Verona

We did not know much about Verona, since it was not in the original rough draft of places to visit, so we were very excited to have arrived in such a beautiful city. Verona has an ancient feel to it, mainly due to The Arena that has been standing at the center of the city since the 1st Century A.D. It's as old as the Colosseum in Rome, and amazingly still holds performances such as plays, operas and concerts.

Here's Becky and Danielle attending one of the more popular shows.

Here's Becky being interviewed by an Italian TV crew. Verona is known as the "City of Love", and the interviewer asks "Tell us what you love!" Her first response was "Verona!", and second was "That guy right there!" pointing at Steve. At least he beat out "pizza!" for second place.

The love theme of Verona probably is appropriate since the city is the setting for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

The building mentioned in the play as Juliet's house has become a mecca for lovers, many who leave their message on the walls surrounding the courtyard below the famous balcony.

There is a beautiful fortress, Castelvecchio, that sits on the river and is beautifully lit at night. It is just one of the many examples of architecture that are considered to be masterpieces in Medieval design in Verona.

There are many outdoor cafes and restaurants surrounding this area, the castle serving as the perfect backdrop for a bottle of wine.