Verona and Lago di Garda

I went on an Erasmus road trip to Verona and Lago di Garda. I went on this trip mainly because I wanted to go to Verona and seeing Lago di Garda was a nice addition. This was not my first trip with Erasmus Land organization, but I have decided to start with this one since it is a very touristic location and leave the undiscovered jewels for the end.

The trip started early in the morning. First, we visited a little town called Sirmione at the edge of the lake Garda. It took us about three hours to get there from Bologna. I found Sirmione to be a very cute town with narrow streets and a castle called Castello Scaligero di Sirmione. In Italian, the word „scaligero“ translates as „of the Della Scala family“. The castle was built sometime in 13th century by Mastino della Scala to serve as a defense to Sirmione. Since the castle is surrounded by water it can only be entered by two drawbridges.

Since this was a day trip we didn't stay here for long. Perhaps two hours or so. The thing I found out in this short time is that this is not just a touristic location, but also a touristic location for the rich. There are many stores that sell clothes and shoes for unimaginable prices. You can also see wonderful villas in the vicinity. The only thing I could afford was the coffee and that was pricey too.

The next stop was Verona. I've already been here once but I've forgotten how crowded it was. Now, way before any tourist season the streets are cluttered to the point where it is almost impossible to walk normally. Our bus stopped at the University district from which you can have a nice long walk to the center. I must say, I do not envy those students. For me, it is too far to walk every day.

Verona is located in the north of Italy in the Veneto region. This city was developed at the intersection of the trade of the time and because of it became an important part of the Roman Empire. Through the city runs the river Adige, which has many beautiful bridges. The most famous of which is the Bridge of Stone or in Italian Ponte di Pietra. Many bridges and buildings were destroyed during the powerful earthquake that had hit Verona in January 1117. Since then, the city has mostly been restored, but still some ruins remain reminding of this event.

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Verona, in my opinion, is very romantic. And how could it not be? After all, everyone knows it as a Romeo and Juliet city. Every corner, every street, every square seems romantic. Don't miss Piazza delle Erbe, Castelvecchio, Porta Borsari, Duomo of Verona, Arche Scaligeri and Arena of Verona. For me the least interesting place is the Juliet's balcony. Perhaps because it is nearly impossible to approach since it is surrounded by thousands of tourists. I prefer more peaceful places and good views.

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If you are looking for good lunch options I would suggest to avoid the main squares. Even though the view is superb it is not worth the steep price. Most restaurants charge something called "coperto" which is a charge of service per person. Many of them don't state how high is the coperto they demand so you might end up paying more than you thought. This is the case in almost every Italian city.

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