Explore Verona

Found in the Veneto province in north east Italy, Verona is a truly beautiful city – well worth visiting if you have a spare few days.

Due to the number of significant historical buildings and landmarks within the city, Verona has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Your first port of call should be the Arena di Verona in the Piazza Bra. This is Italy’s 3rd largest Roman amphitheatre, built in 1AD to seat up to 25,000 spectators.  As well as guided tours during the day, the Arena is still in use today as an entertainment venue and is renowned for its open-air opera festival which runs from June to August each year.

If you wander through the streets of the old town, every now and then you will come across some remnants of the city’s historic past.  At the Porta Leoni, once part of the Roman city gate, part of the pavement has been removed to reveal the ancient roman road below.

Also on the Roman trail is the Teatro Romano, just over the river on the side of St Peter’s hill.  This is thought to be the oldest building in Verona and although it lapsed into disrepair, suffering both flood and earthquake damage, restoration work began in the late 18th century.  Visitors today can enter the theatre and climb the steps to the small museum at the top where you’ll find a selection of Roman artefacts, statues and mosaics as well as stunning views back over the city. The theatre is once again in use, hosting open air plays throughout the summer and the annual summer Jazz Festival in June.

Back in the centre of the old town, the lively Piazza Erbe was built on the site of the Roman Forum, the focal point for urban life in ancient Verona.  Today, there is a vibrant street market and a variety of pavement cafes.  Whilst you are in the locality, make time to climb the Torre dei Lamberti  - Verona’s tallest tower at 84 metres high.  For the less energetic,  there is a lift most of the way but there are still a couple of flights at the very top to climb for the best views over the city.

History and art lovers should make their way to the Castelvecchio where the keep and the battlements have been lovingly restored, offering excellent views of the town.  The castle is now home to the city’s art gallery with a selection of medieval works as well as a few more modern pieces.

This wouldn’t be a true guide to Verona without mentioning that this is the fictional setting of the story of Romeo and Juliet, made famous by the English playwright William Shakespeare.  A popular tourist attraction is the Casa Giulietta on the Via Cappello which claims connection to the fictional lovers.  Below the famous balcony, you’ll notice the statue of Juliet in the courtyard which has one highly polished breast and arm where it is regularly touched by visitors for luck. The house is also open to the public with rooms decorated in period style and featuring the bed used in the Hollywood film featuring Leonardo di Caprio and Claire Danes.

Juliet’s tomb is thought to be located in San Francesco al Corso, a Franciscan monastery just outside the town walls and there are plenty of local tours which will guide you round the fictional sites.

Verona’s Cathedral (Duomo) is also worth a visit (although be sure to dress appropriately and cover your shoulders).  An imposing building (built on top of a medieval church) in the Veronese style of alternating white stone and red bricks.  There is an impressive selection of frescos from the 15th to the 18th centuries.  Visitors can also pass under the organ into the Romanesque atrium and the older churches of St. Elena and St. Giovanni in Fonte. 

If you are visiting Verona, it seems a shame not to hire a car to visit the lake country to the north.  Lake Garda is in fact just over an hour’s drive away (approximately 98km)

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