Veneto, Italy

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City: Verona (April 2008)

Location: between Milan and Venice, accessible by train

Attraction: Well Preserved Roman City (300BC), UNESCO World Heritage

Travel Tips: One day trip (5-6 hours) to visit important tourist attractions,

Excellent place for a quiet weekend

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The view of Verona in the evening and in the night from Castle San Pietro.

The bridge you see is Ponte Pietra (stone bridge), built in 100BC, is a Roman arc bridge over Adige river. It was part of Via Postumia (ancient Roman Highway).

The Tower that you see to your left is Torre dei Lamberti is 84m tall and built in 1172.

Just over the bridge you see San Giorgio in Braida (a roman catholic church) built in 16th century over a 12th century monastery.

View of Castelvecchio Bridge from Castelvecchio (Old Castle). It was built in middle ages under Scalinger Dynasty (~1360). The red brick structure is the most prominent example of Gothic Architecture of that time, similar to the Roman Castles I talked about in the city of Bellinzona (in Switzerland).

The Arena (or amphitheater) completed in 30AD is third largest in Italy (after world famous Collosseum in Rome, and another one in Capua).

Scalinger Tombs (from Scalinger Dynasty): In the court yard of San Maria Antica Church (from 7th century, rebuilt in 12th), are five Gothic funerary monuments (from 14th century).

Juliet's Balcony (House):

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is set in Verona. Although fully fictional, now they have an old house that is claimed to be Juliet's!

Piazza Delle Erbe:

The beautiful Piazza in the center, a place for local market.

There are so many monuments in Verona. I spent last two days of my Italy trip in Verona when I was completely exhausted by traveling. These two days turned out to be the most relaxing days. The youth hostel itself was in a very old ruins of a Castle in Hilly area and at a calm location. I needed a break from travelling before going back home, and I really got what I wanted.

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City: Venice (July 2011)

Location: Northern Italy, accessible by train

Attraction: City of water, UNESCO World Heritage

Travel Tips: One full day (8 hours) to experience the city, buy a map, walk through the complex network of narrow lanes and bridges, travel by boat, Do take a lot of pictures (the city appears a lot more impressive in pictures!!)

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