O’ fair Verona! For anyone who wants to wander through grand,
gold-studded cathedrals, take photos of glowing city lights reflected
into the river, and shop until you drop, this is absolutely the place to
be.
On Saturday, we got up bright and early to catch the bus to Bassano
del Grappa, where we would walk to the train station and begin our
journey to Verona. We arrived a bit earlier than expected, so we spent
some time walking around the quaint town of Bassano and doing a
little shopping. It was the perfect slow start — peaceful streets, cute
storefronts, and that feeling of being very put-together travelers with a
full day ahead.
From there, the plan was simple: train to Vicenza for a quick layover,
then another train straight into Verona. Easy enough.
Our first small setback came when we got off the bus and realized we
still had a twenty-minute walk to the station… and the train was
leaving in twelve. We tried our best to pick up the pace, but it just was
not happening. We missed the train by only a couple of minutes.
Fortunately, there was another one to Vicenza an hour later. After
repurchasing tickets and taking a deep breath, we were back on track
and ready to keep going.
Once we arrived in Verona, we made it our immediate mission to find
food after a long travel day with nothing to eat. We ended up each
devouring an entire pizza, which felt like the only appropriate way to
recover and officially start the trip.
With food in us, everything instantly felt worth it. The city was stunning
— beautiful architecture, incredible food, and such a lively
atmosphere. Since it was my first time in Italy, everything felt new and
mesmerizing. Even just walking through the streets felt glamorous, like
we had accidentally wandered onto a movie set.
The next day, we went straight to Juliet’s balcony, one of Verona’s most
famous attractions. We walked through the medieval house that
inspired Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, filled with paintings of the
story, marble sculptures, and, of course, the iconic balcony itself. It was
beautiful and romantic, with lots of history behind it and plenty of
great photo spots.
We did lots of shopping too — racks of stylish clothing you do not
normally find back home and gorgeous gold jewelry. Shop owners
would help you find matching pieces that suited your style, which
made the whole experience feel a little extra special.
We also went inside the Duomo di Verona, which was easily one of the
most breathtaking places I have visited. The ceilings were high and
sprawling with dome structures, and the arches felt perfectly balanced
and grand. Every wall was covered in intricate details, vibrant colors,
and gold engravings. It felt like there was something beautiful in every
direction. The space was so large that even a quiet word would echo.
We were given earpieces that explained the history of each section, so
we wandered slowly, taking it all in.
Our second setback came when we somehow missed our train back to
Bassano. This time, we were determined not to repeat the morning, so
we got to the station early — only to realize our train was leaving from
Platform 1G, not Platform 1. By the time we figured it out, the train had
already departed, and we ended up waiting at the station again. We
were a little defeated at that point, but it ended up being a sweet
moment when a friendly train station cat came up to us and kept us
company.
Finally, after a couple of hours, another train came, and we made it
back home, where we collapsed into our respective beds.
Even with the transportation hiccups, the weekend never felt anything
less than fun. Every part of the trip was exciting and memorable in its
own way. It really did feel like an adventure from start to finish. And for
a city known for love, it felt fitting — not just in the Romeo and Juliet
sense, but in the way travel brings people together. Missed trains, long
waits, and all, it was a weekend full of laughter, good company, and
moments that made the whole trip feel special. Sometimes the best
parts of a trip are not the perfectly planned ones, but the ones you end
up loving anyway.