10 years ago we had a magical moment in Verona. We were traveling with some of our best friends in the world, just completed an epic dinner, and walked out of the restaurant sometime after 1:00 am. As we walked out it felt like we walked into a movie set. The city was flooded with thousands of people. Wearing evening gowns and tuxedoes and many wearing bright red shawls. The streets in this area are all paved with marble and it felt like every light in the city had been left on for the night. There were couples walking arm in arm all seemingly just happy to be enjoying their time together walking through Verona, Italy…in the middle of the night.
We learned that the opera had just let out, but not just any opera. In Verona, they perform inside an actual Roman area. One that pre-dates the Coliseum in Rome. I don’t think there was any doubt in our minds that we would be coming back.
We came to the region and revisited the Dimora Buglioni. We stayed here on our last trip and this 16th-century mansion that has been perfectly restored into a welcoming agriturismo had been calling to us for the last decade. We clearly remembered the four-hour lunch we shared in Locanda Buglioni watching an incredible storm roll in over the vineyards. There was a lot of laughter with friends in and around the Buglioni property.
Coming back to Buglioni was as special as the first time. We returned to Locanda and were treated to another experience that will continue to call us back. We had tranquil mornings and in the afternoon the terrace became my office as we spent most of a work week here. Conference calls are so much more enjoyable while sitting in an Italian vineyard.
After a few incredibly relaxing days we moved into Verona and fulfilled a bucket list experience by going to the opera at the Arena di Verona. There were something like 20,000 people at an opera that was a production like I have never seen. I think there were over 100 people on the stage along with horses, donkeys, and even children. From the moment we walked in, through our walk back to the hotel, arm in arm, back in that fairy tale moment again, we drank in this experience.
I have never been one for reliving experiences. I find it almost always leaves you disappointed. This stop was something different. It wasn’t going back, it was experiencing a moment from a completely different perspective. Who wants to go with us next time?
