Sottoriva has a rather unusual peculiarity for Verona: it is in its almost totality covered by arcades. You will not find any other place with such characteristics in the whole ancient city and this gives it a special charm. By taking this path, which is separated from the Adige river only from a row of houses, you will realize that you are going downhill, and the road takes its name from this: we are below the Adige bank.
Look up and you will be amazed at thearchitecture fragmented of these houses, dotted with Madonnas and votive niches
The fashions that have had this corner of Old Town were different: originally it was home to all antique shops of the city, later became the center of nightlife small town; unfortunately the trendy clubs closed one after the other due to the noises. Currently antique shops and osterie the porch eyes are almost equally shared.
The attendance, however, has changed a lot and the numerous restaurants, while maintaining wooden plank tables and a feignedly modest appearance, they are mostly frequented by tourists. But with the due exceptions.
THESottoriva tavern located about halfway down the street, it is a place loved by the Veronese, its tables under the portico are full in every season, here you can drink good Veronese wine but also refined champagne, while the hot dishes are dusted off by traditional local cuisine . For some years the last sunday of march this place organizes the "gran gala della bondola": at the turn of the lunch hour is cut and distributed to all present (which I assure you are many), a mortadella giant together with some bad wine, Sottoriva comes for the occasion closed to traffic and the music continues until late afternoon.
A few steps away, another place not to be missed is the wine shop "The oenological institute”, Not only for a remarkable selection of bottles at excellent prices, but also and above all for the wonderful cellars of Roman origin that you can visit upon entering.
Sottoriva ends up in one quiet and tree-lined open space, take a few moments and approach the balcony overlooking the river: in front of you the Roman theater and the hill on which it is built, which culminates with the strange and disused construction of the Theodoric Castle, while leaning to the left the outline of the pontepietra, one of the symbols of Verona; behind you the apse and the brick bell tower of one of the most beautiful and imposing churches in the city: S. Anastasia. Yes, because, even if for a moment walking along this ancient cobbled road it seemed to be in a quiet provincial village in reality we are in the heart of the city.
