15/06/2021 - Desenzano del Garda - Verona - Modena - Bologna

9 am we left Lake Garda. We drove past many vineyards and made our first stop in Sona at a grappa factory. Here we tried just a few sips of grappa and limoncello, because it was still before 11 am ;-). But we took a few delicacies for later and for home. And then we continued to Verona. We parked the car centrally and walked through the busy streets of the medieval city. We passed by the Arena di Verona, one of the largest amphitheaters built by the Romans in the 1st century, to Casa di Giulietta, the setting of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and to Piazza delle Erbe, one of the main squares of the charming historic city. From the banks of the Adige we took a look at the Roman arch bridge Ponte Pietra before going to the restaurant Ai Mascheroni for lunch. The food not only looked really good but also tasted fantastic. A short but very nice stay in Verona.

At 3 pm we had an appointment for a balsamic vinegar tasting at the private Villa Acetaia di Giorgio, 100 kilometers away in Modena. During a private tour we learned a lot about the open storage in different wooden barrels and the family tradition of balsamic vinegar production. Only very specific bottles can be used and only 2000 are sold per year, because true balsamic vinegar has very strict regulations. After stocking up on a bottle here as well, we drove to Bologna, our destination for today. Quickly went to the supermarket, got fresh ham and burrata for dinner.