In contrast to the Colosseum in Rome, this ancient arena is in use and has been restored to a point to allow for large scale performances. However, you can still see and use the original seating in the higher levels of the arena. It is almost the beginning of the opera and performance season and while we were visiting, there were workers constructing the new staging requirements. Surprise, surprise...Romeo and Juliette will be playing soon! It would've been good to see this show whilst staying in Verona. Damn timing (not as bad as Romeo and Juliette's timing though - which eventuated in their death)!
We continued to wander around for a bit then headed over to a restaurant in the nearby Piazza Bra (you read correctly)! We actually had dinner there last night and discovered mega cheap cocktails, hence our decision to return. It wasn't quite lunch time, so we had a cocktail and enjoyed our surrounds. Given that it is now summer, there is a massive outdoor eating area at virtually every restaurant. People watching and enjoying the weather is an important past-time all over Europe!
Tan: I have been loving a popular local drink that is a spritzer with orange liqueur (Spritz Aperol). When I first ordered it however, it was an orange drink but more like a hot liqueur tea. I had a laugh. Next time I ordered, I described it in dodgy Italian, then simply pointed to another table when the waitress looked confused! That worked!!! No harm in trying though! It was worth the embarrassment and you're never going to improve if you don't practise.
We ended up staying on there and having a fabulous pizza for lunch, which we shared. This was perfecto!! With the heat of the day and two cocktails in, we were struggling a bit and decided that a siesta was high on the agenda.
Just as we were finishing lunch, it was clear that some people were setting up for something in the piazza. There were signs around and we could at least tell that there was a festival on. Once we'd gotten up and back out on the streets, the people seemed to be packing up!! We had completely missed the celebration, or whatever it was! No idea! Hahahaha. Whatever it was, it was fast! We'll never know.
After a chuckle and a relax around the fountain area, it was off for another explore of the local Verona sites. The streets were pumping with people everywhere! There are so many shops in Verona and many high end. Lots of people were out and about enjoying the city. It seemed like Passegiatta time, which is a time during siesta when locals adorn their fineries and strut up and down the busy streets, people watching. Or just a crap load of touristica like us!
Today we headed back to Casa Guiletta (Juliette's house), as it was locked up the other evening because it was quite late. Today we had no problem finding it and going to see at least the outside of the house and the square which it was a part of. What a popular spot. Well if you're coming to Verona, you would be stupid not to try and find these important Shakespearean locations.
Poor old Romeo! We wandered around for ages looking for his house. There was one sign and it was marked on the map, but no luck. We gave up after a while, but enjoyed walking around the old cobbled stoned streets. We've taken a few pics here and there, but they never give the area justice.
At the moment the UEFA Cup is on, so the restaurants are busy till late and many places have outdoor TVs with the soccer playing. Tonight was a match between Germany and we think Portugal. It was Saturday night, but we knew we were getting up early to leave for Venice in the morning, so we didn't stay for the end of the match.
We would recommend coming to Verona. It is a lovely place and close to Venice. Most people we've spoken to were only going to the main spots - Florence, Rome and maybe the Amalfi Coast. Always a good idea to get away from the main cities if you can to get more of a sense of how locals live. Next time we come to Italy, we would like to stay in the country areas and have our own car.
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