Verona: Shakespeare, History, and A Lot of Dogs

Located between Milan and Venice, the city of Verona is well known in the English-speaking world as the setting to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. It is a beautiful city, as Dad discovered on Valentine's Day. He was traveling by train (without me) in northern Italy and missed a connection in Verona, so he took the opportunity to venture out into the city center.

His first stop was the Roman Arena, where his grandma Clara attended the Opera Festival. Dad likes to go to places where his grandma Clara traveled because he can feel her presence.

Then he went for a stroll in the Old Town.

He walked across the Ponte di Pietra (Stone Bridge) to cross to the north shore of the Adige River.

He scampered up to Castel San Pietro (St. Peter's Castle) to enjoy the scenic view of Verona.

Castel San Pietro is a favorite destination for Mercutio, who enjoys his afternoon uphill power-walkies with his own grandma.

Dad walked back to the city center...

and met fashionable Rosaline in Piazza dei Signori (Square of the Lords).

On the advice of a fufu dog named Friar Lawrence,

Dad climbed to the top of Torre dei Lamberti (Lamberti Tower) to enjoy another great view of Verona.

After a quick detour to see Juliet's House...

it was time to head back to the station by way of the Arena...

where he met Romeo, a gorgeous weimeraner who bears a striking resemblance to my fur-brother Truffle.

Romeo promptly sent me a dog-gram,

which I shared with Truffle.

According to the Bard, one should not leave Verona...

but Dad had to, and took a photo of a Verona poopy sign on his way back to the train.

Practical note: the area outside the Porta Nuova train station is very ugly and unsafe at night. The sights are about a mile northeast of the station.