Verona and Lake Garda: With an Excursion to Valpolicella

A city that has existed for over 2,000 years, Verona has a wealth of historic architecture: from Ancient Roman masterworks such as the Arena, through seventeenth-century neoclassical gems like the Gran Guardia Palace, to inventive recent restorations and adaptations. Its Gothic and Romanesque edifices - frequently constructed in pink brick - are a particular highlight. The architectural remnants of every period of the history of this UNESCO-listed city is covered here, in the first architectural guide to Verona, Lake Garda, and Valpolicella. The towns and villages around Lake Garda have long attracted tourists, and the selection in this volume reflects this. Villas and hotels loom large, including the eccentric villa complex constructed by the poet Gabriele D'Annunzio, with its First World War gunship built into the grounds. Through his considered selection of buildings, historian and socio-urbanist Sergey Nikitin provides a sometimes-irreverent look at sights that range from the well-known to the more hidden, such as Carlo Scarpa's careful balancing of old and new in the Museo Castelvecchio, the magnificent 1930s tunnels on Strada Gardesana Occidentale, and even a traditional bakery for the complete Italian experience. The guide includes detailed addresses and maps for ease of visiting and a further reading list for those who want to explore the area from home first.