Cobbled streets, bustling crowds and spellbinding medieval architecture- this is what greets a tourist upon entering the mesmerising city of Verona. Partially due to my Italian heritage, I had always longed to visit Italy, and when the opportunity arose in the form of a school trip in 2013, I jumped at the chance.
Verona was best known to me as the setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet; a notoriety that the city definitely uses to its advantage. Every tiny gift shop, haphazardly stuffed with magnets and cheesy souvenirs is full of gifts relating to Romeo and Juliet and one of the most popular attractions in the whole city is the Casa di Giulietta, or Juliet’s house. The 14th century house is situated at Via Capello and features a stone balcony and bronze statue of Juliet in the cobbled courtyard.
The very essence of love is ever present whilst visiting this historical location. People queue for ages in order to stroke the right breast of the statute, famously supposed to signify that a person would be lucky in love, and locks, letters and scribbles adorn the walls and fences. The house is some sort of pilgrimage for romantics, who adorn the stone infrastructure with their names and the names of their beloved, hoping that they might attain everlasting love. The tradition, specifically with locks, is something seen far and wide across European cities, most notably the Pont des Arts in Paris.
Another notable attraction of the city embodies everything I expected Italy to be. The astonishing Arena di Verona, is an amphitheatre dating back to AD 30 that could host 30,000 spectators in its prime. The outer ring of the amphitheatre was destroyed in 1117 following an earthquake and during the Renaissance, interventions began to recover the primary function of the amphitheatre as a theatre. By today the arena regularly hosts operas and ballets as well as many internationally successful bands and artists, including One Direction, Adele and Muse. It is truly unbelievable to be able to climb the worn stone steps of the amphitheatre and be transported back through history. Despite the new padded chairs and modern stage adorned with spotlights on the lower levels, the highest tiers of the amphitheatre remain largely untouched by modernity and it’s easy to imagine a gladiator wrestling a lion as the Roman crowd watches in awe from the tiered steps.
The natural beauty and timelessness of the city is undeniable, and romance clings to every brick. Verona embodies everything that has built Italian heritage and culture. The historical atmosphere of the place is permeating. History clings to every brick and stone in the city. The city is truly unique and felt like a completely different world. I felt as though I had climbed inside a time machine and been transported back through history and despite having only visited this unforgettable city for an afternoon, it has made a lasting impression and one that I am keen to develop with many more visits in the future.
