The floor-to-ceiling windows in my apartment at Lords of Verona woke me up with the gorgeous morning light pouring in. Built inside a historic building, juxtaposed by modern Italian design, my apartment had the delight of wrought-iron balconies that peered out onto a narrow street right next to Piazza del Signori.
I looked to my left and caught a glimpse of the moon perched atop the clock tower of a medieval church. The silence of the morning was broken by the sweetness of church bells tolling, and I decided it was time for a morning walk on the quiet streets of Verona before the swarm of tourists would dilute the calm beauty.
Verona has quite the old-world charm. Edifices painted in different shades of yellow and orange, flowers and creepers pouring out of the wrought-iron balconies onto the exposed bricks and broken walls, all the things which tell me of the antiquity of this town built in the 1st century B.C. The morning light brought out the beauty of the pastel walls, while creating dramatic shadows.
I walked across the Ponte Pietra Bridge to the hilly part of town and hunger started gnawing at me so I stopped at a little cafe, Osteria La Ciacola, with an inviting outdoor seating where I ordered a delicious little mini-wich made of melted Brie, Pancetta and Caramelised Onions with a side of espresso.
Along the way, I spotted some gorgeous little boutique and vintage stores that pulled me in like an invisible force. Some of my favourites were: NaNa (Italian classics) and Armada Archive (a curated collection of timeless Italian fashion). The satisfaction of finding a unique vintage piece that fits you just right is incomparable.
Delighted with my purchase, I continued walking around until I found the perfect seat for people watching; by the river, next to a church, watching people go in and out for their morning prayers, and soaking in the beauty that lies in the slowness of small towns, something that can only be appreciated when the tourists are still asleep.
Moral of the story: If you want to experience the charm of a new place, sacrifice an hour of sleep and take a morning stroll: the light, the calming quiet, and the local activity are worth every minute of sleep lost.