n e r o l i
t h e c i t y o f b l o o m s
Established on the banks of Mincio River in the region of Lombardy, Neroli has been the centre of the Italian wizarding world for over five hundred years. Built on a marshy patch of land that the muggles didn’t bother to cultivate, wards and other spells have made muggles feel uneasy when they begin to cross the river and charms have allowed the city to remain hidden.
Neroli resembles a mixture of the muggle Italian cities of Venice, Florence, Verona, and Rome - thanks to the wealthy wizarding families from across Italy who relocated to the wizard-only city and imparted their own local style of architecture. There is a large river flowing alongside Neroli, with many smaller canals that feed from it and flow into the city; magical gondolas float both passengers and produce, seemingly of their own accord. Streets are lined with trees and buildings are covered in crawling vines. On the outskirts of the city are the larger homes from the old families; sprawling villas with vineyards and the like, which are shielded from muggles and act as a barrier between the city and the non-magical world beyond.
The culture of Neroli is very much about enjoying life, seeking out pleasure, and keeping balance. It can sometimes be hard to distinguish residents from tourists, as nobody ever seems to be in any sort of rush. Workers take their time and enjoy their lunch breaks, visiting the local restaurants and bars. After work, Nerolians frequently go out to shows, or for dinner or drinks with friends and family.
There is a large central boulevard, Via D'Angelo, that runs parallel to the river and connects all streets off of it. The Ministero della Magia is located on this street, as are many of Neroli's more 'pleasant' businesses. La Piazza Cittadina is Neroli's entertainment square and home to most bars, restaurants, clubs, theatres, and the casino. From here various other retail stores fan out through the many winding streets of the city. As the residents of Neroli are all about balance, so is the city itself; it does not hide its darker leanings. Rather than, like many wizarding cities, limiting all 'dark' stores to one street or sector, one will find these scattered throughout the city, nestled in amongst other types of stores.
The other main space in Neroli is the renowned Villa Feronia (the Feronia gardens), which are always open and many workers will spend their breaks enjoying a leisurely stroll. The gardens are home to many magical and mundane types of flora and fauna, an enchanting green space in the middle of the city.
La Stazione is a discreet building located on the riverfront, and is where boats, trains, and portkeys into Neroli all arrive.
