Not many cities in the world have or ever will come close to becoming as immortal as the city of Verona has from Shakespeare's world renowned Romeo and Juliet. Whatever language you speak and whether or not you have read the tragedy, you must likely know that the star-crossed lovers came from Verona. What better piece of literature to read than this masterpiece when preparing for a trip to the ever-so-romantic city? Equally relevant however, and also by Shakespeare, is "The Two Gentleman of Verona " and "The Merchant of Venice" which are comedies.

"A Season with Verona" by Tim Parks has a very different tone dealing with racism and soccer and gives a flavor of the local culture.

But if it is art which interests you like many other tourists en route to Italy, you may want to look into "Artful Italy: The Hidden Treasures" by Ann S. Brandon or "Verona (Art History Legend)" by Dino Ganzarli, Maria Pia Girolami, and Michael Lee.

Finally, do not forget how easy it is to become lost in Italy. Bringing a guide book and map is a smart move. "Footprint Verona" by Footprint Pocket Guides should help extensively or any guide covering Northern Italy.