Verona 2nd and 3rd September 2017

We left the Hotel Italia, Siena this morning to catch our Regional train 9.18 to Florence arriving at 10.50. We then caught our booked train in Florence at 11.30 arriving at 12.07 in Bologna then our booked train at 12.45 to Verona arriving at 1.37. In Siena there are a total of 9 elevators from the town down to the station. In Bologna the station is like a multi level city I think we caught 4 elevators down to our station to go to Verona, which is also a huge station but not so many levels.  There had just been a major thunderstorm before we arrived so we were indeed fortunate as we were able to get to our hotel, book in, gather ourselves together before we headed into town about a 20 min walk. 

There is still most of the wall which surrounds the old town.  We continued on surrounded by the beauty of the architecture and the piazzas. There is an amphitheatre built by the Romans in the 1^st century, it is just like the Coliseum in Rome but much more complete and in amazing condition. There was a concert there tonight featuring Renato Zero an Italian singer songwriter born 1950.  The buildings are very beautiful. It was busy as well but not nearly as hot as it has been the last couple of weeks which was a great relief. 

We made our way down to Ponte Pietra built in the 1^st century by the Romans and it is stunning, there were three brides having their photos and I could certainly see why.  This bridge boasts a long and troubled history. Over the centuries it has suffered numerous collapses followed by reconstructions and restorations, the last of which in 1957 to 1959 was due to the destruction of the bridge by German soldiers during this hasty retreat. The blocks and bricks thrown into the river by the explosion were recovered sorted and numbered for use in the reconstruction. It is the only Roman bridge left in the city.  The white marble constitutes the original parts while the red bricks represents the parts restored during the Scaliger period.

We also visited another stunning bridge called the Castelvecchio Bridge or Scaliger Bridge.  A spectacular Scaliger manor which was comissioned in 1354 by Cangrande Il della Scala on existing fortifications.  The bridge was to grant him a safe way of escape from the adjacent castle in the event of a rebellion of the population against his tyrannic rule.    The segmental arch bridge featured the world’s largest span at the time of its construction.  This was totally destroyed by the retreating German army on April 24, 1945.  A faithful reconstruction began in 1949 and was completed in 1951.  It is visited every day by an abundance of people.   

 There are many beautiful churches.  Duomo Cathedrale I S. Maria Matricolare was built between 1196 (ground breaking) and completed in 1348, but consecrated in 1215. There really are no words to describe these beautiful places, that they keep them so beautifully maintained is a feat in itself, keeping these beautiful places for the future must come at great financial and emotional cost.

Today Sunday we took a different direction and ended up in a market in the Piazza san Zeno. We also visited the Basilica di San Zeno. This church is the symbol of the city and dedicated to its patron saint San Zeno.  His body is preserved in an urn in the apse.  You can actually see it in the crypt.  We both walked into this church there was a wedding in progress but we instantly knew this was a very special place more stunning there was just something I cannot explain I thought it was just me but Sam said this place is my favourite by far. 

According to tradition the church an abbey first rose in the 8^th century.  The current Romanesque structures are mainly due to the restructuring that took place following the earthquake of 1117.

We also visited Giulietta’s balcony (Romeo and Juliet). The little courtyard was packed.  People write letters to her asking for guidance on love.  There are a band of people who actually answer all of this mail it takes time but it gets done.  Letters are not only written but little notes on the walls, thousands upon thousands of them.  For a person who did not exist she has fans from all over the world and the mail is astounding. 

After doing as much as we could today, Sunday, we sat in the Piazza san Zeno had a beer each just enjoying the moment really what a place to be.  We continued on had something to eat early in the afternoon and came back to our hotel exhausted. 

Verona is a very special place we both loved it.  We head to Bolzano tomorrow really only put it in as Joe our friend who was the  newsagent in Yarra Glen, his dad was part of the building team who built the tunnel.  I texted Joe today while we were having our beer to let him know he said he loves Verona and had been there four times. He has not been to Bolzano so I will text him tomorrow.  When I realised we would be in Bolzano I thought I would go and see the Iceman at the Archaeological Museum, he was found in 1991 discovered accidently by hikers and has been displayed in Bolzano since 1998.  He was in the ice for 5,300 years, they have done carbon dating tests etc and have discovered he was murdered and preserved naturally in the ice on the glacier.  I have always wanted to see him but alas tomorrow when we are there the Museum is closed for the day, I did try and call them today but to no avail perhaps I will have to come back but not on a Monday.  Sabine and Sam       

Juliet's balcony