We were thrilled to find out that on the day we had intended leaving Italy there was a performance of La Traviata in Verona’s Roman Arena, with excellent seats still available. We hastily changed our plans to include an overnight in Verona! This had been on our ‘to do’ list for a long time!
We were able to order seats online , a very easy process.
The Opera, La Traviata, was a fantastic production. And the setting is superb.
It has to be seen, to be believed! We were in the parterre part and so were able to look up at all the other spectators, rather as the gladiators must have done in the past! The arena is huge and holds around 15,000 for the Opera performances. However in Roman times it could hold 25,000 people!!
We were lucky to find a hotel within walking distance, with its own parking! A prerequisite when driving around with lots of possessions left in one’s car. Easy pickings!!
The hotel was appropriately named Hotel Verona !!
One thing we omitted to do! Book a table in a restaurant close to the arena! With that many people around for the performance all good restaurants were booked months in advance. In fact we did not have too much choice for a hotel either even though we did book that months in advance!
Exploring Verona the following morning was fun, not many people were out and about. We had to, of course, go by Juliette’s balcony!
Which now seems to be the area for lovers to place a heart lock and swear to eternal love!
And we found this old denouncement box for people charging interest on loans, not allowed by the church.
This basically translates as 'Denounce in secret, usury and usury contracts of any type'
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