'You, minion, are too saucy.' (Julia, Act 1 Scene 2) Shakespeare - The Two Gentlemen of Verona (1589)
(Above photo - Grand Tour The Statues of Giardino Giusti )
The Canonbury Antiques love affair with Italy continues - this time with a mini Grand Tour stop off in the charming environs of Verona in the north of the country. Verona has everything you'd expect - Roman ruins, magnificent churches (Basilica di Santa Anastasia, my favourite), a medieval quarter, the ghosts of Shakespeare and Dante, the Arena di Verona and of course lots of plazas full of Italian food and Aperol Spritz. Yummy. I could have spent days wondering around the streets marveling at all the sites and sounds of this city packed full of history.
( Above photo - Wonderful view of Verona from Giardino Giusti )
Perhaps our favourite and most interesting stop off was the Giardino Giusti just outside the centre running alongside the Adige River. The Giusti Garden is a Renaissance garden that was a popular stop off on any 17th and 18th century Grand Tour. The gardens sit outside the palace which was originally constructed by the Giusti family who made their money in wool-dyeing in the 15th Century. The Giusti Palace (Palazzo Giusti) is a Renaissance gem renowned not only for its architectural elegance but also for its stunning Italian-style gardens.
(Above photo - Giardino Giusti Grand Tour Gardens Italy )
(Above photo - Statue of Bacchus in the Italian Garden )
Built around 1570, the palace itself is a fine example of late Renaissance architecture, characterized by classical symmetry and sober yet refined stone detailing. Though less ostentatious than some of its contemporaries, the real crown jewel of the estate is its garden—often considered one of the most beautiful Renaissance gardens in Europe. Designed in 1580, the garden features manicured parterres, mythological statues, a cypress-lined avenue, grottoes and a famed hedge maze that continues to captivate visitors today.
A key highlight of the garden is the belvedere at the top of the terraced hill, offering sweeping views over Verona’s historic skyline. The garden was so admired that Goethe himself praised it during his Italian journey in the late 18th century, noting its harmony and tranquility. The integration of nature, classical ideals, and romanticism make Giusti Palace a unique fusion of art, architecture, and landscape design—a living relic of Renaissance culture.
Today, Palazzo Giusti is open to the public and stands as a testament to Verona’s rich heritage. It draws art lovers, historians, and tourists alike, all eager to experience the serene grandeur of one of Italy’s finest historic gardens.
(Above photo - Goethe's favourite garden )
As part of the Grand Tour, prominent visitors to the gardens and palace included Mozart, Goethe, Addison, Evelyn, Ruskin, Tsar Alexander I of Russia and of course Canonbury Antiques. I really enjoyed my time in Verona and it was a nice bookmark to the year when in the summer I had been to Sicily. From the shores of Southern Sicily you can almost see Africa - then I was in the far north of this varied country, brushing the border with Austria with the Alps to the left. Such a wonderful range of landscape and culture.
( Above photo - Classical fountains and mythological statues abound )
(Above photo - The inside of the Palazzo Giusti are equally impressive )
(Above photo - Sweeping views across the Giardino Giusti )
(Above photo - Ponte Pietra Verona, Italia )
(Above photo - The Arena in the middle of Verona a perfect Roman ampitheatre )
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