Verona: top 12 things to do
Verona is one of my favorite cities in northern Italy. It is the second-largest city in Veneto and is located almost halfway between Venice and Milan. The historical sights, stunning architecture, lively squares and Italy's most famous opera festival make Verona a popular travel destination. Verona is also the city of Romeo and Juliet, making it the city of love.
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Planning a visit to Italy and not sure if Verona should be included in your itinerary? Just keep reading. In this post, I'll tell you more about the best things to do and places you need to visit.
| #1 Historic center | #7 Scaliger Tombs |
| #2 Piazza Bra | #8 Adige river |
| #3 Arena di Verona | #9 Ponte Pietra |
| #4 Piazza delle Erbe | #10 Castel San Pietro |
| #5 Torre dei Lamberti | #11 (Ponte di) Castelvecchio |
| #6 Juliet’s house | #12 Giardino Giusti |
#1 Historic center
First off is the historic center of Verona. Located inside a sharp bend in the Adige river, the historic center is compact and perfectly walkable. If you want to follow in ancient tracks, start your walk at the Porta Borsari (Google Maps). In Roman times, this was one of the two main gates leading into the city. It was built in the first century BC and later restructured in the first century AD.
Walk through the gate and you'll find yourself on one of the main streets of Verona, the Corso Porta Borsari, which continues in the Corso Sant'Anastasia. Both of them follow the exact line of the ancient 'Decumanus Maximus'.
Traditionally, the Romans built their cities in the same style, based on a grid of streets. The main east-west oriented road in this grid was called the Decumanus Maximus. The main north-south-oriented road was called the Cardo Maximus.
In many Roman cities, the Romans built a forum around the intersection of both streets. This was also the case in Verona. Today's Piazza delle Erbe, the place where both ancient roads once crossed, stands where the Roman forum was located.
Turn right on Piazza delle Erbe towards the Via Capello and Via Leoni. You're now walking on the ancient Cardo Maximus. Towards the end of Via Leoni, you'll come across a portion of the second old gate, which led into the city: the Porta Leoni (Google Maps). Like the Porta Borsari, the Porta Leoni was built in the first century BC and rebuilt in the first century AD.
For those who like to go shopping, head back to Piazza delle Erbe. From there, go to the Via Mazzini. This street is a true shopper's paradise. Here you can find both big brands and more affordable chains. The colorful buildings create a sort of tunnel around you. This makes walking down Via Mazzini quite an experience.
#2 Piazza Bra
On the historic center's edge sits the largest square of Verona, Piazza Bra (Google Maps). The piazza is lined with colorful houses, numerous cafes and restaurants, along with imposing buildings. One of them is the Arena di Verona, a Roman amphitheater older than the Colosseum in Rome.
Apart from the Arena, there are two other noteworthy buildings on Piazza Bra. First is the Palazzo della Gran Guardia. This palace served as the headquarters of the city guard. Nowadays, it hosts many cultural events and exhibitions. The second building is Palazzo Barbieri. This yellow, neoclassical building serves as Verona's Town Hall.
Piazza Bra is a great place to start your visit to Verona and to take in the city's ambiance.
#3 Arena di Verona
The Arena is a symbol of Verona. It sits in Piazza Bra, dominating the historic center of the city. Originally the Arena was composed of three tiers of arches reaching a height of 30 meters. This made it the third-largest Roman amphitheater (after the Colosseum and Capua). Unfortunately, due to an earthquake and pillaging, only two tiers survive today.
Nowadays, the Arena is still in use and hosts different cultural events. The most significant event is the yearly Opera Festival from June to August. The acoustics and atmosphere of the Arena are said to make it the best place in the world to watch an opera. I guarantee that attending an opera in the Arena will be an unforgettable experience!
Open: Tue - Sun 8:30 to 19:30, Mon 13:30 to 19:30
Entry fees: Entrance to the Arena is €10,-
My advice: Check the opening hours before your trip, especially during summer. The opening times may vary based on performances.
#4 Piazza delle Erbe
There is no better place to take in the city's atmosphere than Piazza delle Erbe (Google Maps). The architecture, colorful frescoes, statues and bustling of people make this my favorite spot in Verona.
The Piazza delle Erbe, or square of herbs, owes its name to the many spices sold on the piazza during the Middle Ages. Today the square still serves as the stage of a daily market selling mainly souvenirs and clothes.
Often the piazza is described as an open-air museum. It is surrounded by palaces, towers and monuments which have marked the history of the city. One of them is Palazzo Maffei, a historical palace on the north-western side of the square. In front of it stands the Colonna di San Marco. The lion sculpture, placed on a marble pillar, symbolizes the Republic of Venice, which ruled Verona from 1405 to 1796.
The northern side of Piazza delle Erbe is characterized by the presence of the Case Mazzanti. This series of houses has cafes on the ground floor and residential apartments above. Their facades are covered with beautiful frescoes. The frescoes depict mythological and allegorical scenes and are still in excellent condition.
#5 Torre dei Lamberti
In the middle of Piazza delle Erbe stands the 84 meters high Lamberti Tower. Construction began in 1172 at the behest of the Lamberti family. Typical for that era was the use of brick alternating with tuff. This is still visible in the lower part of the building, which at the time was only 37 meters high.
In 1403 lightning struck the top of the tower. It was not until the second half of the 15th century that the building was restored and enlarged. These different time periods can be seen when looking at the Torre dei Lamberti as it is split into several distinct sections.
On a clear day, I recommend you to visit the tower and to enjoy the stunning views over Verona. You can choose to climb the tower's 368 steps or simply take the elevator. Since I was planning to walk The Pilgrim's Path (1.500 steps) to the Madonna della Corona, I thought I could use some exercise and took the stairs.
Open: Mon - Fri 10:00 to 18:30, closed during the weekend
Entry fees: Entrance to the tower is €8,-
#6 Juliet's house
Make sure to add the city's most romantic sight to your itinerary. I'm talking about the place that is the symbol of all lovers: Casa di Giulietta. The house is supposed to be where Juliet (from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet) lived. Yearly thousands of tourists visit the place. All of them want to admire the balcony where both lovers declared their love to one another.
Inside the house you can get an idea of how people like Juliet and her family used to live. But to be honest, the only reason to go inside the house, is to pose on the balcony and have your picture taken.
In the courtyard of Juliet's house, you'll find a bronze statue of Juliet. Legend holds that you'll be lucky in love if you touch the right breast of the statue.
If you don't like crowds, my advice is to visit Juliet's house in the early morning and avoid the sight around Valentine.
Open: Tue - Sun 9:00 to 19:00, Mon 13:30 to 19:30
Entry fees: Entrance to the courtyard is free, entrance to the museum is €4,-
#7 Scaliger Tombs
The Scaliger Tombs are a series of funerary monuments built by the Scaligeri family. Also known by the name La Scala, it was a rich and powerful family in Verona. They ruled over the city between the 13th and the 14th century.
One of the tombs is placed above the entrance to the church of Dante Maria Antiqua. It is the tomb of the most prominent member of the family, Cangrande I della Scala. His figure is probably best known for being the leading patron of Dante Alighieri. He was Cangrande's guest during his exile from Florence. Dante also dedicated his book 'Paradise' to Cangrande.
In front of Cangrande's tomb, you can see two dogs holding banners. They refer to Cangrande's name, meaning 'big dog'. On top of the tomb, there is a copy of the equestrian statue of Cangrande. The statue has been described as the most beautiful equestrian statue of the 14th century. The original can be seen at the Castelvecchio Museum.
The other tombs are enclosed within a series of ornate iron fences. You can pay a small entrance fee to see the monuments up close.
Inside, especially the tombs of Mastino II and Cansignorio della Scala (1340-1375) will grab your attention. They are true masterpieces of Gothic art. Go and have a look at these beautiful monuments yourself.
Open: Tue - Sun 10:00 to 13:00 / 14:00 to 17:00, closed on Mondays
Entry fees: Entrance to the tombs is €1,-
#8 Adige river
If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Piazza Bra and Via Mazzini, just have a stroll along the water's edge. Verona is cut in two by Italy's second-longest river, the Adige. It flows some 400 kilometers, from high in the Alps to the Adriatic.
Throughout Verona's history, the Adige played a crucial part in the city's defenses and was the most important transportation and trading route. Unfortunately, many times in history, the nature of the river flow also caused dangerous floods, bringing disaster to the city. The most significant of all was the great flood of 1882. At various points in the city, you can find markings that show how high the water rose during this devastating flood.
You can have a beautiful walk along the river. It's a perfect opportunity to admire the various bridges of Verona, each with its own story to tell. The banks of the Adige are also ideal for a waterfront run. The best part for running is along the north bank, from the Ponte Pietra (Google Maps) to Ponte Catena (Google Maps). This is the most scenic and more separated off-road path.
#9 Ponte Pietra
Let's cross the river and explore the other side of Verona. The oldest bridge that connects the two banks of the Adige is the Ponte Pietra (Google Maps). It is the only bridge remaining from the Roman era.
The bridge is around 100 meters long and has five arches. It has been damaged and rebuilt more than once. As you can see, the arches are of different lengths. This perfectly reflects the bridge's history as it has a Roman, a Scaliger and a Venetian portion. Each erected with techniques of the respective era. Two of Ponte Pietra's arches (the white stone arches) are made of original Roman material. The brick arches date from the Middle Ages.
Towards the end of World War II, four arches were blown up by retreating German troops. In 1957 the Ponte Pietra was restored to its former glory using original stones recovered from the river.
Crossing the Ponte Pietra is definitely one of the highlights of a visit to Verona.
#10 Castel San Pietro
Located on a hill on the eastern bank of the Adige, Castel San Pietro (Google Maps) holds a dominant position. Once a church dedicated to Saint Peter stood here, hence its name. The actual castle was built in the 14th century as a means of fortification for the city.
The castle is not open to the public, but you can walk its grounds. From up there, you can experience the most fantastic views over the Adige and the historic center of Verona. Make sure to add this to your list. The best time to head up here is around sunset. Around this time the already impressive view gets even more beautiful.
Starting from Ponte Pietra, you can take the stairs which lead to the top of the hill. In my opinion, this is the most scenic route. You can also buy a ticket for the funicular. In about a minute and a half, the funicular will take you to the top.
#11 Ponte Scaligero and Castelvecchio
Another bridge worth mentioning, is the Ponte Scaligero, also known as the Ponte di Castelvecchio (Google Maps). It leads directly to the courtyard of Castelvecchio.
The Ponte Scaligero was built as part of the castle's fortifications. The bridge has high brick walls and provided a safe route from the Castelvecchio if it was under attack. The openings between the brick pillars frame amazing views over the Adige and the historic center of Verona.
Just like the Ponte Pietra, the Ponte Scaligero was destroyed by the retreating German army. Luckily it was reconstructed four years later.
Built in 1354, the Castelvecchio primarily served as a mode of defense for the city. It was the most powerful fort in the area and the most important monument of the Scala family.
Nowadays, the castle is completely transformed into one of the most important art museums in Veneto. The museum displays a collection of sculptures, paintings, ancient weapons and ceramics. Most of it dates back to the Romanesque period of Verona and the 14th century.
Open: Tue - Sun 10:00 to 18:00, closed on Mondays
Entry fees: Entrance to the Castelvecchio Museum is €6,-
#12 Giardino Giusti
Last but not least is the Giardino Giusti. Nothing from the outside of the entrance gives a hint of what's to be found once inside.
The garden was created by Agostino Giusti between 1565 and 1580. Giusti wanted the garden to showcase his collection of Roman inscriptions and to serve as a setting for theatrical and musical productions. The result is one of the most beautiful Italian gardens you've seen.
Among the trees and flowerbeds, you find several marble fountains and statues from Greek mythology. There are also many romantic corners, making the garden a favorite spot for couples in love.
All-in-all, the garden provides a peaceful and relaxing place to spend the rest of your day after a long city walk.
Open: Mon - Sun 9:00 to 17:00
Entry fees: Entrance to the garden is €10,-
