Passing the Ponte dei Sospiri

Palazzo Ducale, Venezia

I’ve been in Venezia, Italy multiple times but I was mostly enjoying the surroundings and the atmosphere in San Marco – I never entered buildings like the Palazzo Ducale, the main government building of the Republic of Venezia. And like every tourist I was taking a picture of the Ponte dei Sospiri, the enclosed bridge of sighs that connects the palace with the old prison – but I never thought that you could walk across it.

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At the Piazza San Marco

Piazza San Marco, Venezia

The main square of Venezia, Italy is the Piazza San Marco – a wonderful ensemble of buildings depicted so many times in movies that you can’t count them. In James Bond 007: Casino Royale (2006) for example or for the older ones that like films about monarchy: The Austrian classic Sissi – Fateful Years of an Empress (1957) shows the wedding scene inside the Basilica di San Marco and on the square. But beware – it’s really kitschy. 😉

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Railway station at the Canal Grande

Santa Lucia, Venezia

You can access Venezia, Italy on different ways. If you don’t prefer a boat or car (which is not recommendable because of limited parking capabilities) there are two main entry points: The Piazzale Roma with the bus terminus and Ferrovia – the train station Stazione di Venezia Santa Lucia. The latter is one of my favorite train stations in the world – not because of its beauty, it became better during the last years but still it is a simply train station – what makes it wonderful is the location.

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La città di Romeo e Giulietta

Verona, Italy

I must admit: I’m in love with Verona, Italy. A small, ancient city with a beautiful city center located at the river Adige. And in fact the only real city of love – being the stage for William Shakespears Romeo and Juliet. I always enjoy living here for a day or two, roaming the city, having a relaxed time. And if it once gets to small you can easily travel further on to the Lago di Garda (by bus) or the laguna di Venezia (by train).

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Cappa Café

Adige, Verona

Tired of walking around in the city center of Verona, Italy? In need for a quite place to relax, have a coffee break or something to eat? The Cappa Café is a coffee bar and restaurant located nicely close to the river Adige in the northern part of the city. You’ll get some vitello tonnato (veal with tuna sauce and capers) or a sprizz aperol in the cosy atmosphere of this place and in summer times you can sit outside with a view on the river.

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Sant’Anastasia

Sant'Anastasia, Verona

The church of Sant’Anastasia is the biggest church in Verona, Italy. It is a gothic style church you will come across on your way to Ponte Pietra and the Teatro Romano. The church dates back to 1280 CE and has a 72 meters high bell tower. It is a quite simply sacral building which fascinates me mostly by the different stones in various colours used to build it.

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The Balcony (scene)

Casa di Giuletta, Verona

“She speaks, yet she says nothing. What of that?
Her eye discourses. I will answer it.—
I am too bold. ‘Tis not to me she speaks.
Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven,
Having some business, do entreat her eyes
To twinkle in their spheres till they return.”

– William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet (act 2, scene 2)

Piazza delle Erbe and its surroundings

Piazza delle Erbe, Verona

If you visit Verona, Italy you might think that the Piazza Brà with the Arena di Verona is the main square of the town – but that is wrong. It was once outside of the main city and was included later on. To find the citys core you’ll have to walk along the crowded shopping street (Via Giuseppe Mazzini) to the Piazza dell Erbe – a long stretched market place with wonderful old houses, market stands, a wale tooth and a column with the symbol of the Republic of Venice; the lion.

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