Nestled ninety-seven miles east of the mystic city of Milan, Verona, Italy is the hometown of the most famous star-crossed lovers in literary history, Romeo and Juliet. It is the second largest Venetian city, just behind Venice, sporting a bustling population of 250,000. Verona is characterized by the presence of the Adige River. The Adige crosses the city, forming a wide S, creating an assortment of distinctive bridges, including the visually impressive Ponte Scaligero and Ponte della Pietra. Verona is enclosed in an elaborated fortress ancient walls surrounding the city, and is drenched in a flavored community of medieval and renaissance architecture representative of the city's golden age of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries.
A tourist little darling, the ancient city of narrow streets and squares features attractions like the 2,000 year old Roman Arena di Verona. The Arena is the largest opera theater in Italy. The Ancient City Hall, the San Giorgio Braida Complex, the Old Castle (Ponte Scallegeri), and the House of Juliet are other popular popular Verona attractions.
The city of Verona is divided according to three city squares:
Piazza dei Signori
Piazza delle Erbe: The vegetarian marketplace at Piazza delle Erbe has developed into a popular stop for t-shirt and french fry grabbing tourists. The green salads, fresh fruits, and plump tomatoes of the Piazza are enveloped in a nesting of historic buildings and impressive architecture.
