If you want to try an authentic Veronese experience, which usually starts late in the evening, look no further than the picturesque street in the heart of the city (Via Don Bassi, 4) the club Madonna Verona. This place is steeped in history and has a cosy, retro atmosphere with a Parisian flavour. The soul of it all is the iconic and revolutionary Maria Luigia Vassanelli, 86 years old, nicknamed Luisa, a true pioneer of female entrepreneurship in Verona in the 1960s. Luisa is a controversial character, loved by many and contested by others, but with her bar and Carnival mask (dedicated and performed by her for more than 40 years), she has left an indelible mark on the history of this city.
In the last few years, Luisa has handed down the mask and the management of the bar to her daughter Paola. If you are lucky you might still see her around the place.
Madonna Verona is also the name of a majestic fountain that stands a few steps away from Luisa’s restaurant in the heart of Piazza delle Erbe in Verona. Its beauty and charm make it one of the most photographed monuments when visiting the historic centre of the city of Verona. Built towards the end of the 14th century, it consists of a single column with four steps leading to the base of the basin, which is decorated with carvings and sculptures of angels.
