The beautiful city of Verona in northern Italy was for many years a tourist destination and even a holiday destination for Goethe and Mozart. Thanks to its temperate climate and magnificent architecture, Verona is the ideal place to spend a few days in complete relaxation and admire the beauties of the city. The city center itself is compact and passable, there is almost no need to use public transport. Let's find out what to see in Verona:
Piazza delle Erbe
Among the top 10 things to do and see in Verona is Piazza delle Erbe. This beautiful square is located in the heart of the historical center of Verona. Admire the splendid architecture of the square, including the town hall (on the north side) with the imposing Torre dei Lamberti, the richly frescoed walls of the Mazzanti houses, the baroque Palazzo Maffei (recognizable by the statues depicting Greek gods) and the oldest part of the square: the fountain. It houses a statue of the Madonna of Verona, which actually dates back to the era of Roman rule. Piazza delle Erbe also has several restaurants and bars dotted around where you can have a spritz, a true Veronese tradition.
Juliet's balcony
tucked away a few hundred meters from Piazza delle Erbe is the reason why most tourists flock to Verona, the city of tragic love stories. Shakespeare really inspired his famous play on a true story of family rivalry, forbidden love and feuds that took place in Verona in the 1300s. The names of the Montagues and Capuleti were bona fide rival political factions at the time, and you can visit their respective houses. The love story between Romeo and Juliet has long been popular in Verona, and Shakespeare was just one of many playwrights to jump on the bandwagon and express himself. The Juliet's House Museum (which includes the Juliet's Balcony) has excerpts from various sources and displays to help tell the story to visitors. You can see the balcony even without entering the museum.
Arena of Verona
This gigantic piece of Roman architecture is located in the characteristic Piazza della Bra and is truly not to be missed given its grandeur and majesty. From June to September, the arena hosts the Arena Opera Festival, which presents such famous works as Orff's Carmina Burana and Rossini's The Barber of Seville and many others. During its heyday (c. 130–1100 AD), the arena held 30,000 spectators and was one of the largest in the world. The games presented here were often so spectacular that Verona attracted large and impressive crowds of visitors from all over the Roman Empire.
Roman theater
The Roman theater older than the Arena of Verona, built in 100 BC, is now a collection of ruins, some of which have been partially rebuilt to function as a cultural center during the summer. The site includes a semi-circular seating area that is easily accessible and close to the river, and then a large area of Roman ruins that sit on the hillside behind the theater itself. From above, you can see the famous Petrovsky Bridge and the beautiful red-tiled roofs of the city. Definitely worth a visit, even if there is little or no information about the ruins; you just need to have a sense of imagination and history as you roam its borders!
Castelvecchio
Castelvecchio, located on what was probably once a Roman fortress just outside the city walls, is a square-shaped fort that was the most powerful military installation in Verona during the Middle Ages. Although not particularly decorative (after all, it was designed to be functional), the castle now houses the Museum and Gallery of Castelvecchio. The castle and museum are easily accessible from the city and are ideal for a half day visit to Verona.
Garden of Giusti
A little further from the city (and a little higher) is the beautiful Giardino Giusti. Planted by the Giusti family in the 15th century, gardens, grottoes and fountains have been laid out on the hillside, creating a calm, intriguing and relaxing place to visit. The gardens have long been a tourist attraction, even the likes of Goethe and Mozart who came here to wander and be inspired. Giardino Giusti offers perhaps the best view of the city of Verona and is a great place to pass the day, have a picnic and listen to church bells in the early evening. A must visit place in Verona after walking through the historic center.
Lamberti tower
Back in the city (again in Piazza delle Erbe), Torre dei Lamberti is one of the few remaining towers in Verona, each originally reflecting the wealth and importance of a particular aristocratic family. This tower was begun in 1171, but was constantly built on top of it, which gave it a special style; the newest part is the marble part on top. These towers would have helped to organize city life in the Middle Ages: one bell (Marangona) rang to mark the end of the working day or warn the townspeople about a fire, and the second bell (Rengo) rang for witchcraft advice.
Lords Square
This square is easy and often overlooked, but it was once very important to the government of the city of Verona, not to mention a beautifully structured and beautiful square in its own right. The square has a number of high arches and a monument to Dante, as well as all the main buildings of the former city council, such as the courts and the residence of the then ruling Scaliger family. Worth a quick glance (just a few meters from Piazza delle Erbe), this square is a place of history and beauty.
Castel San Pietro
For an afternoon stroll, climb the hill behind Ponte Pietro (climb the stairs next to the Roman Theatre) towards Castel San Pietro, a mysterious and seemingly abandoned fort surrounded by beautiful tree-lined avenues that create a picturesque landscape.
Shopping in the historical center
Maybe it's the Italian love for all things beautiful and stylish, but the shopping experience in Verona is excellent! The historic center (old town) is home to one of the main shopping streets (Via Mazzini), which has everything from H&M to Valentino. There are also many high street Italian or Central European shops that are mostly unavailable in the UK or US (such as Calzedonia and Stradivarius) that sell a huge variety of creatively designed and patterned garments. This is the place to splash, drink coffee and walk around!