Exploring Italy by Train

We relaxed in a comfortable first-class compartment, and enjoyed the scenery as the train sped through the countryside. To the North we could see the steep Dolomite mountains, while South of us was vast, flat farmland. We soon arrived in Verona, and took a taxi to our hotel in the center of the city, convenient to everything. Although this city is known for its Romeo and Juliet association, it has much more to offer. Next to our hotel, on the banks of the Adige River, stood the Castelvecchio, a castle complete with moat and drawbridge. It now houses an impressive art museum. Around the corner is the well-preserved pink marble Roman amphitheatre in the main piazza. It is still in use as an Opera house, and a production of Aida was showing while we were there. That evening, we sat at a nearby outdoor cafe and listened to the music drifting over the amphitheatre walls.

The main shopping street, Via Mazzini is closed to traffic and offers a perfect place for an after dinner stroll. At the end of the street was the Piazza della Erbe, a lively place with market stalls selling everything from fresh produce to tacky souvenirs.

Our next stop was Padua, which we had no great desire to visit, but it was only 1/2 hour by train to Venice, and would offer a convenient, economical base from which we could make a visit there. We had no reservations, and exiting the station we spotted a hotel a short walk away. After leaving our backpacks in the room of this clean and inexpensive hotel, we headed into town for lunch and a look around. In the center, we discovered another Piazza della Erbe, a bustling marketplace. There was also a produce market in the Piazza della Frutta, where we stopped for lunch at an outdoor cafe overlooking the market activity. While we enjoyed our lunch, the vendors packed up their produce, stands, and umbrellas and left, leaving behind an empty parking lot. Afterwards, we explored the heart of the city, marveling at its arcaded streets, attractive Basilica, and statues by Donatello.

After dinner in our hotel, we took an evening stroll, and discovered a drawback to staying in the neighborhood of a train station- at night the streets were lined with prostitutes. We quickly headed back to our room, and decided not to stay near a station in the future.

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