Travel in the Veneto region of Italy
A short walk from the centre of Vicenza, Monte Berico is one of the range of hills to the south of the city. Combined with a visit to the nearby La Rotonda, it makes an ideal day out from the city. Walk up the hill through the shady arcade, visit the Sanctuary of Monte Berico, …
At the end of 2018 the Venice city council announced that it would be introducing a new entry fee, a tax on every tourist entering the city. This was partly a response to overtourism, and partly a way of bringing in much needed revenue. But what precisely is the problem, and how far will the …
Can The New Venice Tourist Tax Combat Overtourism? Read More »
I love old walls. I’ve explored walled cities like Lucca and, outside of Italy, I’ve walked the whole 84 miles of England’s Hadrian’s Wall. So I was intrigued to discover that Verona’s status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site rested partly upon its walls and fortifications. I had to go and look for myself, but …
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People have sought entertainment at the Arena di Verona since Roman times. Two thousand years ago they travelled from across the Empire to watch gladiators and wild animals fighting to the death, or to marvel at slightly less bloody circus acts and equestrian events. Visitors still pack into the stadium today, but for a quite …
The Verona Opera Festival: Following In The Roman Tradition Read More »
As everyone knows, Romeo and Juliet lived in Verona. Or did they? In fact, the evidence is slim, but this does not deter the Veronese, whose city is home to a thriving “Juliet industry”. I went to see what I could find of Romeo and Juliet in Verona. Romeo And Juliet In Verona It was …
Even among Italian cities, Vicenza is special. Not just a handful of spectacular buildings, but a whole town of them, many of them designed by one man: Andrea Palladio. Today Palladio’s Vicenza is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a tribute to his creations and his architectural legacy. A UNESCO World Heritage Site As I walked …
Exploring Palladio’s Vicenza: A World Heritage Site Read More »