Verona welcomes and charms the visitors at first sight. Its beauty enshrouds you and makes you understand why, for centuries, artists and travelers have been attracted by the city and why the mighty have defined it “the gateway to Italy”.
Shakespeare chose Verona to set one of the most romantic stories of all time, “Romeo and Juliet”.
Verona is not only one of the most beautiful Italian cities. It also has a wide historical, cultural and natural heritage.
There are plenty of things to do in Verona. If you’re planning to visit the city in one day or during a weekend, make sure to check out these highlights.
Arena di Verona
Built in the I century A.D. it was included for defence purposes within the city walls two centuries later. Third in order of magnitude, after the Colosseum in Rome and the amphitheater in Capua. In roman times, it held up to 30.000 spectators watching gladiator fights and hunting – the typical function of Roman amphitheaters.
The particular color of this monument is due to the material used in the internal terraces, easier to admire after the outer ring collapsed.
The red stone is in fact the left motif of Veronese architecture, especially used in the Renaissance and the the following centuries. Of the external ring only the “Ala” (wing) remains.
Nowadays, the Arena is used for concerts, Opera and much more. For further information, check out its website.
Torre dei Lamberti
Majestic by day, spectacular in the evening | From the twelfth century up to today. The Tower of Lamberti stands majestically on the Piazza Erbe, the ancient Roman Forum and near the Scala Palace.
Torre dei Lamberti is the only private tower of Verona. The Lamberti’s family erected it in the twelfth century with tuff, brick and marble.
The tower is famous for its two bells, the Rengo and Marangona, placed on the tower in 1295. Once the bells used to set the life of the city, fire alarms or by calling the citizens to arms.
Check out the website for entry fee and opening time.
Giardino Giusti
Nature, Art, History | This garden represents an urban complex of great interest and beauty. Renowned representatives of history and culture visited and celebrated it through centuries.
The 15th century was the establishment of Giardino Giusti. It is a charming garden and is considered one of the most beautiful gardens in Italy.
With gardens, squares, pools, fountains, sculptures, staircases and a landscaped natural area, Giardino Giusti is a wonderful example of the Renaissance Garden.
Interesting and unique here are the Grotto, which are pleasant acoustic caves, as well as the Labyrinth, one of the oldest mazes in Europe. Alongside all these there are walking and rest paths, decorative corners and a view of the city of Verona.
Over the years, the Giusti Garden, originally designed as a backdrop for the nearby Palazzo Giusti, has won a host of famous critics who visited Italy. Among others, the poet Goethe and the composer Mozart visited the garden.
Check out the website for entry fee and opening time.
Castelvecchio
At the end of Corso Cavour there is the massive Castelvecchio. In 1354 Cangrande II della Scala built the castle for defence purposes.
It was then occupied by the Visconti, the French and Austrians. Six towers surrounds the building and a most where the Adigetto river used to run.
Inside, you can walk round the Gardens of the three different courtyards and you can also visit the museum, Museo Civico di Castelvecchio.
The impressive Ponte Scaligero also belongs to the building and it is a great place where you can enjoy an amazing view of the riverbank.
Castel San Pietro
From its superb vantage point, on a hill overlooking the city and the surrounding area, the San Pietro Fortress or the Castelo San Pietro in Verona is a high fortress above the city.
You can climb the stairs of the fortress or you can reach Castel San Pietro with the funicular, which gives a nice experience, especially for children.
You can enjoy the magnificent view from the fortress, and you can also enjoy the coffee shop and the restaurant next to it. In any case, Castel San Pietro will probably give you the most spectacular pictures of Verona.
Ponte Pietra
Last but not least, another interesting thing to do in Verona is a walk along the Ponte Pietra. Not far from the cathedral, you can walk across the bridge Ponte Pietra, built in pre-Augustan times.
However, not all the bridge is authentic. The Roman part was destroyed and completed with parts from the Middle Ages. In World War II, all the bridges of Verona, the Pietra Bridge was also blown up and destroyed. It was the German army that destroyed it, while fleeing from Allied armies.
Only after the war the bridge was restored. This happened after they collected all the stones from the river, one at a time. The collected stones were then meticulously arranged and reconstructed from the bridge as a whole, with the necessary completion of course. Notice the different colors of the bridge stones. Each color of the stones represents another period in the history of the bridge. From the bridge you can enjoy a great view of the city of Verona and its harbor.
With a mixture of art, romance, culture and stunning scenery around, Verona is one of the cities in Italy you need to add to your bucket list!
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