Hello dear friends,
In today's post, I want to take you on a journey to another beautiful place I had the privilege of visiting a few weeks ago. I was in Verona to see a beloved cousin whom I hadn't seen in a while. Instead of sharing the usual photos of Verona's Juliet's balcony, which I believe is not quite representative of the charm of this beautiful city, I'd like to introduce you to a historic garden that I had wanted to visit for some time. I took advantage of the opportunity when I went to see my dear cousin.
a beautiful fountain!
I'm talking about Giardini Giusti, a Renaissance-style garden that might not be as famous internationally, but it's a significant attraction for those who visit Verona. The gardens are located just about a kilometer and a half from the city center and over the years, they've been considered one of the finest examples of Italian gardens.
Within the park, there are a series of hidden caves.
The credit for these gardens goes to Mr. Agostino Giusti, an important figure during the time of the Venetian Republic. They were constructed around 1500 and are situated near the palace inhabited by this influential individual, known as Palazzo Giusti. In fact, I will also share some photos I took inside this captivating historical palace at the end of this post.
To visit this place, including the palace, I paid an entrance fee of 10 euros. In my opinion, it's a reasonable price because there's not a lot to see apart from the rather spacious garden. The palace itself is quite small, and only a few rooms are accessible.
This is the Giusti Palace.
The history behind this place is rather straightforward. Agostino Giusti didn't actually reside here; he held a representative role in the Venetian Republic, essentially acting as an ambassador. He aimed to transform this secondary residence into a place of representation. As was common in that era to impress guests, he created a stunning garden adjacent to the palace. Unfortunately, over the years, as a guide on site explained to me, this garden suffered from adverse weather conditions. Several centuries-old trees were brought down. Nevertheless, it's a beautiful place to stroll around, not just to find tranquility and relaxation, but also to enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of the entire city of Verona.
The rooms inside the palace, as you can see from the photos I've shared, are impeccably maintained. I was told that they were restored only a few years ago. All the rooms are furnished with original pieces. Finding original furnishings in various Italian palaces is quite a challenge, considering the historical events, including Napoleon's campaigns, that led to the looting of many valuable items. This is why numerous paintings can be found in French museums.
I hope you enjoyed this post, and that you found this place intriguing. I must emphasize that I had wanted to visit for quite some time. Friends had spoken highly of it, and in my opinion, if you're on vacation in Verona, it's well worth a visit. It's not overly large; you can explore both the gardens and the palace in about two hours. Nonetheless, there are many unique aspects that captured my attention.
