Juliet Balcony Verona 28.12.24
With our luggage on its way to Austria we still have another trip in Italy. Our coach takes us to Verona and again the weather is bright and certainly not cold. The coach takes about an hour before we have a few minutes going round in a circle to find the local guide. The coach then perambulates around the outer part of the town showing us the walls before dropping us alongside the river Adige which we cross into the town centre.
The centre of Verona is small and has a some attractive architecture with a main market square which is very busy and an adjacent square in the centre of which is a statue of Dante. The entire town appears quite attractive to wander around. It seems pretty busy today.
The main purpose for us to visit Verona (and likewise for many large numbers) is the balcony attributed to Juliet. Of course the reality is vastly different with the balcony itself only dating back to the early 20th Century. Shakespeare’s story appears to derive from a poem published in 1562 written by Arthur Brooke which was using stories from Italian writers who used the enmity between the Cappelletti and Montecchi families. The house dates back to the 13th century and has been long known as Juliet’s house. However there is no truth in the stories – or is there?
From Verona we catch a train which will ascend over the Brenner pass and take us to Innsbruck. One day (and I am not sure it will be in my lifetime) there will be a huge tunnel under the Alps which will take the trains but until then our ascent is not particularly rapid as it is steep and although electrified the other services dictate the pace. Similar restrictions apply to the descent. Given the time of year the latter part of the journey is in the dark but even we can tell that there has been a significant snow fall in the recent past and the hills at least will be white when we can see them on the morrow.
Our new hotel is situated in the centre of Innsbruck adjacent to the market and the river. Hotel reception is however not briefed. The receptionist asks us to hand over our passports – fair enough – and then asks us to select our dinner – and yet we did that some time ago and it has been sent through already. Then she sends us away from the desk and refuses to hand over the room keys – which is mismanagement of the highest order – they have our names on the passports and should exchange one for the other. Eventually sense is seen and we ascend to our room where our cases have safely arrived but the room itself is regrettably less impressive – no view and one of those rooms where I sit still whilst Jackie unpacks and vice versa. The quality of dinner is an improvement despite the need to make choices and so we are on the swings and roundabouts again.
The brochure description of the day:
Leaving Lake Garda behind, we take the coach to Verona, where we enjoy a guided tour of a city filled with Roman ruins, medieval buildings, Italian culture and romance, and famous as the setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
In a UNESCO World Heritage-listed city centre, we visit Juliet’s iconic balcony and the Roman arena, an open-air venue still used for performances today, where some free time could lend itself to indulging in lunch in one of the many restaurants around Piazza Brà.
In mid-afternoon, we board the train for a direct journey to Innsbruck in Austria. This spectacular route through the Alps reveals some magical wintry scenes as we leave Italy by the Brenner Pass.
Located in the Inn Valley, beneath the unique backdrop of the Alps, Innsbruck is known for its Imperial buildings and quaint Old Town, which reflects the city’s historic and cultural past through its wonderful Renaissance, Baroque and traditional Tyrolean architecture. At this time of year though, it’s a winter wonderland of snow-frosted mountains, cosy cafés and sugar-dusted trees.
Our hotel in central Innsbruck looks out to the majestic snow-capped peaks of the Austrian Alps. We will be staying at The Hotel Innsbruck, situated in the heart of the Old Town, within walking distance of many of the sights and attractions of Innsbruck.