Welcome to Dolomite Mountains

Transcription

1 Welcome to Dolomite Mountains Verona Extension: Beyond Romeo & Juliet Stroll down marble sidewalks, explore Roman theaters and ruins, and be seduced by the romance of Romeo and Juliet, all just a few hours drive from the Dolomties! DOLOMITE MOUNTAINS S.r.l. / Tour Operator Strada Micurá de Rü, San Cassiano in Badia (BZ) / Dolomites, Italy Italy: / North America: info@dolomitemountains.com /

2 Highlights Visit Verona, the 'City of Love' renowned for the tragic events of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet Enjoy a performance at the opera at Verona s famous Arena, the best preserved coliseum in the world Walk along the marble sidewalks of this ancient city, exploring the wealth of Roman ruins TELEPHONE North American Office Italian Office OVERVIEW In the collective imagination, Verona is the city background of the tragic love story between Romeo and Juliet.Shakespeare s tragedy made the fortune of this city that attracts hundreds of tourists thanks to a sort of romantic tourism. But Verona s beauty doesn t end with the Juliet balcony, on the contrary. We are sure that the house symbol of this unlucky couple is just the beginning of an interesting cultural and historic path.for the Italians, Verona is considered the Italy door, because it s the first city that people coming from the north see. It anticipates the beauty, the characteristics, and the appearances of Italy. Verona is full of artistic and cultural histories, all this in a city that maintains a suggestive atmosphere made of alleys, squares and traditional Italian food. If you would like to look past the balcony we suggest you to go for a walk among its famous places, to taste its food, and enjoy its lovely entertainments. Let yourself be seduced by this city of great charm. Verona is a beautiful city located along the Adige River the same river that flows from the Dolomites. The dainty stone balcony at the 14th-century Casa di Giulietta is a magnet for lovers (and Shakespeare fans), and visiting romantics alternatively scrawl heart-rending graffiti in the charming courtyard, smooch on the balcony, or rub their hands across Juliet s statue s bosom for luck in love. But Verona is not solely about Shakespeare (although two more of his plays are set here The Two Gentlemen of Verona and The Taming of the Shrew!). Verona is known as piccola Roma, orlittle Rome, for its importance in imperial times, and today is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. info@dolomitemountains.com FAX ADDRESS Strada Micurà de Ru San Cassiano in Badia (BZ) Dolomites - Italy DOLOMITE MOUNTAINS OFFERS PRE AND POST TRAVEL PLANNING ASSISTANCE TO ALL SURROUNDING CITIES ETC. IF YOU NEED HELP WITH YOUR HOTELS OR TRAIN TICKETS, FEEL FREE TO CONTACT YOUR TOUR COORDINATOR TODAY. Under the marble streets lie ruins of the Roman Empire. In fact, one of the streets itself is an open archaeological site Porta Leoni a 1st century BC ruin of what was once part of the Roman city gate, where the original street foundations can be seen a few feet below the present street level through glassed-in viewing windows. A 1st century Roman theater is built into a hill overlooking the river, and outdoor summer performances are still held there. And Piazza delle Erbe, the former Roman Forum, today is a wonderful open air market surrounded by historic buildings with frescoes and peppered with sculptures. Perhaps most notably, Verona is home to the imposing 2,000-year-old Arena, the third largest coliseum in Italy, and one of the best-preserved ancient structures of its kind where gladiatorial contests and other public spectacles were once held. Today, important classical concerts, opera, and modern music events are performed, ranging from Sting to Aida, with an opera stage that is the largest in the world. Photos are property of 1

3 Day by Day Stroll down marble sidewalks, explore Roman theaters and ruins, and be seduced by the romance of Romeo and Juliet, all just a few hours drive from the Dolomties! Day 1 ~ Arrive in Verona Arrive in Verona and check in to your hotel. Depending on when you arrive, you may have time to begin your exploration of this incredible city. B Hotel in Verona Day 2 ~ Explore Verona & Performance at the Arena di Verona Today you have the entire day to explore Verona! Piazza delle Erbe is a good place to start. Originally the Roman Forum, the rectangular piazza is in the heart of Verona's historic center and is surrounded by beautiful medieval buildings and towers. Although once filled with market stalls, today the stalls mostly sell souvenirs. Several cafes where you can have a coffee in the morning or a glass of wine to end the day are along one side of the piazza. From Piazza delle Erbe, walk through Arco della Costa, an arch with a whale rib hanging from it, and continue into Piazza dei Signori, a small square surrounded by monumental buildings. TRAVEL INSURANCE We strongly recommend that you purchase trip cancellation / interruption insurance to protect your travel investment when you book your trip. We offer optional trip cancellation / interruption insurance through World Nomads at a supplemental cost. It combines trip cancellation and interruption coverage (for covered reasons only), baggage loss protection, and medical coverage along with additional emergency evacuation are available through our web site. Lamberti Tower, Torre dei Lamberti, is a good place to get an overview of Verona. Climb the stairs to the top (or pay an extra euro to ride the elevator most of the way up) and you'll have fantastic views of the city and beyond. This medieval bell tower was built in the 12th century, and was raised a few times after that, until it reached the final height of 84 meters that you see today. It's just off Piazza delle Erbe (you can see it towering above the square), near the Palazzo della Ragione. Verona's most popular site is the balcony said to be Juliet's in Romeo and Juliet. The house said to be Juliet's house is in a courtyard off Via Capello. You can see the balcony and the bronze statue of Juliet for free (you can rub Juliet's breast for good luck in love!). You can also see the house attributed to Romeo's family on Via Arche Scaligere, and try traditional food of Verona, including horse or donkey meat, at Osteria al Duca. The Roman amphitheater (better known as the Arena) is, along with Romeo and Juliet, the primary symbol of this city. It was built by the Romans in about 30 a.d., and, like all the amphitheaters, housed gladiator spectacles. A solid and impressive structure with the exterior faced with bricks and pink marble (called rosso Verona ) create a particular chromatic effect. Today the Arena is the stupendous background of concerts, opera, and other musical manifestations. Between June and September, the Opera Festival draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city. This World Heritage Site has such brilliant acoustics that 14,000 people flock to the opera every night and there's not a microphone in sight. Depending on when you are visiting Verona, we can arrange tickets for an evening performance so you can experience the magic of the Arena yourself! Performances are held Saturdays and Sundays and many weeknights, from mid-june to mid-september. B Hotel in Verona Day 3 ~ Depart Breakfast and departure. Private transfer to the airport or to your next destination in Italy available on request. B Trip itinerary may vary based on weather conditions and/or fitness levels and abilities of participants. 2

4 Details Cost per person on request. Cost Includes: Trip briefing Logistics and map of the area Accommodations as noted in itinerary All breakfasts Tourist tax Italian VAT tax Airport transfers available on request. Arena di Verona performance included on request (additional fee). 3

5 Accommodations At Dolomite Mountains, we hand pick accommodations that best reflect the style of each region, to provide you with the most authentic experience of the unique cultures found in the different cities and towns where we travel. We work directly with the owners of each property, forging strong relationships to ensure you receive the best service and care during your stay. Regardless of whether it is a five-star luxury hotel or a cozy bed and breakfast you desire, we choose the best-in-class accommodations within each category, providing you stays at the most sought after hotels in each region. And, we always make sure you have access to inspired, regional cuisine! 4