Explored Verona today after a very noisy and sleepless night. Loud party goers heading home at 3am, street cleaners at 5am and everything from scooters to loud disagreements at every hour throughout. All wafting up from the street below, well not so much wafting as smashing it’s way upstairs.
A short stroll down the street to Piazza Erbe which was the historical centre of the city. Fantastic old buildings with frescos on them, although there are fantastic old buildings everywhere that you turn here. There is a permanent market set up in the piazza selling every type of tourist knick-knack that you would expect, and of course the compulsory drinking water fountain. Every town you visit, there are water fountains everywhere, which we make regular use of to fill up our water bottles.
A few more steps down the street and we came to Casa de Guiletta (Juliette’s house from Romeo and Juliette. Although a fictional story it was based on this house, or visa versa). This city has made the most of it’s association with the story. So yes we stood under the balcony and watched as people grabbed the right breast of Juliette’s statue, which is supposed to bring good luck in love. The courtyard itself has been cleaned up now, but in the alleyway leading to it the walls are just covered with graffiti. Messages of love and notes stuck to the walls.
From here to l’arena. Like a small colosseum. The third largest Roman Ampitheatre and still operating as an open air theatre. Then on to Guliette’s Tomb. Wandered around the compulsory museum/art gallery first. For some reason today all this religious art is becoming a bit much. Justine and I talked about this and when you see it in Basilicas and churches it just seems right. It looks fantastic, but in a sterile art gallery, it doesn’t work the same, and the supply seems to be endless. But down to the tomb. I have to say being down in the cold was a pleasant reprieve from the heat. Not so many people around as it is a little off the beaten tourist route (further to walk).
Then to the Castelvecchico (a castle with a working drawbridge). This operates as a museum these days rather then the home of the city royalty.
What we haven’t mentioned about all of the museums around here is that they seem to employ disadvantaged staff. I think that this is a good thing to do, but I do wonder how they would get on if there was a serious threat to their treasures. And they have one of these guards in EVERY room to keep an eye on you. On the way through the Castelvecchico we came to a room that had a whole selection of big bells sitting on pedestals, from a bell tower somewhere. I was having a look underneath one and gave the bell a little tap with it’s clanger. Who would have guessed that such a small tap would make such a huge noise!!!! The resident guard shuffled over poste haste and wagged his finger at me in a way that involved his whole body. He then proceeded to follow Justine around for the rest of our visit. I think he liked her :-)
A short stroll down the street to Piazza Erbe which was the historical centre of the city. Fantastic old buildings with frescos on them, although there are fantastic old buildings everywhere that you turn here. There is a permanent market set up in the piazza selling every type of tourist knick-knack that you would expect, and of course the compulsory drinking water fountain. Every town you visit, there are water fountains everywhere, which we make regular use of to fill up our water bottles.
A few more steps down the street and we came to Casa de Guiletta (Juliette’s house from Romeo and Juliette. Although a fictional story it was based on this house, or visa versa). This city has made the most of it’s association with the story. So yes we stood under the balcony and watched as people grabbed the right breast of Juliette’s statue, which is supposed to bring good luck in love. The courtyard itself has been cleaned up now, but in the alleyway leading to it the walls are just covered with graffiti. Messages of love and notes stuck to the walls.
From here to l’arena. Like a small colosseum. The third largest Roman Ampitheatre and still operating as an open air theatre. Then on to Guliette’s Tomb. Wandered around the compulsory museum/art gallery first. For some reason today all this religious art is becoming a bit much. Justine and I talked about this and when you see it in Basilicas and churches it just seems right. It looks fantastic, but in a sterile art gallery, it doesn’t work the same, and the supply seems to be endless. But down to the tomb. I have to say being down in the cold was a pleasant reprieve from the heat. Not so many people around as it is a little off the beaten tourist route (further to walk).
Then to the Castelvecchico (a castle with a working drawbridge). This operates as a museum these days rather then the home of the city royalty.
What we haven’t mentioned about all of the museums around here is that they seem to employ disadvantaged staff. I think that this is a good thing to do, but I do wonder how they would get on if there was a serious threat to their treasures. And they have one of these guards in EVERY room to keep an eye on you. On the way through the Castelvecchico we came to a room that had a whole selection of big bells sitting on pedestals, from a bell tower somewhere. I was having a look underneath one and gave the bell a little tap with it’s clanger. Who would have guessed that such a small tap would make such a huge noise!!!! The resident guard shuffled over poste haste and wagged his finger at me in a way that involved his whole body. He then proceeded to follow Justine around for the rest of our visit. I think he liked her :-)
No comments:
Post a Comment