VERONA

Our final Reading Cities trip took us to two cities this time, making sure we got our fill of Italy's finest architecture. Our fist day was spent in the lovely city of Verona, where we were able to soak up the great weather and great architecture simultaneously.

We started our day at Castelvecchio, which is known essentially for the incredibly and very different renovations that Carlos Scarpa made in order to turn the castello into a museum.

I feel like some buildings get a lot of hype because of who the architect is, but I think this one actually lives up to all of that. It could just be that I enjoy his almost minimalist style (and I say almost because he puts way too many details in to make it look so simple), but I think that this transformation really creates an experience and not just another building. As you walk through the building you are taken outside at several points, and these outdoor areas are absolutely gorgeous. It almost feels like an interactive museum than just a stoic and stationary, standard museum.

But then again Carlos Scarpa was insane and did 636 sketches just to figure out where to place this statue.

I don't usually get creeped out very easily, but this painting definitely did it for me.

After the Castelvecchio it was a relaxing lunch by the river, where Rachel and I sprawled out on a bench and attempted to soak up some sun (me laying there praying I wouldn't burn). Then after lunch we headed off to another very important Verona landmark, the Arena di Verona.

No, it is not the Colosseum, but it was built by the same people. In fact, it was built before the Colosseum; about 50 years before to be more precise. And unlike the Colosseum, this amphitheater is still in use today.

It's third ring of walls fell down in an earthquake and this is the only one left standing. They call it the "wing". Cute.

When we actually entered, we could see how it is still a completely functional space still. There were metal seats installed in the lower sections, and there was a crew working to set up a temporary stage for whatever concert was going to take place there later in the week.

After that we were free for a little while until we had to meet back up and catch our train to our next destination, Venice! So to pass the time we went with out professor to "Juliette's house". I use that name very cautiously because this area is literally just a ploy for tourists to get them to come and possibly spend some money. This obviously wasn't Juliette's old house. In fact, it used to be an old factory. Sorry to squelch the romance for any romantics out there, but you ought to know.

They did put in a little effort and add a balcony that you can pay and go up to so that you can get a picture like Juliette. (I'm sure this became way more popular after that movie Letters to Juliette.)

Regardless of how I feel, the place was swarming with people and couple putting their love locks on the gate or going up and touching the breast of the Juliette statue (which is supposed to bring luck. How? I'm not sure. Has anyone pay attention to the morbidity of that story? Who was lucky?)

After that we took a slightly more scenic route back to the bus stop, and from there headed to the train station, and even further to Venice.