THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN VERONA

Are you visiting the Northern region of Italy soon and are looking to ideas on the best things to do in Verona? Then look no further than our extensive guide on the best things to do in Verona, where to stay and where to eat. If you have more than 3 days in the northern region, we recommend visiting Lake Garda, Milan and Venice, these towns are just over an hour on a fast train from Verona. During our recent visit to Verona, we spent 3 days and 3 nights which I think is the perfect amount of time to take everything in at a leisurely pace.

The city of Verona is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Metropolitan city located in the north of Italy. Verona is considered a romantic city thanks to Shakespeare’s Rome and Juliet where the story is set. It is known whether Shakespeare ever made it to Verona but two of his plays {the second is called the two gentlemen of Verona} are set in the city. Everyone who’s visited the city of Verona has fallen in love with not only the story of the two star crossed lovers but rather the impressive architecture and the city’s history.

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21 of THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN VERONA

Before visiting Verona, I had little appreciation of the beauty that this Italian city possessed and I think it should be on every traveller’s bucketlist. The city of Verona is more than Juliet’s balcony but rather a culmination of impressive architecture, food and opera. If this sounds like something you would like to experience then our guide of the best things to do in Verona is just the ticket. Even though you can explore all these places in one day, we recommend at least 3-days that way you can truly experience the city in its glory.

The best things to do in Verona guide is compiled in such a way that you would be able to explore the city in some sort of order starting at the archway (Portoni Della bra) into the city. From here onwards, the tour of the city is pretty much in a straight line with a few side alley drift offs. We recommend purchasing a city card as it is very value for money and you can enter a lot of popular tourist attraction either free or at a discounted rate. Though the city is walkable, the Verona card affords you unlimited access to public transport.

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Portoni Della Bra

Portoni Della Bra is a gateway into the old town in Verona and is formed of twin archways with an ovo clock in the middle. The twin archways are located a mere 20-minutes walk from Porta Nuova (main station) or a 5-minute bus ride depending on traffic. Portoni Della Bra is a gateway to the Piazza Bra, the largest square in Verona.

Piazza Bra

The Piazza bra is not only the largest square in Verona but in Italy too, this part of the city is the perfect place to relax. This square is surrounded by gorgeous cafes and restaurants all facing the Arena di Verona. We found that in this area, you can people watch, eat some delicious foods and take snaps of the gorgeous architecture around the square. Apart from the twin archways, in this area, you can find the Gran Guardia and the Palazzo Barbieri (yellow building) both of which are great attractions.

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Arena di Verona

The amphitheatre aka the Arena di Verona is an elliptical building that was used for public performances and told hosts the Verona Opera Festival. Did you know that this area is older the Colosseum in Rome and was built in the first century AD? It’s older than the Colosseum by a good 50 years, back in the day the arena was used for gladiator games called munera. Today you can visit the arena for €10 per person and offers the best views of the Piazza Bra sitting over 15,000 people.

Via Mazzini

The Via Mazzini is the largest pedestrian zone in Verona and it connects the city’s popular squares, Piazza Bra and Piazza Delle Erbe. Walking from the Arena, the Via Mazzini is on the left-hand side and is a street lined with various shops. As you walk down the street, on the horizon you can see the Torre Dei Lamberti – an 84 metres tall tower situated by the Piazza Delle Erbe. If you’re visiting near Christmas time, this is the perfect place to pick up some presents for yourself and your loved ones.

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Piazza Delle Erbe

Originally during the Roman times, the Piazza Delle Erbe is where the Roman forum stood and today it’s home to elegant historic buildings and daily market. The square is very living thanks to the market well vendors sell anything from fresh produce to clothing and souvenirs. At the Piazza Delle Erbe, there are four attractions to look for; the Palazzo Maffei (Baroque Palace), Mazzanti Houses, Madona Verona (14th-century fountain with a Roman statue) and the Arco Della Costa (an archway with long whalebone leading to the Torre Dei Lamberti).

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Torre Dei Lamberti

Torre Dei Lamberti is the 84-meter tower dawning the Piazza Delle Erbe square and offers unparalleled views of the city of Verona. The tower was constructed in 1172 and initially was only 34 meters but has since been elevated and repaired after the lightning struck the tower. Today, for a small fee, you can enter the tower and climb the 368 steps but if like me you prefer a simpler way then there is a lift to the top.

Piazza Dei Signori

Located next to the Piazza Della Erbe and a short walk from the tower, Piazza Dei Signori is another important square in Verona. In this area, you can find the following important buildings.

• Palazzo Della Ragione, Verona
• Palazzo Domus Nova
• Casa Della Pietà
• Palazzo di Cansignorio
• Palazzo del Podestà, Verona
• Loggia del Consiglio

During our visit to the square it was covered in Christmas markets and it was the best time to visit. The square is nicknamed ‘Piazza Dante’ because of the famous Italian poet Dante Alighieri.

Juliet’s House & Museum

I am sure everyone is familiar with the story of Rome and Juliet but did you know that Shakespeare based his story in Verona. Even though the two families in Rome & Juliet are fiction, the city of Verona created Juliet’s balcony thanks to the noble family Cappelletti. Today, Juliet’s balcony is so popular with tourists and unfortunately, the house and the statue are overcrowded and slightly damaged thanks to the bubble gum stack to the wall.

Cross the Ponte Nuovo

Ponte Nuovo {new bridge} is 97meters long and 15 meters wide bridge which crosses the Adige river through to Veronetta. Over the bridge, you can enjoy beautiful views of river Adige, the green hills and Ponte Pietra. The bridge has been rebuilt many times over the years with the last being after the war in 1945. During a warm sunny day, the bridge is often filled with tourists all gazing at the beautiful green hills of Verona.

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Renaissance garden

The Renaissance garden aka the Giusti Garden is a 15th-century garden located east of the city. Giusti Garden is considered one of the most beautiful gardens in Europe and curated in the parterre and hedge maze pattern. For €10 you can explore the gardens and climb up the hill for great views of both the city and the garden itself. We found the gardens to be very relaxing and a place to take in the splendour that is Verona.

Roman theatre

The Roman theatre is an ancient theatre that was built in the 1st century AD, large excavations of the site done since 1830 have brought to the surface what remains of the Roman theatre. The theatre is not to be confused with the Arena of Verona, the theatre is open to visitors and is located next to the archaeological museum.

Archaeological Museum

The Archaeological Museum was built in the 14th century and opened in 1924 and is located behind the Roman theatre. The museum is an important archaeological location in Verona and tells a story of the love city. It is located near the river Adige and a short walk from San Pietro.

Funicular of Castel San Pietro

The Funicular of Castel San Pietro was designed in 1939 and initially was built for the fine art students so they could reach Castel San Pietro easily. Today, the funicular is open to tourists, as you ride up the funicular, the beautiful views of Verona open up before your very eyes. From the panoramic terrace, you can see the river Adige as well as Ponte Pietra bridge leading into the heart of Verona. To ride the funicular there is a small fee of €2 that you need to pay and maybe walk down the hill.

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Ponte Pietra

Ponte Pietra is the oldest bridge in Verona and the only surviving stone bridge in the city. The original bridge was built 100BC but was destroyed, the current bridge was constructed in 1957. Ponte Pietra is a beautiful bridge that connects two important parts of the city.

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Cathedral Complex

The Cathedral of Verona is dedicated to St. Maria Assunta, it was initially built in the 4th century and forms the centrepiece of Cathedral complex. Over the centuries, the cathedral has undergone many updates due to natural disasters including fires. Today, the cathedral complex is made up of the Baptistery of San Giovanni in Fonte, Church of St. Elena and Canon’s Cloister. To enter the cathedral you have to pay €3, more information can be found on their website.

Basilica of Sant’Anastasia

Located near Ponte Pietra, the Basilica of Saint Anastasia was built in 1280 and completed in 1400. The Gothic-style church is the largest church in Verona with a plan exterior but an exhilarating interior. There is a small fee required to enter the Basilica but the audio guide is free with the entrance tickets.

Arco Dei Gavi

The Arco Dei Gavi is an ancient monument that was built in the 1st century AD by gens Gavia, a nobleman from the Roman empire. Located next to the Castelvecchio and river Adige, the arch was initially placed on Via Postumia, on the Roman road leading to the city.

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Castelvecchio & Scaliger Bridge

Castelvecchio means old castle in Italian, an important military construction during the middle ages for the Scaliger dynasty. The old castle is a bit of a walk from the centre of Verona but is located alongside the river Adige. The scenery is beautiful and worth the visit, the Scaliger Bridge is made solely from red bricks like the old castle itself.

Where to stay in Verona

Depending on how long you plan to stay in the city, I would recommend staying near the main station as it’s not only convenient but easier to find on any public transport. During our visit, we stayed at Sole Hotel Verona a 3* hotel located a couple of minutes walk from the main station. There are many other beautiful hotels dotted around the city unfortunately most are expensive like the Juliet apartment.

Verona is such a beautiful city that should be on everyone’s bucketlist, the city of love has more to offer than the story of the star crossed lovers. You can visit throughout the year but Spring and Autumn are my favourite and are not overpopulated.