VERONA: THE ARENA, THE HISTORY, THE EVENTS
Verona charms its visitors with its prodigious beauty: every corner is a piece of history, every bell tower, every glimpse bespeaks a centuries-old past that only a few cities in Europe can boast. A valuable prehistoric settlement because of its fortunate location, it welcomed the Romans around the end of the 3rd century B.C., becoming a strategic hub along the main connecting roads of the time, a role it still plays today as an exchange node for goods traffic.
The city tells us about the Romans in a majestic way, with numerous monuments, the best known of which is undoubtedly the Arena, the most famous theatre in the world, which has hosted the opera season and pop music concerts for a hundred years, attracting millions of tourists every year.
A symbol of Verona, the Arena today retains the charm that only millennia of history can bestow. Through the centuries, the city has seen the rise and fall of different cultures, from the Scaligeri – medieval lords – to the Venetians, to the French domination. Cultures that have left important marks in monuments, bridges and basilicas. There is a fine line between history and legend in Verona, thanks to Shakespeare's genius that portrayed it as the home of Romeo and Juliet, a timeless myth and a symbol of absolute love, and in doing so gave Verona the role of the city of Love par excellence.
Today Verona is one of the most beloved and most visited cities in the world, a symbol of culture and music, a destination for lovers and a shopping showcase for major international brands. Thanks to trade fairs such as Vinitaly, Fieracavalli, Marmomac and prestigious art exhibitions, it remains a magnet for quality tourism and a hub for global business.
LAKE GARDA AND MONTE BALDO
Lake Garda is one of the most loved destinations of excellence in the area. Nestled between the provinces of Verona, Brescia and Trento, it is a jewel with its clear water that changes colour depending on the angle at which it is viewed. Each village on the lake’s banks is a little gem to be discovered, with marinas, beaches, and beach kiosks.
A beloved destination for sailors, windsurfers and divers, the lake is a small sea, a place for relaxation and water sports in the warm season, as well as a place where the temperature is mild enough to enjoy a detox walk or going trekking or mountain biking while in the hinterland the weather is cold and foggy. Thanks to the massive presence of luxury hotels and campsites, more than one and a half million tourists – especially from Germany, Holland and Italy – spend their vacations on Lake Garda every year.
Overlooking the lake, majestic and beautiful, with its 2218 metres height, the Baldo Mountain Range is one of the most sought-after and popular destinations in the area. From the village of Malcesine a cable car takes you to the top of Mount Baldo, which offers a breath-taking view of the entire lake. The Prada-Costabella cable car, opened in 2022, lets you reach previously less accessible peaks. Outdoor sports suitable for all ages and skill levels can be practiced on Mount Baldo: from trekking to mountain biking to paragliding.
THE HILLS AND MOUNTAINS
Valpolicella is one of Italy’s most picturesque and beloved valleys. Best known for the massive presence of wine cellars, where tastings and food and wine tours can be organized, the valley is rich in trekking routes among groves, vineyards and ancient villages overlooking the hills.
Just a few tens of minutes from Valpolicella along the roads that climb up the mountain sides, soar the Lessinia Mountains, a chain that straddles the provinces of Verona and Vicenza on the north and offers breath-taking views. Few people know that the timber of the Lessinia plateau, whose wooded areas are now delimited by vast grass pastures, was used to build the foundations of Venice. The area is perfect for summer walks, amidst cows grazing the alpine pastures and malghe offering typical products to wayfarers, and for trekking, mountain biking and winter sports, from skiing to snowshoeing.
To the north, Valpolicella declines toward the Val d'Adige, an itinerary along the well-known river that runs between the mountain chains of Trentino Alto Adige. Less than half an hour from Pescantina is Trentino, with its valleys filled with apple orchards, its mountains and conifer covered forests. A perfect itinerary to travel up country while enjoying breath-taking views and fresh mountain air.