Home of Romeo & Juliet, built in the 1st Century older than the Coliseum, before MMA there was…read moregladiator gore. Stand in awe of history, trying to imagine how this awesome arena was constructed is mind boggling. Pink limestone with a bluebird sky is stunning and beautiful. A must visit to Verona.

This is the site for the 2026 Olympic closing ceremonies! It is smaller than other Roman arenas we…read morehave visited but 1AD! It is amazing condition especially as they were deconstructed parts to build city walls! I love that it continues to be used - what phenomenal construction the Roman's designed!

This was on my must do list! It did not disappoint- the house is 5 stories with great art and…read morestories throughout- you must do stairs. There are no free tickets even to the courtyard anymore- and tickets are only online! Additionally you can not get in from the street across most blogs tell you to go to! So Plan to need to walk around the block There are gift shops to get a lock if you didn't bring one - why not! There is a cute cafe right outside the entrance that we enjoyed vino while waiting for our entrance time

I was pleasantly surprised by this museum. I was expecting to see just the balcony, but you get to…read morewalk through the entire house and see the costumes, paintings and books on display. We were first in line and rushed in to take photos of the balcony without anyone in them. There were a few people who pretended not to see the queue, so you just have to get there early and stand your ground. The house itself was spacious and beautiful. There are a few sets of stairs so wear comfortable shoes. Definitely recommend visiting!

It is a hard uphill climb from Varenna to the castle but it is worth it. The path is steep and…read moreprimarily made of small stones. It's not the easiest to walk so take your time and rest as needed. The castle is beautiful. It is also a garden so there are many plants to admire along the way. The plants against the old stones of the castle were something to behold. There are pieces of art throughout the castle as well. I didn't see the name of the artist, but the ghost figures hanging on the walls were haunting and intriguing. We also saw some caged birds along the way. In fact, one person was hosting a falcon show. The bird was flying off the cliff and back to the trainer throughout the show. The trainer was speaking Italian so I'm not sure what he was saying but watching the bird was very cool. The views were stunning. Climbing the tower provided the highest viewing point and the opportunity for amazing pictures. I am so glad we made this hike. It was hard but it was worth it.

Yes, it's a bit of a steep hike and yes, the view is worth it, but so unnecessary to keep an owl in…read moresuch a small cage for over 15 years. No one is hiking to the castle to see the owl. Very sad

On our last full day in Verona, one of the last attractions we visited was Giardino Giusti. Listed…read moreas one of the top attractions in Verona on TripAdvisor, it's not to be missed! There is an entry fee or you can get a discount (if you visit enough spots) by purchasing a Verona card ahead of time. Giardino Giusti is a nice botanical garden. Like other botanical gardens I've visited, it's really all about taking in the beauty of nature. This will include well-manicured trees, plants, and maybe some animals. Giusti has a lot to see including statues and picturesque views of the city. There's also a labyrinth. I'm personally not a fan of them but it's one of the activities you can enjoy. There's even a ballet school for kids that has classes inside. Talk about a picturesque location for some ballet lessons! They give you a nice map with your entrance fee. Either follow it or wander around to check out all of the sights.

Totally worth the visit. You have access to the garden and grand upstairs rooms. My fav was the…read moreHorseshoe Room, all the furniture had horseshoe elements. Thank you Giusti family for showing off your high ceiling rooms, furniture, artwork, frescos, and extensive collections. It's about a 15 minute walk from the Arena, across the scenic river.

#314-2016:…read more Inaugurated on May 20th 1930, the Milan Planetarium is the largest on Italian soil and it is sponsored by the Milan City Hall. It was originally commissioned by Ulrico Hoepli and designed by the architect Portaluppi, later on it was donated to the City of Milano. Octagonal in shape, it can host up to 300 people on extremely uncomfortable revolving wooden chairs (I believe they haven't been changed since). Little less than 20 meters in diameter, the dome has an octagonal base and features the Milano skyline as it was originally in the 1930s. The Planetarium is equipped with a Zeiss projector that was installed in 1968 and has been in service since. I have been to this Planetarium several times but it was only recently that I have discovered how far things have evolved. I guess, the place needs to lure new viewers (namely of the teenage format). The show (5€ per per person) gives you pointers on how to spot stars, constellations and recites the stories behind said constellations delivered in a contemporary way (WhatsApp, Facebook, InstaGram are mentioned in the stories). I guess things have changed quite a bit since I first came to spot the stars. Worth mentioning that the Planetarium also houses the oldest and most important Amateur Astronomy Club in the city. There are many cultural events held here and in the outskirts of Milan (namely to watch real stars in the field) that make this place a MUST-GO for geeks, nerds and stargazers. If you are interested in knowing a little bit more about the events and the structure, here is the direct web link to consult: https://www.comune.milano.it/dseserver/webcity/Documenti.nsf/webHomePage?OpenForm&settore=SVIY-5HNGA3_HP

Take a cruise or a ferry to explore Lake Como…read more We booked a day trip from Milan to Lake Como with Ciao Florence. The public ferry was an interesting experience. Our family was able to find a place to stand on the top deck and eventually find seats. Our tour guide and group were scattered all over the ferry which made it a bit disorganized. The ferry itself was amazing. The views were magical on a wonderful sunny Friday. When our guide finally located most of the group that had migrated to the top floor, he gave us a bit of insight into Villa Carlotta. The history is one with many families involved. Originally built on ancestral land by the Clerici family who became successful silk merchants. The country estate and gardens were built in the 1690s. As with many wealthy families, the great grandson spent too much money building an extravagant palazzo, the Palazzo Clerici in Milan, which forced his heirs to see their Lake Como villa sold to cover their debts. Over the next couple of hundred years, the property continued to exchange hands until it was eventually was converted to a museum and gardens by royal decree. Nice to be able to see it from the ferry. Maybe next time, we will have more time to explore the villa and its gardens.

What an amazing place! It's a museum and a garden, the bottom floor is a cool interactive museum.read more