Verona Activities
By Dion Protani
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Latest update: 30 December 2023
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Ever since Shakespeare penned his Romeo and Juliet, Verona has been known as the City of Love.
There are references to the book throughout the city; you can visit that balcony for example in "Juliet's House", walk around the corner to Romeo's pad or even visit Juliet's Tomb. Of course, as the book was the figment of somebody's imagination, these places are all fictional but away from the legacy of romantic undertones left by the bard, stands an historic, magnificent city, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. |
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Verona's Roman monuments
Capital of the Province of Verona, the city of Verona has a population of 257,993 inhabitants. It stands at an elevation of 59 metres and lies 115 kilometres west of Venice, the regional capital of Veneto.
The most famous sight in the city is Verona Arena, a Roman Amphitheatre built in 30 AD. A smaller version of Rome's Colosseum, the Arena is still fit for purpose after some 2,000 years of use, hosting modern events such as concerts and operatic productions. The evocative sight of the Arena at night is worth a visit to Verona alone.
The most famous sight in the city is Verona Arena, a Roman Amphitheatre built in 30 AD. A smaller version of Rome's Colosseum, the Arena is still fit for purpose after some 2,000 years of use, hosting modern events such as concerts and operatic productions. The evocative sight of the Arena at night is worth a visit to Verona alone.
The piazzas of Verona
The Arena is located on Piazza Bra where you'll find a park at the centre and a long row of bars and restaurants at the side. Walking from Piazza Bra past the Arena you enter the centro storico (historic centre) where you finally arrive at another of the city's most famous squares: Piazza delle Erbe. This is one of the busiest areas of the city, again there are lots of places to eat and drink but here there's also a thriving marketplace.
Close to Piazza delle Erbe is the entrance to Torre dei Lamberti; an eighty four metre high tower that you can take a lift to the top of and enjoy one of the best vies of the city. From here you can see the castle and bridge of Castelvecchio. The bridge, known either as Ponte Scaligero or Castelvecchio Bridge is a distinctive structure with crenellations while further down the River Adige that flows through the city, you'll find another landmark bridge called Ponte Pietra (Stone Bridge).
Close to Piazza delle Erbe is the entrance to Torre dei Lamberti; an eighty four metre high tower that you can take a lift to the top of and enjoy one of the best vies of the city. From here you can see the castle and bridge of Castelvecchio. The bridge, known either as Ponte Scaligero or Castelvecchio Bridge is a distinctive structure with crenellations while further down the River Adige that flows through the city, you'll find another landmark bridge called Ponte Pietra (Stone Bridge).
Across the Adige
Across the river you can take a funicular railway up to Castel San Pietro from where you get another magnificent view of the city, this time from a different perspective. On this same side of the river is Giardino Giusti, one of the most impressive gardens in Italy.
If you're of average fitness then you can find your way around most places on foot but there are also trams and buses available if you need them. Using public transport you can take a train to Venice with a journey time of an hour and ten minutes or by car you can reach Lake Garda in half an hour, while other options include Vicenza (57 minutes) and Padova (1 hour and 16 minutes).
The most convenient airport to use for trips to Verona is the city's own airport; Verona Airport which is 10 kilometres away.
If you're of average fitness then you can find your way around most places on foot but there are also trams and buses available if you need them. Using public transport you can take a train to Venice with a journey time of an hour and ten minutes or by car you can reach Lake Garda in half an hour, while other options include Vicenza (57 minutes) and Padova (1 hour and 16 minutes).
The most convenient airport to use for trips to Verona is the city's own airport; Verona Airport which is 10 kilometres away.