One of my favorite excursions through FSU Florence was our trip to Verona. While comfortably populated, the city felt quaint and romantic. I felt lucky to learn about the eclectic architecture, which gave me context on the history of Italy. Our day in Verona ended at the Roman amphitheater, Arena di Verona, with a sunset viewing of the iconic opera La Traviata. Undoubtedly an experience of a lifetime!- Aly, Summer 2019

Verona is the second largest city in the Veneto region, and is located in Northeast Italy. Shakespeare not only set his play Romeo and Juliet in Verona, but also a lesser known play, Two Gentlemen in Verona though it is unsure if he had ever actually visited the city. One thing is sure- even today it remains a popular city for visitors- its art, opera and history draw thousands upon thousands of tourists each year. UNESCO has declared it a World Heritage Site because of its urban structure and beautiful medieval architecture.

After a satisfying group lunch in Verona center, students will have the chance to walk through the beautiful historic center, starting in Piazza delle Erba, which was once a Roman Forum and a central meeting point for the Veronesi, so much so that it has been nicknamed Verona’s living room. A stop in Piazza Signoria to see the beautiful Scaliger Palace, which was owned by the Della Scala family, rulers of the city from the 13-14th century. Located inside the place are the Scaliger tombs, intricate works of Gothic architecture.  No visit to Verona is complete without visiting the house of Juliet and seeing her balcony from below, just as Romeo was imagined having done. The highlight of the visit ends with the Opera, where students will have the chance to visit the beautiful Verona arena, one of the most famous worldwide, constructed in 30 AD. Operas change by season but they all are famous large-scale operas that are an experience for anyone. Past operas that students have seen in the Verona arena: Turandot, Aida and Carmen.