Aug 25 - Bardolino to Verona

 Aug 25 - Bardolino to Verona

Allowing for the vagaries of the Italian bus system, i.e. disappearing, late, and slow buses, it was quite a nice journey here this morning passing through one of Italy’s many wine regions. 


Once in Verona, and checked in, we were off for a wander around town, our first port of call being the Verona Arena, a Roman amphitheatre built in 30 AD. We already had tickets for tonight’s Placido Domingo performance and just wanted to check out the place in the daylight.  On the way there though JEM saw an advert for Pucini’s opera Turandot, playing tomorrow night, so now we’re off to see that as well! 😊

Our next stop was to the Scaligero Bridge, a fortified bridge over the Adige River and named after a 14th century Lord of Verona.  Built with red brick and white marble, this fantastic looking bridge featured the world's largest span, at the time, of nearly 50 metres across.  Apparently the reason for its construction was to give the Lord of Verona a quick escape route from the adjoining castle if the ‘natives’ got a bit ‘restless’!

On the way across town to the bridge we were both contemplating how beautiful Verona is. With its numerous ancient structures and it’s many cultural heritage sites no wonder the whole town is a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

Off to the Verona Arena tonight to see Placido Domingo perform in a number of Acts from some of Verdi’s famous operas, Aida, Don Carlo, and Macbeth.  I must admit enjoying the first and last sessions but Don Carlo was just too much for me, it was a bit of dirge from start to finish.  Overall though it was an enjoyable night and even though we were on the stone benches up in the ‘Gods’ we still had a good view (with binoculars!). 

Couldn’t get much higher! 😆


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