Verona - Italy

For general information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verona


General
Verona has everything for a romantic weekend. We would recommend to visit the city in july or august.

What to do
The reason for going in summer periode is that you should se an opera in The Arena. Now, i don't like opera - but this is different. The Arena is an outdoor arena, like Coloseum in Rome. The only difference is that The Arena is in fact in use...! This is not a ruin. We did see "Aida" in this facility and was amaced. We ordered or ticket at: http://shop.cosi.it/tol4arena/cosi.asp. The ticket was prepaid and we just picked up the ticket at The Arena. If you are not an opera lover, just chose the cheapest ticket. You will have a nice view form the top of stonesteps in The Arena. Remember to bring a pillow to sit on, something to drink and maby a pair of binocullars. Many people also bring in food and wine inside, but we would recommend to eat in the restaurant outside The Arena before the show.

Know about Shakespares Romeo and Juliette? Well, discover the balcony of Juliette in Verona. Write your a romantic message to your Romeo or Juliette on the walls of balcony. It is said to bring luck to your marriage.

The streets of Verona brings you many lovely sites. You can really feel history and the importance of this city when you walk around. Take a rest at one of the many outdoor restaurant, grab a lovely italian icecream in one of the many icecream bars.

One thing is for sure, you will not be be hungry in Verona. My first wish would be a reset button for the stomack, and then start over agian. If you visit the city during July, you will probably have great opportunities to buy many items on sale.

Verona is not a small city, in fact it is one of the largest in Nothern Italy. At least during summer season, you should expect people everywhere, anytime. One reason is the main magnet in the city: The Arena.

Just half and hour by car from the city you can take a bath in Lake Garda.

Where to stay?
We would recommend to stay in the city center of Verona. To grab a taxi is not so easy when thousens of other is thinking about the same. We stayed in a hotel 2 km outside the city, but this hotel had actually free shuttlebus to/from the city during the evening. See: http://www.hotelleopardi.it/. It is a nice hotell and was recommended by many people on our booking site http://www.hrs.com/.

Useful links
http://www.world66.com/europe/italy/veneto/verona

Sirmione - Garda

For general information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sirmione

General
Sirmione must be one of the most charming villiages in North Italy. The main reason is of course its location whith Lake Garda on all sides. I have been to most of the cities sorrounding Lake Garda, but none is like Sirmione. We stayed at a four start hotell for about 120 euros (2007) whitin the city walls (http://www.hrs.com/). The prices for eating and dinning are to some extend more expensive than the normal prices in Italy, but thats pretty normal in such a popular sites. First, let me show you some from Sirmione:

What to do

Sirmione is located on south end of Garda Lake. It is a beatyfull small little village on a natural pir or half iceland. The most charming part is that the village is located whitin a castle or city walls. It has small narrow streest which only allow limited trafic. As we did stay on a hotell whitin the villiage - we was allowed to enter by car. There are also a small beach and cliffs where you can sunbath or go swimming. I do recommend to stay at a hotel whitin city walls.

During the day, nomerous of tourists enter the city by ferries from other villagers sorrounding Lake Garda. Some stay here only for a couple of hours, others return to stay for days. You should allow at least to nights here. Then you can experience the romantic and charming villages in dim light.

Now, the most natural thing to do around Lake Garda is of course to stay in the sun, and to enter the lake itself from tim to time. Also during afternons and in the evning it is great just to walk in the small village or on the cliffs at end of the pir. The view is very nice. Also you may visit the marked, shops or walk by the promonade.

Where to stay?

You should stay within city walls. We stayed at a nice hotel called hotel Eden (http://www.gardalake.it/hotel-eden/). This four star hotell is located just onshore, has sunbed and steps for those who want to take a swim. The rooms are not perfectly up to date, but the location is perfect. Also good breakfast that you may enjoy outside. The hotel has parking facilities.