Verona
wine tasting tours and winery visits

Romeo, Romeo ... wherefore art thou, Romeo? Best known as the home of Shakespeare's epic love story Romeo and Juliet, the real-life city of Verona is just as romantic and beautiful as we would expect. Sitting prettily just a stone's throw from the shores of Lake Garda, Verona is one of Italy's most lovely cities, with plenty of treasures to discover once you have navigated through the crowds of international tourists in search of Romeo!

The city is dominated by an ancient Roman arena which dates back to the 1st century AD - it's older than the Colosseum in Rome and the eighth largest arena ever constructed in the Roman age. It's survived everything from invaders to earthquakes to world wars, and today is a spectacular venue for live music and events. It's home to the city's annual Opera Festival, one of the biggest in the world which attracts many thousands of visitors to Verona each year.

Elsewhere, there are plentiful museums, gorgeous piazzas and art galleries to enjoy - the Galleria d'Arte Achille Forte (Gallery of Modern Art) is well worth a visit for the building's architecture alone, as well as countless churches and the glorious Giardino Gusti Renaissance gardens, which sit in splendour close to the river - in true romantic Veronan style, there is a legend that lovers who manage to find each other in the garden's maze are destined to stay together forever! Speaking of which, those on a pilgrimage to pay homage to their favourite work of Shakespeare should head to the Casa di Giulietta, or Juliet's House. Here you will find a very Shakespearean balcony looking over the courtyard, a bronze of Juliet and countless love letters attached to the walls. Beware though ... true romantics and those in search of an authentic experience may be a little disappointed...

Verona also benefits from a fantastic, quintessentially Italian food and drink scene thanks to its close proximity to regions such as the Veneto and Emilia-Romagna. Rustic local cuisine is the order of the day, with local meats and cheeses, polenta dishes and other excellent fresh food on many menus. Choose from cosy rustic trattorias, more upmarket restaurants or Michelin-starred dining experiences to put the icing on the cake of your romantic Veronese getaway.