Verona in Italy

What To See And Do In Verona

One of the main tourist destinations in Northern Italy, Verona has become popular primarily due to William Shakespeare’s play ‘Romeo and Juliet’.

Thanks to that, the city has become a pilgrimage spot for couples from all over the world.

Other attractions which draw tourists to Verona are its artistic heritage, architecture, and several annual events, which take place in the city.

UNESCO has declared the city a World Heritage Site because of its urban structure and cultural heritage.

Arena di Verona

Formerly a Roman settlement located at the intersection of two important roads, Verona was badly ruined by the earthquake in 1117.

Due to this sad fact, you won’t see a lot of Roman heritage in the city.

But the Verona Arena is an important sight of that period.

The arena could seat up to thirty thousand visitors during the Roman Empire.

It was one of the world’s biggest theatres of this kind.

And the games, which took place here, were so spectacular that people came from other towns to watch.

Nowadays, every year from June until September, it hosts the famous Arena Opera Festival and gathers thousands of visitors from all over the world.

Teatro Romano

Even more ancient than the Arena, Teatro Romano was ruined long ago.

Fortunately, it was partially reconstructed during modern times and is used today as a cultural centre during the summer period.

The theatre has a semi-circular seating area and the ruins, set into the hillside behind it.

You won’t get much information about the place, but it’s still worth a visit if you have a pinch of imagination and would like to feel the breath of history.

Piazza delle Erbe

The square is situated right in the heart of historic Verona and is about to amaze you with beautiful architecture.

Fabulous Palazzo Maffei, the Mazzanti houses with frescoed walls, beautiful Town Hall, and the oldest part of the square – the fountain – will leave nobody indifferent.

Torre dei Lamberti, also situated here, is one of the few towers left in Verona.

In the past, they represented the wealth and importance of the city’s aristocratic families.

They also helped organise the city’s life during the Middle Ages by ringing the end of work, alerting citizens to fire, or summoning the war council.

Juliet’s Balcony

The place most tourists come to Verona for is the famous Juliet’s Balcony.

Happy couples from all over the world come here for inspiration and Juliet’s blessing.

The balcony is a part of the Casa di Giulietta Museum, and during the high season, it would be wise to come early in the morning if you want to avoid the crowd and have enough time to admire the exhibition.

Of course, you can see the balcony without entering the museum too.

Castle Vecchio

Situated just outside the city walls, the Castle Vecchio is not so much about decorations as functionality.

It’s a square-shaped fort used as a military construction during the Middle Ages.

Today, it hosts the Castle Vecchio Museum and Gallery with fascinating artefacts.

By the way, attached to the castle, Castle Vecchio Bridge offers a magnificent view of the river beneath.

And you can climb up one of the towers to get an even better panorama.

The bridge was one of the longest in the world during its construction.

Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore

One of the most important religious buildings in Verona, Basilica is a popular tourist spot not only because of its beautiful architecture.

The main reason is that Romeo and Juliet were married here, according to Shakespeare.

And it is as beautiful on the inside as on the outside.

Shopping on Via Mazzini

Verona has a shopping district with various stores, from luxury designer boutiques to budget shops.

If you are up for good shopping in Verona, head to Via Mazzini!