RARECATION 13: Verona (Part 2)

Verona!

From my first observation, if you can't get to Rome....Verona certainly would be the next best thing. It has almost all of the things you might expect in an ancient Roman town. Lots of plaza, tall huge medieval walls, the Roman Arena (amphitheatre) and enough ruins (above and below ground) which I promise you, will occupy an amateur historian like me all day long. Happy is the word...

our convoy passed Chiesa (church) di San Fermo Maggiore
-picture taken from inside the camper van

We circled the town twice before our convoy parked at a public parking area near Ponte Aleardi. 

A campanile (bell tower) of Church of San Tomaso Becket ...
(I guess)

One of many gates of the medieval wall in Verona

Abang Rashid and wife had been here and they were full of praises of Verona. It was like their 'kampung' (village). They are very much informed about the attractions here. We walked along a small alley by the Adige River and passed many old buildings around it.

Abang Rashid checking his gear before going into action 

(l-r) Kamalia Kamal (K), Anz, Januar Haikal,  Kak Rose and Tasha

close up of the wall around Verona

At the end of the alley, on our left was the Church di San Fermo Maggiore. A gothic structure, I'm told, but what interest me that every progress made (renovation) was clearly marked. Some areas, you could see the date or the year it was added/completed. 

We moved on towards attraction I had in mind. Walking in Verona, you have to peel your eyes open. You might missed things like this...

a glass pyramid behind a short column

what's underneath the glass pyramid...

The city was build and rebuild above ancient structures. As if, the old structures got sunk and were forgotten. 

I pressed on until I arrived at a huge gate, a tunnel full with graffiti. At last, 'Casa Giulietta Capulet'. The lady that made Verona famous, well it made William Shakespeare famous actually...Anyway, right now for many many many years had contributed tremendously towards the economic stature of the fair city of Verona. It was packed!

a tablet above the tunnel into the residence
"These were the dwellings of the Capulet whence came
that Juliet for whom kind hearts cries and poet sang" http://www.peacham.com/italy/verona.htm

Tunnel into the inner courtyard of Juliet's residence

'The verandah'..

the statue of Juliet, note the right bosom lighter
than the other..also note the silhouette of a hand ...hmmmmm

Inside, there was an inner courtyard with a bronze statue of the lady herself. Also, the fabled verandah where Romeo Montague would recite romantic poem to Juliet. If you look at the bronze statue, you would notice the 'just nice' (my batch mate's favourite word) right bosom is certainly much lighter colour than the left. The reason, visitors would touch it for 'luck?'... You can trust me that I did not do such thing.

The graffiti wall full with wishes, poem, caricature etc
from visitors all over the world

There's a well stocked souvenir shop within the compound of the house and another one facing the main road but accessible from the inner courtyard. This one is quite unique. The did embroidery on aprons. There are many types on display. Some for children, women and men too..and if I'm not mistaken, embroidery is free for simple design and maybe they charge extra for elaborate ones. 

There's a big plaza (Piazza Della Erbe) or Market's Square, not far from Juliet's place and its full with tourist looking to buy some souvenirs. Price wise I can't really comment. Malaysian Ringgit was I think at that time was at all time low against the Euro. So everything was pricey. But I can tell you there were a lot to choose from. The usual fridge magnets, caps, jerseys, shawls, t-shirts of local design etc. There were food too. Here and there were fruits..some snacks. Snapped some pictures around the area when suddenly the walkie talkie came to life...."need to regroup at the parking area".

Piazza delle Erbe in the distance

Short walk from the piazza, you would come across an archway with a whale rib bone underneath it. Not sure what type of whale, but it is said to be there for the past 1000years. Legend says that the rib will only fall, when a person (not stated men or woman, boy or girl)  who has never lied in his/her life passes underneath the rib.. Rib still there... hahahaha..

Arco della Costa with the whale rib hanging
from it...

There goes my Verona visit. Didn't manage to see the amphitheater. Back into the bucket list it seems. Onwards to Venice....