Verona,Italy

Wander the streets of Verona on a winter’s night and you might believe the tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet to be true. Beyond the Shakespearean hyperbole, however, you’ll find plenty to keep you occupied in one of Italy’s most beautiful cities. Known aspiccola Roma (little Rome) for its importance in imperial days, its truly golden era came during the 13th and 14th centuries under the Della Scala family (also known as the Scaligeri). The period was noted for the savage family feuding of which Shakespeare wrote in his play.