May 8th: I will arrive in Verona aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express around 4:00PM, and make my way to Hotel Accademia for check-in. After getting settled, I will go out and get dinner at a Veronese restaurant and do a little exploring of the area on-foot.

May 9th: After breakfast at the hotel, I will spend May 9th doing the 4th book-related activity on my trip: the Romeo and Juliet Foot Path. Romeo and Juliet's Footpath is a self-guided tour that I have constructed based on guided-tours that I researched online. Beginning at an old Veronese building that would have been the inspiration for Juliet's home in Shakespeare's play, I will enter the home and learn about the history of the house and its restoration, see Juliet's balcony, view the statue of Juliet, see the ballroom where the ball took place in the play/novel, and see Juliet's bedroom, which was used as a set in the Franco Zeffirelli movie adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. Next, I will walk to see the exterior of what would be Romeo's house, though it is currently a private-residence, and therefore, inaccessible to the public. Following the path, I will walk down the street where Romeo and Tybalt's duel would have taken place. On the street, there is a plaque depiting the fatal duel, though it is actually a reference to the works of Palazzo Carlotti, who wrote a short story that it is believed Shakespeare "obtained inspiration" (or plagiarized) to create his famous play. Next is the 13th century gate to the city, from which Romeo would have fled after killing Tybalt in the duel. The walls of the city are extremely old, and the architecture will be quite impressive to see. Finally, I will end my footpath tour by visiting Juliet's grave, which is located in the basement of the ancient San Francesco al Corso monastery. The monastery was turned into a museum, and the crypt holds an empty sarcophagous from which Juliet would have emerged following her fake death. I will end the day by looking for traditional food in town for lunch and dinner, as well as walking the streets to admire the history and architectural wonders of Verona.

May 10th: I have also left May 10th as an unplanned day, as Verona has so much to offer in terms of food, activities, and sightseeing. Some options of things to visit are the Verona Arena, a plethora of gorgeous cathedrals and churches, Piazza Bra (one of the largest Piazzas in all of Italy) which plays host to many cafes, restaurants, and shops.

Climate: Verona in May has daily temperatures that range from low 50s to low 70s Fahrenheit. The temperature peaks around 5:00pm, and the chance of rain is higher at around 40%. It feels mildly cool, with a humidity around 60%.

Culture: Verona's culture has been shaped immensely by its historic rulers. Founded in the 1st century B.C, its was particularly noteworthy during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance period. Today's culture still holds connections to former Roman, Austrian and Venetian rulers. The city's architecture is ancient and gorgeous, with buildings and walls that have existed for over 2,000 years. Verona has so much to offer in terms of culture, food, and unique tourism opportunities, from religious tourism to historical and architectural tourism.