Showing posts with label Verona. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Verona. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Il Barbiere di Siviglia, L'Arena, Verona

The Barber of Seville was the second opera I've been to in my lifetime, but this was simply spectacular. The Arena is the ancient Roman amphitheatre in Verona, and every year during opera season it hosts the shows. The Barber of Seville was a brilliant production, but especially the woman playing the part of Rosina. What an incredible voice! Everyone lit candles, and the entire arena was alight. It was special for me in that my great grandparents had both sung in the Arena once upon a time, and so imagining them entertaining hundreds of people in that very spot was wonderful.

The Arena

Alma, Marike and Ant

The Arena filling up

The orchestra


Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Verona at night...


In the background is Ponte Scaligero and Castelvecchio.

Porta Borsari

Friday, May 13, 2011

The Mille Miglia

One of the vintage vehicles from the Mille Miglia.

Thursday morning I woke up early and cycled through to the next town, Pedemonte, for a job interview at Cantina Bolla. After the meeting I was put in contact with a South African girl, Alma, who is a wine maker and working in the Veneto, on the east side of Verona. After phoning her for some advice about where to go with finding work on vineyards, she kindly invited me to join her and some friends for drinks and dinner in Verona.

At the moment there is a race happening in Italy called the Mille Miglia (1000 miles). It is one of the most prestigious car races in the entire world, and I was privileged enough to experience it last night. It was absolutely incredible. It is a vintage car race, and participation is only allowed if one's vehicle was built between the years of 1927 and 1957. I was also lucky enough to see my favourite vehicle in the world, the Jaguar XK120, which was manufactured between 1948 and 1954. Also present was the original Mercedes 300SL, the vehicle which the modern Mercedes Gullwing is based on. I also got to cheer Rowan Atkinson on in his 1957 BMW coupe. Unfortunately, I have discovered Spritz over here, and it seems to be all the rage for Summer. Needless to say, there weren't too many photographs taken due to me being a little preoccupied with this beverage. After the race, I was treated to an amazing dinner at the Osteria la Pignia with my new friends, as well as a winetasting of the Valpolicella produce. I'm not one hundred percent what it all meant though, they all just started shouting at one another and comparing glasses!


Alma and Michele.
 
In the Osteria la Pignia.

Piazza Erbe by night

I took this the evening of the Mille Miglia.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Another day in Verona



Standing in front of the Fontana di Madonna Verona in Piazza Erbe, Verona.

The view of Verona from Castello di San Pietro.



Saturday, April 30, 2011

Verona...

Piazza Erbe.
I spent the week after Easter in Verona with family friends, Carlo and Maria-Theresa, and their son Alberto. They are such hospitable people, and the food and wine there were just incredible. They work during the day, so I spent most of it wandering through the cobbled streets of Verona by myself. My ancestors are from this town, so it was pretty special to be back here.

Juliet's balcony.


The statue of Juliet.

The main Piazza in Verona, Piazza Bra.
The old Roman amphitheatre called the Arena in Verona. It now plays hosts to the city's opera festivals that happen every year. Opera season starts beginning of June. My great grandfather used to sing opera in the Arena when he was alive.

Fontana in Piazza Bra.