Finding budget accommodation in Verona is, in fact, not that difficult at it seems to be a city which has taken up the Bed&Breakfast formula more readily than other tourist locations in Italy. Verona is a fabulous city to visit - small but large enough to be interesting for a couple of days, picturesque and not to mention the scene of wonderful opera in the summer.

UK newspaper the Guardian has put together a ranking of Verona’s best B&Bs, which can still be a little pricey but it’s not an exhaustive list. The prices are per room, as well, and not per person. The list starts with the Nino Martini B&B which has three large rooms with a lovely garden. Prices are about 100 euros a night and you also get wi-fi internet access in the price.

The B&B ‘Alla Cattedrale’ is in the lucky position of finding itself in the same building as the Osteria al Duomo restaurant, where you can get a good meal. It has two suites at prices of about 70 euros a night. If you want something swanky, the Design Rooms have six chic bedrooms in minimalist style costing about 110 euros, where as going down in price you can find La Tana at 60 euros a head located between the train station and Verona’s historic centre (if you’re lucky your host will get you freshly baked cakes for breakfast).

Lo Stregatto is worth it just for its rooftop terrace, but the host is also very genial and rooms cost about 60 euros. If you want something different, the all’Opera B&B is located in a 14th century building in the centre of town and has one room in the tower turret, with a view over the city. It costs about 100 euros or whatever the going rate is when opera’s on (could it be the name?).

Continue reading: Verona's best bed and breakfasts

We all enjoy a good love story and Letters to Juliet, set in Verona and some of Italy’s more stunning landscapes, is the happy ending that Romeo and Juliet wasn’t. The story follows a young American tourist in Verona who discovers a love letter and replies after more than 40 years; an action which starts a nostalgic trip to find the lost lover and some soul searching for the young American herself. The film stars Amanda Seyfried and Vanessa Redgrave, and has its US release this month, followed by its UK release in June.

Continue reading: Letters to Juliet trailer

Italy’s famous wine fair, Vinitaly, will take place in Verona from April 8-12 this year, and will continue the constant growth in the event. More than 4,000 exhibitors will be on display as part of a program with Italian wine tastings, meetings and seminars on Italian wine. Tickets can be purchased online, taking advantage of a discount, and cost 35 euros for a day or 70 euros for the whole four days.

It’s often difficult to get accommodation for the fair, so book early and take a look at the Veronafiere site for accommodation in Verona (at the time of Vinitaly it can cost between 125 and 160 euros for a double room). The Pro Loco site also has some good information on hotels, restaurants and Verona city events, if you’re still lucid after all that wine tasting!

Continue reading: 2010 Vinitaly program and bookings

If you were wondering what the red stuff was in your Italian Christmas dish, or New Year’s Eve recipe, you may find it was the red endive, or chicory, currently in season in Italy and used in various Italian recipes as a traditional product. It gives a special touch to a dish, with its red colour appropriate for the season’s festivities. It’s slightly bitter and crunchy and works well as a side serve to many dishes.

Italy has many types of red chicory, five of which have IGP classification. The most precious is the late picked Treviso chicory, with long, narrow leaves, which is picked between December and February. Treviso also has an early growing variety with wider leaves, that is picked between October and November.

There is also the red chicory of Castelfranco, with its yellow speckled leaves and delicate flavour. The area of Chioggia also has its own variety, with a round tuft or head, while the variety from Verona has an oval shape.

If you want to try an unusual Italian seafood dish, try red chicory with swordfish pieces, adding some anchovies and a little garlic, parsley and white wine. Start by slicing the anchovies and cooking with a little garlic, parsley and wine. Wash the chicory and cut into strips, placing in an oven proof dish by alternating layers of chicory, swordfish pieces, and the anchovy sauce. Cook in a very hot oven, at about 220 degrees, for four to five minutes.

Source | Gustoblog.it

Photo | Flickr

Continue reading: Traditional Italian products: red chicory for Christmas and winter recipes

One of the oldest festivals around the city of Verona is dedicated to a local delicacy: bird roast. The festival takes place on 8th September in the small town of Cisano di Bardolino on Lake Garda where hunters have been meeting for more than a hundred years on some occasions to see bird exhibitions; on others to taste bird-based dishes or to hunt with decoys. Back then the place was a renowned haunt of hunters, but now things have changed for good and thanks to a rich and interesting programme , the festival (which is called “ Sagra degli Osei or birds”) every year succeeds in drawing many visitors from a wide diversity of backgrounds.

Continue reading: Italian Festivals: Sagra dei osei at Cisano di Bardolino, Verona

These pics show the set of “Letters to Juliet” in Verona showing Amanda Seyfried, Vanessa Redgrave, Gael Garcia Bernal and Chris Egan. The filming started in Verona in June before moving to the Soho area of New York.

The film is produced by Summit Entertainment and directed by Gary Winick and tells the story of a young American who joins a letter writing group in Verona giving love advice. On replying to an old letter, its original author travels to Verona in search of a long-lost love.

Source | Zimbio

Continue reading: Gael Garcia Bernal, Amanda Seyfried, Chris Egan and Vanessa Redgrave on the set of Letters to Juliet

Yes, you guessed it. The photo above is THE balcony in Verona and I expect we should be seeing it at some stage in the film Letters to Juliet, to be released next year. Directed by Gary Winick, the film has been set in various locations in Italy, including the Romeo and Juliet city of Verona, as the title would suggest.

The film synopsis is as follows:

When a young American travels to the city of Verona, home of the star-crossed lover Juliet Capulet of Romeo and Juliet fame, she joins a group of volunteers who respond to letters to Juliet seeking advice about love. After answering one letter dated 1951, she inspires its author to travel to Italy in search of her long-lost love and sets off a chain of events that will bring a love into both their lives unlike anything they ever imagined.

It stars Amanda Seyfried, Vanessa Redgrave, Gael Garcia Bernal and Franco Nero. In what should prove to be an intriguing film, Franco Nero, Redgrave’s husband, plays her love interest.

The film takes inspiration from the book by Lise and Ceil Friedman which collects real-life letters to Shakespeare’s Juliet. Other locations in Italy for the film included the wine cellars at Veneto’s medieval town of Soave. After the jump, a tourist catches a video glimpse of the Letters to Juliet set.

Source | Sommelier.it and IMBD

Photo | Me!

Continue reading: "Letters to Juliet" set locations in Italy

In 1913 the famous tenor from Verona, Giovanni Zenatello, visited the Arena in Verona with some friends, and for some improvised fun, sang an operatic aria. Zenatello and the group were surprised by the incredible acoustics in the 2,000 year-old building, and were inspired to set an entire opera in the amphitheatre. For the occasion, Verdi’s Aida was chosen.

After the first stunning performance, the Arena established itself as an international institution, attracting crowds from abroad. The great Maria Callas made her debut in Verona in 1947, and in the 1970’s operatic singers such as Placido Domingo and Pavarotti graced the stage. The Arena is one of Italy’s most important Roman structures, and this year will host the 87th Festival dell’Opera that runs from June 19th to August 30th.

50 shows are on the program this year, with famous singers, accompanied by the Arena orchestra and dance group.

Continue reading: Arena Opera festival opens for summer Verona opera season

The country inn L’Antica Corte del Turco rises gracefully among the hills of Verona and the structure is perfectly adapted for embracing nature lovers, who can delight in long walks (nearby there is also the Sigurtà Garden) or in the nearby riding school for some horseback riding.

L’Antica Corte del Turco is a classic example of a country courtyard, dating back to between 1700 and 1800 and placed in the center of the farm of Cavallari Guarienti, who turned it into an excellent country inn. The block is formed of 8 apartments with a total of 30 beds, and each apartment has its own private entrance, private bathroom, minibar and kitchenette; the country-style decorations consist of antique furniture, prints and pictures, which all contribute to a cozy and inviting environment. The prices include breakfast and pool use (when it’s open) and are 80 euros/night for a couple and 20 euros/night for children between 5 and 12 years old, while children younger than four stay for free. The restaurant, on the other hand, is only open for reservations and for a minimum of 50 people with a fixed menu, perfect for celebrating an important occasion.

The Baldo Mountain and the Garda Lake are close (just 5 km away there are the thermal baths of Colà di Lazise) and they offer a great setting for hikes. Wine lovers will be delighted by the very high quality D.O.C. vineyards of Bardolino and Custoza.

Continue reading: Verona: l’Antica Corte del Turco, a country inn for total immersion in nature

Located just a few kilometers from the center of Verona, the enchanting Byblos Art Hotel Villa Amistà is a unique five-star hotel with special characteristics. It has been accurately restored as a fascinating villa of ancient nobility. The central part, done in the venetian style, was designed in the 15th century by Michele Sanmicheli.

The most recent restructuring was really meticulous, both in terms of architecture and of painting and decoration. The restorations also included the outbuildings, so as not to change the views. The ample garden offers an evocative frame for the property, with fountains, a pool, and a hot spring. Inside there is a large hall with a venetian chandelier.

Continue reading: Byblos Art Hotel Villa Amistà, five star luxury in Verona

We found a little gem of a restaurant in Verona, outside of the main tourist traps, that is definitely worth a visit for good food, and reasonable prices. You can find “Il cielo di Biancaneve” on the Stradone Porta Palio, just near Verona’s Castelvecchio. The trattoria is nothing special seen from the street, but the menu changes each day depending on chef’s choices, and there is a good selection of local wine from Veneto, too.

In four, we each had an entree of pasta with pesto and cherry tomatoes, followed by two sliced beef main courses that we shared, and side dishes of potatoes. Three of us had desserts, including “salame dolce” (an Italian dessert of chocolate log) and pear cake, with coffee. With water and a bottle of wine, the total came to about 100 euros, making it an excellent 25 euros a head for good quality food.

The waitress speaks good English and a quirky touch includes the fairytale storybooks on the tables and old toys that act as decorations. If you’re looking to get out of the tourist menus of Piazza Bra’ and Piazza Erbe, with the waiters spruiking for business out the front, the “Cielo di Biancaneve” is a really good option.

Source | Flickr

Continue reading: Restaurants in Verona: Il cielo di Biancaneve and traditional Italian cooking

We’ve already looked at news on weddings in Verona and getting married at the house of Juliet, but Verona’s council has now taken its initiative a step further. Apparently the famous Juliet’s balcony will soon be open to weddings and other events.

Having become a place of pilgrimage over the years, we can only imagine that a wedding in Italy on Juliet’s balcony costs plenty. Apparently, Verona is looking to become a world wedding site, with the aim, in time, of reaching the wedding industry heights of Las Vegas.

Demographics manager with Verona council, Daniele Polato, has said that there is nothing wrong or anti-historic in looking to promote tourism in the city. A complete package of a Juliet wedding in Verona is being studied costing 800 euros for Italians and 1000 euros, or 1,300 dollars, for foreigners.

Continue reading: Juliet's balcony for weddings in Verona