Verona, the enchanting city of love and romance, is nestled in the heart of Italy's Veneto region. Steeped in history and adorned with timeless beauty, Verona captivates visitors with its magnificent architecture, picturesque squares, and charming cobbled streets. Famous as the setting for Shakespeare's tragic love story, Romeo and Juliet, the city exudes an irresistible allure that transcends time. We wandered around the preserved Verona Arena, a stunning Roman amphitheater that continues to host world-class operas and concerts. We also explored the narrow intimate streets and lanes and indulged ourselves in authentic gelato flavours from Venchi. As the sun sets over the breathtaking Adige River, Verona casts a spell on its visitors, inviting them to fall in love with its timeless charm and unrivaled beauty. The sunset view from Castel San Pietro was particularly breathtaking. We nearly missed it but the feeling of chasing sunset was back!

As it was December, the whole city was decorated with Christmas lights and market stalls. One particular shop stood out being the whole premises only sells Christmas-related things such as baubles and decorations.

Our dinner at Osteria Il Ciottolo was rather memorable with homestyle dishes such as homemade pasta, ravioli in clear broth and a selection of braised meat which includes tongue. We had such as great service from a waiter who has a tattoo of an eye at the back of his neck. We appreciate his effort to communicate with us despite the language barrier. We almost didn’t but a semifreddo to finish was a delight. One of the days was rainy. So we ‘conveniently’ found a shelter in Pasticceria Barini, which is famous for their cakes and sweets. Another snack we sampled was Minuto di Bauli which is Bauli’s famous leavened soft bun filled with zabaglione or other fillings shall you prefer. We also savoured the delectable flavours of Verona with our famous donkey meat pasta, a true culinary treasure that combines tender donkey meat with rich, aromatic sauces, and indulged in the velvety texture of our Amareno risotto, ensuring an unforgettable dining experience.

Besides city of Verona, we utilised the train services to explore Peschiara del Garda and Desenzano del Garda. They are a couple of smaller towns around Lake Garda which were really nice to visit.

Italy has so much to offer in terms of places to visit and food to try. Despite this being a long weekend, we managed to see and eat half of Verona. It was another memorable visit indeed.

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