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TRAVELLER
DISCOVERIES
WORDS SARAH LANE. PHOTOS 4CORNERS, ALAMY, GETTY
As the city’s Roman amphitheatre opens its doors for another spectacular
Opera Festival, we round up our favourite things to do here now
ESSENTIALS
OLD FAITHFUL
– 01
Although the lady herself
couldn’t really have lived
here, Juliet’s House (
23
Via Capello
) is a medieval
gothic gem. Admire the
Oscar-winning costumes
used in Franco Zeffirelli’s
1968 film version, pose
for pics on Juliet’s
balcony (actually a 1930s
addition) and caress the,
ahem, right breast of the
heroine’s bronze statue
for luck in love!
NEW BITES
– 02
In a stunning position
next to Verona’s Roman
bridge, Ristorante
Ponte Pietra (
34
Via Ponte Pietra; tel:
+39 045 804 1929,
ristorantepontepietra.com
)
is already garnering high
praise. Consisting of a
series of small rooms,
plus two golden-ticket
riverside balconies,
during Arena season, it
is available for pre-opera
dinners, on request.
DO NOW
– 03
From the moment the
tiny candles held by
the audience are lit in
the Arena, to the last
echoes of applause, the
Opera Festival (
arena.
it)
, which runs from June
until 2 September, is a
truly moving experience.
This year’s programme
includes
Carmen
and
Don
Giovanni
, as well as
Aida
,
which was the first opera
performed here back in
1913. Bring a cushion.
TAKE HOME
– 04
Amarone, one of Italy’s
most prestigious red
wines, is made in the
Valpolicella area near
Verona. Visit the historic
Serego Alighieri estate,
bought by the son of
Italian poet Dante in 1353
and still run by a direct
descendant. Ageing takes
place in cherry-wood
barrels for a rich, rounded
flavour (
472 Via Stazione
Vecchia, Gargagnago;
seregoalighieri.it
).
DISHOF THEDAY
– 05
Legend has it that
Verona’s most famous
dish,
pastissada de caval
(horse stew), was first
made with animals slain in
battle by the Barbarians
in the first years AD. The
skirmishes may be long
forgotten, but the dish
still remains on a few
menus across the city.
Its painstaking recipe
involves soaking meat in
wine for two days before
flavouring it with spices,
and Osteria Sottoriva (
9A
Via Sottoriva; tel: +39 045
801 4323
) serves one of
the best versions in town.
SWEET STAY
– 06
Surrounded by a
gorgeous garden and
vineyards, the Delser
Manor House Hotel
(
14B Via Strada dei
Monti; hotels.easyJet.
com
) has an ample lobby
dominated by ancient
Roman columns. With
stone walls and antique
furnishings, there’s an air
of enjoyable exclusivity
about the place, and
its refined atmosphere
smacks of country-house
quality.
PHOTO OP
– 07
Take the steps up to
Castel San Pietro for an
amazing panorama across
the city. First built in the
14th century, the castle
itself is currently closed,
but the real draw is its
terrace, where access
is unrestricted and the
views are Verona’s best.
05
04
07