Verona

Verona is a neighboring city just a short train ride away and it served as the perfect weekend getaway for us.  We met up with a friend, who met up with some other friends, and before we knew it we had a nice little group to pal around with.

Piazza Bra

The arena (we went to see the opera there in the summer) is in the background.  This plaza is one of the larger ones and has lots of cafes around it.

These are the original walls and gates that surrounded the city when Romans ruled the place.  There are several places around the city where you can see the old Roman roads.  It's pretty neat. 

We also went to see Juliet's house on this visit.  We saw Romeo's house too...but it was dark and I didn't take a picture. 

"The" balcony. 

Poor, star crossed lovers...just didn't know what they were getting themselves into. 

Lots of people in love.

You're supposed to rub her right breast for luck.  Of course, there were lots of gross old men taking crude pictures, so I waited long enough to get this halfway decent picture and called it quits. 

Castelvecchio is a part of the old city.  It served as a Roman fortress back in the day. 

It's on the outskirts of the main part of town and crosses over the river.  It's a pretty plain building compared to other castles in the area, but still nice to see. 

We had some good wine and gelato throughout the day.  I spotted a restaurant down a dark alley that ended up being a delicious choice.  It seems like the best places are always hidden away.  We split some caprese and a fettucini dish with black truffles. 

Verona seems to be one of Italy's underrated cities.  There are plenty of things to do and places to see if you plan it out properly.  It's definitely a place we're going to take people when they come visit!