Verona is a city in northern Italy's Veneto region, with a medieval old town built between the two banks of the meandering Adige River. Seven beautiful bridges link the two sides.

On the north side of the river are hills on which lie Castel St Pietro, the Sanctuary of Madonna of Lourdes,  Giardino Giusti and the nearby Roman Theater, Academy of Fine Arts and University of Verona.

Although Verona's main attractions are associated with it being the setting of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, there are other sights related to ancient Roman and medieval military history.

Piazza delle Erbe, surrounded by tall colorful medieval buildings is the heart of Verona's historic center. Several piazzas, churches and palaces are within easy walking distance.

A 14th Century residence with a tiny balcony overlooking a courtyard is said to be "Juliet's House."

In the alley entering "Juliet's" courtyard, people post love notes attached with band-aids since the use of gum was banned.

Verona Cathedral was erected after two palaeo-Christian churches on the same site were destroyed by an earthquake in 1117. (adert, wikimedia commons).

In manor houses, chapels and churches throughout the city, there were delightful performances of classical and contemporary music.

Castelvecchio is the most important military construction of the Scaliger dynasty that ruled Verona in the Middle Ages.

The ancient Roman amphitheater now currently hosts concerts and large-scale opera performances.

Venice, the capital of the Veneto region, is built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea.

The Rialto bridge, with its shop-lined ramps, is the oldest of the four that cross the Grand Canal.

Gondolas,  water taxis, and water buses (vaporetti)  carry passengers through the city center, along the grand Canal, and across the lagoon.

The central square, Piazza San Marco, contains St. Mark's Basilica, which is tiled with Byzantine mosaics, the Doges' Palace, and the Campanile Bell Tower.

Set on an island, the art-filled Palladian Church of San Giorgio Maggiore overlooks the Venice lagoon. 

Spanish artist, Lorenzo Quinn, designed this art installation, Support,  in time for the 2017 Venice Biennale. It is a statement about the risks of climate change, which will tour to other Italian cities.

Venice is practically defined by its canals, with more than 150 waterways meandering through the city, traversed by over 400 bridges.
 

It was fascinating to view artwork of historical Venice and to see how much is still intact.

Away from the tourist crowds there are quiet neighborhoods where 200,000 local residents live.