Verona - 15th - 18th July 10

Flew to Verona, Italy for the opera. Also visited Mantova by train. It was excessively hot - 40c on one day. But great place, great food, v good hotel and, of course, the music and spectacle of the opera in the Arena. 

Hotel Colomba D'Oro. Right by the Arena. Very quiet and COOL! Would recommend.

First day we went to Mantova on the train. Cool colonnades.

Rotunda in Mantova

Mantova is surrounded on three sides by water. Really lovely but we had to do a lot of walking in the scorching sun.

Restaurant Tremarchetti. Food fantastic. I had stuffed squid and Elizabeth tagliolini with lobster. The owner kept bursting into operatic arias! His singing was as good as his food!

Turandot in the Arena was wonderful, Nessum Dorma brought the house down!

Verona is full of narrow alleys and open air restaurants.

We climbed the Lamberti Tower (by lift!) for the wonderful views

Looking down on the Piazza Erbe

The Duomo

Views across Verona

Juliet's Tomb (bit difficult for a fictional character. Probably why it is empty!)

Fresco by Pisanello in Sant' Anastasia

River Adige

Banana split and Coppa Verona! Very slimming...

Madame Butterfly. Not as good as Turandot.