed into alcohol becoming a powerful tasting wine that packs a punch and ages well. What a difference between Amarone and its source wine, Valipolcella.

Verona, a Present Time Rich of History

Verona is a famous city around the world especially thanks to two main things, the amphitheater Arena and the famous "Romeo and Juliet" drama. Thousands and thousands of people have been arriving every year in Verona to visit the city and see the well-known balcony from which she used to show herself.

But these are certainly not the only attestations of the city's glorious past. There are a lot of monuments to see and visit for the numerous tourists, but also churches and museums.

The city, in fact, has been inhabited since the prehistory period, there was a series of population living in this territory, and each of them leaved behind a lot of signs and vestiges of their passage, and making the city really full with history and stories.

Walking for example from the long Corso Porta Nuova down to the Portoni del Bra', beyond the beautiful battlements and the walls you could already feel the impression that shortly you will be able to admire invaluable preciousness, centuries and centuries of art and history. In Italy Verona is second only to Rome as for the noteworthy presence of roman ruins so well-conserved.

The city has a complex structure, but two main walls accentuate the division between the Roman part and the modern part (until the second half of 19th century): from one side the roman walls that surround the heart of the city between porta Borsari, porta Leoni and the walls of Gallieno, from the other side the so-called internal ring road with some forts from the Renaissance era (completed under the Austrian occupancy).

Arrived in Piazza Bra' you can immediately admire the wonderful Roman amphitheater, the Arena, going on you can also find the Roman Theatre, even more ancient than the amphitheater, right at the foot of the hill of Castel San Pietro. And then the Ponte Pietra ("Stone Wall Bridge"), built up on the Adige River, where the ancient inhabitants used to ford the river. And again the Arco dei Gavi (Gavi Arch), one of the city's richest families, celebrated right with this arch. All these monuments are in a perfect preservation stage, marbles are still luminous, making the tourist live the dream to be in a fantastic place, totally immersed in history.

Beautiful to see are also the monumental gateways of Porta Borsari and Porta Leoni, once built up to protect the city and now ready to welcome the numerous visitors.

Parts of walls and streets can still be seen with a simple walk along Corso Cavour, Corso Portoni Borsari, and Corso Santa Anastasia which leads you along the ancient Roman via Postumia or the Decumano Massimo, which ended up in the Roman Forum, now Piazza Erbe. But you can also see inscriptions, tombstones, mosaics, decorated lintels, parts of roman statues.

During the rule of the Scaligeri the city transformed itself. Beautiful monuments such as the Castlelvecchio, the Ponte Scaligero, the Cangrande's Palace, and the Domus Mercatorum in the Piazza Erbe have been built up. But also many others architectural beauties that leave everybody breathless.

Wonderful paintings and beautiful palaces from the Renaissance decorate the most important streets and squares.

These are just some of the wonderful things you can admire in Verona. And don't forget that this city is also famous for the traditional generosity and courtesy of its people, for their commitment in the voluntary and social fields.

Verona is certainly a city and a whole territory full of surprises to discover!

A Guide to the Verona Exhibition Centre

Originally intended to hosts shows focusing on agriculture and horses, the Verona Exhibition Centre now hosts exhibitions on wines, weddings, education to art.

Also known as the Verona Fiere, the exhibition centre now holds fairs several times a year grossing an annual turnover of approximately 600 million Euros. With the aim of promoting local and international trade, these events, like other exhibitions, bring buyers and sellers together. The Centre organises all exhibitions directly with the strong support of the Verona City Council, local banks and the Veneto Region.

The Verona Fiere is an established landmark for companies and multi national corporations and communities which aims to boost local economy with an events and communication system. Concentrating on the areas of wine, food, agriculture, building, logistics and constructions, the plans for the Centre also extends to the international level. This will extend their network and develop the centre.

With the availability of the Centre's user-friendly website, one can find out more about entrance fees and view the Exhibitions Calendar for more information on upcoming fairs. Generally, the trade fairs are for trade visitors only. However, children may visit the fairs on agriculture and horses. Some exhibitions provide child-caring services too. Do visit the website for more information. Verona boasts of applaudable accommodation for its visitors and the organisers have packages to their exhibitions which include accommodation. For the more independent visitor, you will most definitely find suitable accommodation over the internet.

With excellent facilities and organisation, the Centre's experience and professionalism will assist to highlight the strengths of their exhibitors. Having an outstanding reputation on their organisational skills, the Centre makes an ideal partner to promote the exhibitors.

The Verona Exhibition Centre guarantees the ultimate collaboration for businesses seeking a stronger foothold in the national and international markets. Offering strong Information Technology and marketing services to its exhibitors, the Verona Fiere is your intelligent choice to further strengthen your business presence in the local or international market.

With the assurance of an exhibition centre which is constantly improving itself to keep up with the changing times, the Verona Fiere is an excellent choice, for visitors and exhibitors alike. Practising responsible ethics in discharging its duties, the organisers at the Verona Fiere will take care of the core needs of their exhibitors to ensure a fruitful and smooth venture between the exhibitors and visitors.

A Quick Tour Of Italy - Verona

If you are looking for a European tourist destination, consider the Veneto region of northern Italy on the Gulf of Venice. Venice, its best-known city, is one of the world's most popular tourist destinations. Ecellent tourist attractions abound elsewhere in Veneto, and the crowds are much smaller. This article examines the Shakespearean town of Verona, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Read our companion articles on northern Veneto, southern Veneto, and the university city of Padua.

Verona boasts many vestiges from Roman times. Its Roman amphitheatre is the third largest in Italy and its interior is virtually intact. This edifice hosts fairs, theatre, opera and other public events, especially summers. The Roman arch bridge crossing the Adige River was partially destroyed in World War II and rebuilt using original materials.

The Twelfth Century Romanesque Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore sits on a Fourth Century shrine to the city's patron saint, St. Zeno. Its splendid one hundred ten foot bell tower was mentioned in Dante's Divine Comedy. The vaulted crypt contains the tomb of St. Zeno and tombs of several other saints.

Verona's largest church is the Fifteenth Century Sant'Anastasia whose interior is an excellent example of Gothic architecture. Items of honor include frescoes and hunchback statues dispensing holy water.

The Fourteenth Century Castelvecchio on the banks of the Adige River probably sits on the site of a Roman fortress. Its art museum specializes in Venetian painters and sculptors. Verona's squares include the Roman Herb Square that still maintains its medieval look and some produce stalls. The Gentlemen's Square is Verona's center of activities. Next door is the Scaglieri Palace, once home to the ruling family.

Don't leave Verona without visiting those star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet. The Twelfth Century Casi di Giulietta (Juliet's House) long belonged to the Dal Cappello family and since Cappello sounds like Capulet perhaps... The house at Via Cappello, 23 with its courtyard probably isn't for real, but crowds come to gawk and dream. This could be the place to propose.

Verona's cuisine features typical Po Valley dishes: mixed boiled meats, nervetti (calf's foot and veal shank salad), and risotto, often cooked in Amarone wine. See our companion article I Love Touring Italy - Verona for a sample menu and more information on regional wines plus an in-depth examination of Verona's tourist attractions. Valpolicella DOC is a world famous, often mediocre wine produced north of Verona. It can be transformed into fine wines including Valpolicella Ripasso and Amarone DOC.

Fair Verona - Things to See and Do Around Verona

Fair Verona, as Shakespeare once wrote, is where we lay our scene. This mythical home of the star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet, is more then just fair though. It is positively pulsating with passion and vibrance with a rich, colourful past that manages to seep out of every nook and cranny. From breathtaking architecture to awe-inspiring opera, opportunities to revel in art and beauty are everyone in this romantic Italian city. Yet the Veneto region, in which Verona is nestled, is not just for culture vultures. There are an abundance of alternative pursuits and child-friendly activities to keep even the most energetic entertained.

The two Verona Airports are Villafranca Airport and Brescia Airport, which provide cheap flights to Verona from Gatwick and Stansted. Of the two, Villafranca offers the widest choice of Verona car hire companies with a total of 8. These are Autoeuropa, Avis, Easycar, Europcar, Hertz, Italy by Car, Maggiore and Sixt. Brescia car hire is slightly thinner on the ground and inside the terminal consists only of Hertz at Brescia Airport. Each company has slightly different terms of agreement and offer different deals, so it is wise to do a comparison before booking and be very clear about what is included in the quoted price.

Alternatively, for those escaping here simply for a weekend a deux and staying at one of the many glorious hotels in Verona, a transfer offers a much more convenient and usually cheaper alternative to a trip in one of the Verona Airport taxis. Booking in advance means visitors are met in Verona arrivals by a Verona Airport Transfer and whisked away without hassle or delay. There is a shuttle bus that connects to the Verona bus and Verona train stations but it does mean making another connection to get into the city centre, and with luggage in tow this can be cumbersome.

Within Verona itself, the first port of call for most people is the Casa di Giulietta or Juliet´s House. Here tourists flock to see the fictitious balcony made real and get a feel for the tale in as original setting as possible. To help the ambiance along, the walls are lined with artwork depicting the young lovers and a statue of Juliet stands on the balcony. The other favourite attraction is the Roman amphitheatre which is the third largest in the world and dates back to the 1st century. Concerts and operas are regularly held in it and despite having a capacity of 20,000, the amazing acoustics means that microphones are not needed.

In terms of museums, the Castelvecchio is visually one of the most dramatic, as it is set in a medieval castle. Packed full of paintings, sculptures, gold-works and ceramics, the building, sympathetically restored by architect Carlo Scarpa, also houses an impressive range of ancient weapons. Two other exhibitions to capture the kids imagination are located slightly further afield, each around an half and a half drive by car. The Natural History Museum in Venice, is set in the Fondaco dei Turchi, a 13th century palace, and has an impressive collection of dinosaur relics, including that of a 12 metre long pre-historic crocodile. While Bologne has an exhibition to make both big and little boys jump for joy. The Lamborghini Museum pays homage to this much-desired and longed-for automobile with a display which includes classic cars through to F1 models. It also shows the development of the Diablo from conception to today´s design, among other interesting features.

For more traditional children´s attractions there is at least 7 aquaparks surrounding Verona, including Parco Acquatico Cavour, Picoverde and Riovalli Water Park near Lake Garda, while in nearby Castelnuevo del Garda, there is one of Europe´s premier theme parks. Gardaland boasts over 40 big rides, including the largest family rollercoaster in Italy, shows galore from magic to ice extravaganzas and even a sea life aquarium with tropical sharks and seahorses. Of course for outdoor activities, Lake Garda is first choice. Whether for land based entertainment like hiking or cycling or water-sports from yachting through to kite-surfing, all is available in these stunning surroundings and with Verona weather temperate all year round, rarely falling below 12ºC even in the winter, it provides the ideal climate to.