Verona is a popular tourist destination in Italy’s Veneto region, on the Milano-Venice train line, 70 miles west of Venice. There is a small airport on the outskirts of Verona. (Locate Verona on a map of Veneto). Lake Garda is nearby. Other nearby towns that are worth a visit are Cremona, Brescia and Vincenza.
What to see
- Arena di Verona – A 2000 year old Roman arena and it is still going strong. The opera stage is the largest in the world. In the summer months, the arena hosts opera and other performances. Make sure to get tickets early. You will find a good source of tickets and a schedule of performances at Select Italy’s Arena di Verona (book tickets directly with Select Italy).
- 2 bridges (Ponti) Ponte Scaligero visit to enjoy a beautiful view and the Ponte Pietra, a bridge from Roman times over the Adige river.
- Juliet’s House (Giulietta’s House) : Ok, we’re not even sure if Shakespeare ever visited and the characters come from a story by Luigi da Porto from Vicenza, but hey, you can rub the right breast of the Juliet statue to get lucky and take a picture of the balcony like everyone else, huh?
- Piazza dei Signori : a central square that includes a statue of Dante because he resided in Verona for a time.
- Piazza Delle Erbe : It used to be the Roman Forum, but is now a wonderful open-air market surrounded by historic buildings with frescoes and dotted with sculpture. Go here for a cheap meal. And if you want to see Verona from above, climb the Lamberti tower to get 84 meters above Verona.
- Castelvecchio (the old castle): beautiful views and an interesting art collection inside.
Where to stay
For those who prefer traditional hotel accommodation, the four-star Hotel Accademia occupies a privileged location between Piazza Bra (where the Arena is located) and Piazza Delle Erbe, the city market, along with Via Mazzini, the central shopping boulevard. If you come to Verona by train, the three-star Hotel Verona receives rave reviews.
Remember that accommodation can be a bit difficult during the best performances in the arena, so book in advance if you know the dates of your trip to Verona. For families, groups of friends, or those who would enjoy participating in Veronese life, a vacation rental home or apartment might be a better option, especially if you are planning a stay of a week or more.
HomeAway lists some very interesting properties, including some in Juliet’s courtyard and one inside the tower of a 15th-century castle. HostelWorld lists more than 60 budget hotels and hostels.
What to eat
Eating in this part of Italy can often include polenta, horse and donkey meat, Pasta e Fasoi : pasta and beans, and dried fish (a salty, dried fish like salted cod).
