Tuesday May 10
Verona is easily a place where you can walk almost everywhere and see the main sights, but since I have a few days here I decided to buy a ticket for the Sightseeing Verona Hop On Hop Off bus good for 24 hours. It was a really worth it because I know I would not have seen some of the things just walking. One of the coolest place was on the other side of the Adige River, at the highest point in Verona at Castel San Pietro. There was a panorama view of all of Verona that looked like a postcard. I was thrilled, knowing that this would be a photo opportunity I could not pass up!
So I did the bus thing in the morning and got on and off a few times so I could explore those areas better and of course get some good photo angles that you simply cannot achieve on a moving bus. After going back to my hotel I had some lunch outside next door at Caffè Scala and boarded the bus again to see the other parts of Verona. The weather was great and with a map and the bus tour I felt like I had a good idea of where things were.
I couldn’t help but notice that unlike every other Italian town I have visited, in Verona there are no clothes hanging out on balconies anywhere. In wondered if there might be a local ordinance banning the custom, but it seemed unusual. Verona is one of the wealthiest communes in Italy with a high per capita income, and maybe this has something to do with it.
It was Monday so at Piazza delle Erbe there was a small farmer’s market, where I bought a few pieces of fruit for later, and then did a little browsing in the shops. I checked out the menus at different restaurants as I was looking for one that had gnocchi, since Verona is known for having great gnocchi. Trying to be a little more adventurous with the food (Are you reading this, Donna, Lori and Joe?), I decided to try gnocchi while in Verona. Eventually I found a restaurant that had it and made a mental note to return after 7:30.
I was not disappointed when I returned to Ristorante S. Eufemia, which was actually a large place considering they had quite a few tables outside as well as inside. The atmosphere was perfect and the gnocchi in a gorgonzola sauce was delicious. I have to confess that I have never tried it, thinking I would not like it since it was made with potatoes. What I have been missing all this time!
It was interesting for me to realize that until 1866, Verona as well other parts of northern Italy, were under Austrian rule.
The city is surrounded by heavy walls which were used to fortify it from invasions over the years. Verona is one of the most beautiful cities I have seen in Italy.
Joe
So glad you tried the gnocchi and that you liked it. If you need more suggestions, let me know. The food is one of the best parts of Italy…just one of many!!!
Jill
Margie, your travel adventures are a-m-a-z-i-n-g-l-y fun reads! Listen to you having conversations with all these folks! Your gnocchi dish looked like it had something more than gnocchi in the sauce. I hope these wonderful cooks are sharing their great reciepes with you! Verona looks beautiful and like another place you have fallen in love with! Your high top scenes are magnificent and your weather looks beautiful! Your photos are wonderful depictions of the charm; so much so, combined with your writing it is like feeling the cobblestones while ‘walking’ through your latest updates! I’m thinking its’ highly likely you have a fun story about taking the photo of the heels!!! too funny!
Kellen
Holy…… that gnocchi looks OBSCENELY good. I need to get on that ASAP.
Re: the clothes drying outside – even in a big city like Bologna, nobody I know has a dryer. I have never met anyone in Italy (ever) who owned a dryer. Instead, my impression is that people hang their clothes on the opposite side of the apartment so that if something falls (it happens often) it’s not going to end up in the street. Just my observations, though!
Bonnie D
Here is my rule in re Italian food: eat it. I never met anything under the heading Italian that was not tasty. Even if it is something I do not usually eat. Yes, even octupus. The photos were great; I wonder if that one building is actually inhabited. The balconies look like you should avoid walking under them. I will say again that I hope you turn this into a video of your travels and pass at least one of them my way.
Carry on!
Donna Musser
Of course I’m reading – wouldn’t miss it. Verona looks fabulous. So glad you liked the gnocchi. Sounds scrumptious. I think you’ll be pretty safe with anything you try there, but especially if the area is known for the dish. You’re making me hungry and it’s only 10:00 in the morning here. Buon appetito!