Verona Top 10

The Roman amphitheater (better known as Arena) is, with Romeo and Juliet, the symbol of this city. It was probably built in I century and like all the amphitheaters housed the gladiator’s spectacles. A solid and impressive structure with the exterior faced of bricks and red marble (called “rosso Verona”) which create a particular chromatic effect; the interior with its central stage and a tier of concentric seats give an effect of grandeur. The Arena maintains its hundred-years function indeed it still is the stupendous background of concerts and musical manifestations.

When: From Tuesday to Sunday from 9 am to 7 pm. During the opera season from 9 am to 3,30 pm.
Never: Monday.
How to get here: by feet, in the centro storico. The arena is in Piazza Bra.

Verona was the theater where the tragic love story between Romeo and Juliet, made famous by Shakespeare’s tragedy, took place. In a building of the XIII century, situated in the center of the city, Verona’s city dwellers recognized the Capuleti’s house: the legend merges with reality, here finding reference points. A beautiful facade faced with bricks and a Gothic front door on the exterior: in the courtyard there’s a bronze statue representing Juliet and the celebrate balcony protagonist of one of the most known scenes of the world dramatic literature. Juliet’s house is an obliged stop for who wants to feel the devastating power of that contrasted love.

When: From Tuesday to Sunday from 8,30 am to 7,30 pm. Monday from 1 pm to 7,30 pm.
Tickets: 6 €. Reduced ticket 4,50 €.
How to get here: Juliet’s house is in the centro storico, Via Cappello n°23.

In a little but lovely square, among particular and harmonious buildings, the cathedral rise. It was built on the remains of two pre-Christian churches, and even if it was consecrated in 1187 the works has continued for long time. The facade is the result of the superimposition of Gothic and Romanesque, with a beautiful front door that has two arcades. The interior presents two pillages made of red marble (the Verona’s marble) that separate the three naves of the church. The Renaissance’s statues were made by famous artists of Verona.

When: from November to February: Working days from 10 am to 1 pm. And from 1,30 pm to 4 pm, public holidays from 1 pm to 5 pm. From March to October: working days from 10 am to 5,30 pm public holidays from 1 pm to 5,30 pm.

The legend says that, during the Adige inundation in 589, the water stopped on the doorway sparing the believers who found refuge in the church. This church is one of the most important examples of Romanesque architecture in Italy and its actual appearance seem to date back to the XII century. San Zeno keeps the body of the Saint and it’s rich of paintings and sculptures from the XII to the XVI century. A particular attention deserves the Altar Piece of San Zeno painted by Andrea Mantegna, which is the first example of Sacred Conversation. The altar piece was lie down on the altar of San Zeno the 31 July 1459.

When: Working days from 10 am to 6 pm. Public holidays from 1 pm to 6 pm.

Piazza delle Erbe is a colored fruit and vegetable market with its group of huge sun umbrellas, surrounded by historic buildings and monuments, that’s the principal characteristic of the most ancient square in Verona. The medieval buildings took the place of the Romans ones. Here you can see the popular side of the city, without forget the culture. Saturday and Sunday morning there’s the market but in the evening this square become the living room of the city, where the city dwellers meet to have an aperitif. A tour in piazza Erbe let you discover the monuments that make this city so beautiful and that signed Verona’s history. In the center of the square there’s the fountain “Madonna Verona”, which is very ancient (1368). There’s an ancient capital too, also called “Tribuna” or (wrongly) “pillory”. It dates back to the XIII century, when under this capital sits the “podestà” waiting to take office.

Castelvecchio (literally: Old castle) with its amazing fortified bridge, represent a military monument of the Scaligera (the Scaligera was the noble family, also called “della Scala”, that governed Verona) dominion. Cangrande II della Scala wanted the construction of this fortress not to protect him from exterior dangers, but to protect himself from popular riots. The bridge projected the castle on the other side of the river, assuring a safe way to escape in the countryside. The bridge has three arch, it was destroyed in 1945 from the Germans but it was rebuilt in 1951, while the castle is seat of the civic museum of Verona.

When: from Tuesday to Sunday from 8.30 am to 7,30 pm. Monday from 13,45 pm to 7,30 pm.
Tickets: 6 €; Reduced ticket 4 €.
How to get here: You can take the bus n° 21, 22, 23, 24, 31, 32, 33, 41, 61, e 62, stop “Corso Cavour”.

Verona isn’t known for its endless nights, but if you don’t want to spend all the time in your hotel room you’ll find some interesting activities. The nightlife begins very early, having an aperitif in Piazza delle erbe, Piazza Bra or on bank of the river Adige. After this, young people of Verona generally go eat something in a restaurant or in a pub. If you prefer the disco you must move in direction of the lakes where there are the greatest part of the discos. While, if you prefer a more cultural night, during the period between May and October there’s the musical season of the Arena or the spectacles at the Roman Theater.

The glorious food tradition of Verona continues today in the restaurants which offer typical dishes to their customers. Rice and polenta are the principal ingredients, but it’s not yet finished. One of the typical dishes of this beautiful city is the “peperita”, boiled beef with a peppered cheese sauce, or “pastisada de caval” stew made of horse meat, or “paparele”, home made pasta with peas and beans. Verona is also known for its production of DOC wines, then taste the Bardolino or the Valpolicella. For the one who has a sweet tooth we suggest the famous “pandoro” and the “nadalin”, a Christmas cakes with a star shape.

The centro storico streets are the ideal to go shopping: tourists can buy leather shoes and other products, according with the typical production of Verona. A great offer of dresses can be found in the boutiques, or in the factory, which often sells directly their production. Also known are the street markets, the one of Piazza delle Erbe for example, if you love antiquary you’ll have to give a look at the market of Piazza Zeno (the antiquarian market is every third Saturday of the month).

Charming and romantic. Verona is the second city of the Region Veneto for tourism, both Italian and international. Its territory, with the surroundings and the Lago di Garda, hosts a big number of tourists every year.
The city provides to their accommodation with a lot of B&B, hotels and hostels. You just need to choose your favorite solution according with your personal necessities and your wallet.