On these trips, my normal routine is to go until I drop on day one and then sleep for 12 hours since you never can really get a good nights sleep on the flight over. That was my plan on this trip, but it didn't quite work out as I planned!
On December 14th, I woke up just before 1:00 a.m. and COULD NOT go back to sleep. I finally decided to just get up and walk over to the airport. I figured I could eat a nice breakfast and shop around at the duty free stores. After checking my bag, I popped into the M&S for another bag of Percy Pigs. Why did I get only one?! This is the question I've been asking myself. Again, I'll blame lack of sleep for poor purchasing decisions!
I had breakfast and eventually got on my flight to Verona.
I had a 7:50 a.m. flight and it's only about 2 hours, but because you lose an hour heading over to the continent, I arrived at 11:00 a.m. I took a taxi to my hotel and was lucky to be able to get into my room early. I dropped my stuff in the room and headed out to explore. Verona was a new-to-me city. I have traveled through it on train a couple of times, but never stopped.
I was just overwhelmed with the Italian of it all! That sounds dumb, but I just walked around thinking "this is the most Italian city I've ever visited!" Every corner, every street, everywhere you looked it was just SO ITALIAN!
I did't have a single thing booked for the day and was just letting Rick Steves' Verona Walk be my guide. I started just a couple of blocks from my hotel at the Piazza Erbe. A fountain has bubbled right here in this Piazza for 2000 years!
Next stop was the Tombs of the Scaligeri Family. This time of year, they are only open on Saturday and Sunday, so I was lucky to be there on a Saturday.
These tombs are from the 1300's. Just blows my mind!
The Basilica of Sant'Anastasia was next up. They kind of ran out of steam before they finished the outside, so it isn't much to look at (though I do love the stripes around the door).
But holy moly! The inside was gorgeous!
Hunchbacks holding the holy water basins.
Here's a video I took inside...
I walked to the Ponte Pietra for a river view next.
I decided I was hungry at this point and popped into this little shop.
They only have one standing tall table and I was lucky that the people at it were leaving right when I came in. I got a piece of ricotta pizza and it was excellent.
While eating my pizza, the MOST Italian scene unfolded before my eyes...a nun came in and bought pizza. A nun! Buying Pizza! I told you it's THE MOST ITALIAN CITY ever!
I made my way to the Duomo Complex next. I entered through the Baptistery.
Then I made my way to a modern chapel with Roman ruins exposed.
This is the actual Duomo and I didn't think it was near as pretty as Sant'Anastasia
The front of the Duomo.
At this point I was just walking around admiring all the Italian buildings...
...which are gorgeous even if they aren't anything "special".
I walked around the shopping streets just window shopping. Except here I stopped in for a little cake. They use an original recipe that's been around forever. I was ok, but didn't send me over the moon.
At this point I was texting with a friend and sent her this shot saying "ITS THE MOST ITALIAN CITY EVER!". Literally all day I said this to myself.
I made it to the famous Juliet's balcony.
I went back to my hotel to rest for a bit and then headed out again. I decided to visit the Church of St. Fermo. This wasn't on Rick's walking tour and the only reasons I visited was: 1) It was included in the churches ticket I had purchased to see the other two earlier in the day, and 2) it was kind of on the way to Verona's Christmas Market.
I didn't have any expectations and as proof, I didn't even bring my big camera!
But again...holy moly! The inside was amazing!
This wooden ceiling was really a marvel. It is from the 1300's!
It isn't easy to capture in photos, but here is a video. At one point I zoomed in to the painted Saints on the ceiling.
There was a sign by these frescos noting that they had just been "found" in 1906 under some plaster and that pulpit dates to 1396! What?! I just blows my mind.
After having my mind blown in the upper church, I headed downstairs to the lower church.
I was so thankful I wandered in and saw that gorgeous church!
Verona's Christmas Market is the "sister market to Nurnberg".
Well I decided it was the ugly step sister! I didn't think it was great.
After a pretty quick run-through, I made my way to the Piazza Brà and the Roman Arena. Most all of the stone is original and dates back to the first century AD.
I had tickets the visit the next morning, but I enjoyed seeing it all lit up at night.
I was early for dinner (by Italian standards). Some of the places I flagged weren't open for dinner yet, but the hotel recommended this place. They were technically open, but as you can see I was the only customer at that time of night.
They didn't have their full menu up and running that early in the evening, but I made sure to navigate right past the horse and donkey items on the menu and play it safe with lasagna.
And after a very little amount of sleep over the last 2 nights, I called it a day!
My hotel for Verona was Hotel Accademia. It was a great choice. I liked the location and the room was nice.
Since I was only there for a night, I opted for the smaller single room.
The bathroom was spacious, but I cannot tell you how many times I knocked that dang phone off the wall while trying to dry my hair.
That's it for Day 2! I was so happy I visited Verona! While the Christmas Market underwhelmed, the city itself was such an amazing city to visit.
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