Exploring Fair Verona

After having a small breakfast in our hotel, we were ready to start the new day and were soon back in the streets racing towards the train station. A short train ride later, we had arrived in the historic city of Verona.

Once home to the fictional characters Romeo and Juliet, Verona now housed an even more legendary resident, the Verona Arena. As we have yet to make it to Rome, this coliseum would have to suffice and we were not disappointed. The moment the arena slipped into view, we were both stunned at this ancient architectural marvel.

Basked in the midday’s sun, the arena drew us closer and we spent some time exploring its faded and chipped exterior.

Though we decided against entering (as it is currently used to house large concerts and operas), we were truly amazed at its scale and ornate appearance.

After some time had passed, we continued onwards through Verona and slipped down countless streets until we were facing the remains of a large archway (Porta Borsari). This large slab of hand cut bricks and stone was once a towering Roman gate to the walled city beyond. Thousands of years later, all that remains is the single isolated wall and archways. Though not the most exquisite piece of architecture we had ever seen, just the sheer age of this gate is hard to comprehend.

Strolling past the gate, we found ourselves in a large outdoor plaza (Piazza delle Erbe) that was populated with a small market and bustling locals. We spent some time perusing through the various stalls and tried to enjoy the warm sunshine on an otherwise chilly afternoon.

Before long, we had walked the length of the market and found ourselves sitting on a worn wooden bench in a small isolated park. As we sat in silence within the park’s walls, we both reflected on the moment and where we were. These moments are what makes these trips so incredible as you get to finally accept you are worlds away from home and on this remarkable adventure.

After some moments had passed, we both began to grow rather hungry. Deciding not to skip lunch this day (as we had most days prior), we soon set off back into the plaza we had just come from and found a small sandwich shop (La Prosciutteria Verona) that was just opening for the day. We were immediately seated and were astonished by the atmosphere. From numerous bundles of cheese wheels in the clear counter to the varying hunks meats drying from the rafters, we instantly knew we picked the perfect spot.

Based upon the server’s recommendation, we ended up ordering several sandwiches (with the mandatory beer) and thoroughly enjoyed our little meal. It is easy to look back on your decisions and think about all the things you could improve or do differently, but, looking back on this lunch, we believe we picked the absolute best spot in Verona and we can’t recommend it enough.

After we had finished our lunch, we decided we had seen the majority of Verona and decided to head to our next and final stop for the day, Padua. A short walk back to the train station, we were soon nestled into the stained, multi-colored cloth train seats and speeding down the tracks. Unfortunately for us, this journey would not be a smooth one. As we presented our tickets to the inspector midway through the journey, we had mistakenly purchased tickets for a different train than the one we were currently on. Not helped by the language barrier, we were forced to pay a rather hefty fee and purchase a replacement ticket from the now annoyed and frustrated salt and pepper haired train inspector. After this stressful experience, we finally arrived in Padua and we set off for our hotel, which due to us learning from our previous mistakes during our England trip, was just a stone’s throw from the train station. The three minute walk quickly turned into a fifteen minute one as we continued to circle the block, failing to find our hotel in the maze of apartment buildings and businesses. After requesting help from a nearby food delivery driver, we found our hotel and were shortly inside (after an interesting conversation with the manager who did not speak a word of English). After dropping off our bags, we soon bounced back out into the crowded streets and set off towards St. Anthony’s Basilica - the true reason we were in Padua.

Staying in Padua was not just by chance and this was planned far ahead of time due to our interest in visiting the basilica. Padua’s St. Anthony’s Basilica held great importance to us both as we had attended countless services at the St. Anthony church back in High Ridge, MO growing up. This church is very sacred in our family and has been home to countless masses, numerous weddings (the very church where our parents were married), and funerals (including our recently passed grandmother, Marianne). With the value and importance of this church and saint established, once we came within view of the basilica, we were instantly overwhelmed not only by its sheer size, but also with heartfelt emotion.

Pictures were not allowed within the basilica so we, unfortunately, are unable to provide a visual for this experience. However, the inside of the basilica was immense; large columns of shimmering marble, ornate carvings, and decorated altars dominated our field of view at every turn. We quickly shuffled in line, joining the other silent pilgrims and edged closer to the massive black granite tomb of the legendary Saint Anthony. As we approached the large block of stone that housed the ancient remains, we joined the others and placed our hands on the tomb and murmured a small prayer. After walking through the remaining chambers, we found ourselves in front of a large wall of glass, sheltering countless small fragments and objects like chalices and cloth. As we examined further, we came to realize we were also looking at pieces of human bones, teeth, and hair. These remains were proclaimed to be fragments of holy relics from Saint Anthony. Although rather macabre, it was fascinating to see such pieces of antiquity. We decided this was a fitting end to our time in the basilica and after a brief stop in the gift shop, headed back out into the Padua streets.

As we walked back to our hotel, we had several moments to reflect on our time in the basilica that was now at our backs. Though we were both glad that we had visited, we were also left with much sorrow and longing as we wished nothing more than to tell our late grandmother where we just were and what we had seen. As we trudged onwards, we were struck with hunger and decided to grab a small bite to eat to take back to our hotel. With Padua lacking many options, we decided on a nearby American staple, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and were immensely curious on how it would translate over here in a foreign country. Though the food was what you would expect back home, we were extremely caught off guard with the inclusion of a beer with our meal (I think fast food in the US should take note here). After having some issues unlocking the hotel gate (and having to phone the manager once more), we were finally back in our hotel; putting an end to our last night in Italy.

To see the previous day’s adventure, click here.

To move onwards with us along our journey, click here.