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After the primary school and the sports fields, turn right through the car park and cross the main road and the bridge over the river bed leading to the residential estate known as ‘Arena Verde’. Turn right immediately after the bridge and on the far side of the small car park, take the path around the perimeter of the estate, following the signs to 'Parry Bed and Breakfast'. Continue to the far end of the path, then turn left up some steps and walk along the second side of the estate to the end of the path. Leave the estate here and turn right along a small path into the fields with a cherry orchard on the left and vineyards on the right.

At the end of the path, turn left along a track which leads slightly uphill to the north and comes out on the road. Turn right and then after a few metres, right again, taking the road up towards Vigolo (sign-posted to Vigolo, Ara, Castel, Pezzabona and Preperchiusa). At the junction at the top of the road, turn left by the shrine of San Vincenzo, and walk up towards Castel di Negrar, bearing left at the top of the hill.(alt. 303).

From Castel the road levels out for a stretch and then goes uphill towards Ara, a small group of houses on the left. Just beyond Ara turn off the road to the left following the signpost for Pezzabuona, and take the lower path which leads to Quena. Half way along the path, there is a white marble cross in memory of Righetti Domenico dated 7/5/1992. In Quena (alt. 342), we recommend a stop to admire the architecture of the houses, the fountain and the wash basin; there is also an attractive shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary dating from 24 May 1886, when Luigi di Canossa was Bishop of Verona.

From the fountain of Quena take the path with a stone wall to the right of the houses, after a few metres turn left and follow the path behind the houses, and on into the vineyards. Continue along the path to the group of houses at Dosso, where you will find an interesting wooden cross and a farmhouse with a fresco on the wall on the right. Turn right along the road, which becomes a grassy path leading downhill and then uphill into a wood. Keep to the left through the wood; after a 10 minute walk the path comes out onto the road above S. Ciriaco, opposite the San Ciriaco Relais (alt. 374).

Turn left here and follow the road down to the little church in San Ciriaco (alt. 357). Look for the sacred relic dating from 1768 behind glass at the top of the wall. Continue down the road after the church and then take the first track to the right which will take you down to Mulino di Villa. Walk past 4 yellow grain silos and over the bridge, then bear right and you will come out on the main road (SP12) opposite a group of houses. Cross the road and walk to the back of the houses where you will find the start of a path running alongside an old dry stone wall which leads down towards the vineyards. Follow the path down into the Molino Vecchio (Old Mill) valley. On the other side, follow the path uphill to where it joins a track running along the top of the field. Turn left and follow the track to Negrar-Torbe road. Turn left here and walk down to the first bend where a path leads off to the right between a small group of houses. Follow the path downhill to where it joins the road again.

In order to avoid walking back into Negrar on the main road, we suggest walking through the vineyards. A gate on the right, which is always open, leads into the fields. Follow one of the rows of grapes in the direction of Negrar and after a short walk, leave the vineyard to return to the main road at the junction with Via Osteria Vecchia. Cross the main road and take the Villa road uphill until you get to the first bend, where you take a path on the right between vineyards and cherry trees leading back towards Villa Rizzardi. Follow the walls of the villa and at the end of the path walk past the entrance to the villa and straight on past the shrine on the left. At Casa Poiega take a path to the right of the house, which turns into Via Guglielmi and then Via Pio X and takes you back into the centre of Negrar.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11231 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11230
Marble quarrying has always been at the basis of the local economy and local stone was used back in Roman times to build the Arena amphitheatre as well as the basilicas of San Zeno and Santa Anastasia and many other important buildings in the centre of Verona.

Recently the whole area has been studied by architects from all over the world who took part in a competition for the best plans to ensure the development of the whole area as a local beauty spot.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11230 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11229
But the main attraction is the walk down to the park for breathtaking views of the walls of nude rock and the roaring waterfalls. For the bravest we recommend a play on the swing which takes you right up to one of the waterfalls. Pay for your ticket in the village before you start the walk downhill (it costs a 50 cents less that way, the full price is 3 euros). You should wear good walking shoes - it can be slippery and bear in mind that when you get down to the last waterfall, you've got a long walk back up again. There is a bar at the beginning of the walk so anyone who prefers to can stay there and wait for the others to return.

And to finish off the day why not have a look at some local produce in the little shop and try the friendly and reasonably priced restaurant in the main square. We recommend it!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11229 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11213
After a glass of sparkling Prosecco, we started the meal with a delicious soup made with green asparagus and the smallest fresh peas you can imagine, truly wonderful. Giorgio makes his own salame, ‘pancetta’ and ‘lardo’ and although I was a bit dubious about the fat at first I was amazed at how delicious it all was, served with toasted bread with an exceptionally smooth olive oil and small green peppers, then fresh goat's cheese with chives, and an excellent Valpolicella classico to accompany it.

I suspect Giorgio knows more about food than anyone I’ve ever met. He can explain the difference between the green and white asparagus which comes fresh from the field and is served with egg and the finest slices of black truffle. He knows just where and when to pick the best mountain mushrooms, where to find the finest truffles, how to prepare the most delicious strawberry sauce to accompany his home-made tortelli with ricotta and nettles (magic!), how to choose the most delicate baby spinach leaves as a base for the tenderest ‘maltagliata’ (a rare beef fillet roughly chopped and served with fennel and Amarone sauce)…

He serves the local Monte Veronese cheese with a preserve known as ‘mostarda di mele’, which is made with apples and the essence of mustard and makes a perfect combination.

We had no room for dessert, but when he brought out a plate of icecream topped with chestnuts in honey, with home-made pastries, we couldn’t resist.

Each course was served with the right wine – and the Amarone we drank with the ‘maltagliata’ was exceptional – then coffee and grappa, or rose liqueur for the ladies.

We enjoyed our meal so much that I felt I had to write about it! It wasn’t cheap, but we sometimes like to treat ourselves, so if you would like to do the same, just drop us a line and we’ll put you in touch, or have a look at Giorgio’s site – we hope you will enjoy your evening as much as we did.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11213 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11211 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11211