Verona, famous for its association with Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers, offers far more than balconies and tragic romance. Upon arrival, your first inclination may be to drop your bags and dive headlong into its streets, brimming with history and life.
Before you plan your escape to Venice or Lake Garda, take time to explore the places within the city itself — a blend of Roman antiquity and Renaissance elegance, served with a side of fine wine and gelato. Also, keep in mind to book a Verona airport taxi to get you to your hotel or other accommodation.
1. The Arena: Not Your Average Amphitheatre
Long before modern stadiums were a thing, the Romans were building amphitheatres like the Arena di Verona. Unlike the Colosseum in Rome, which feels more like a historic skeleton, this place is still in use, hosting operas, concerts, and performances under open skies. Standing in its shadow, you can almost hear the echoes of ancient crowds roaring for gladiators, or perhaps just some ancient bloke trying to sell overpriced wine in clay cups.
This Roman marvel is not just about history; it’s about immersing yourself in something timeless. Arriving straight from Verona airport and finding yourself in front of a 2,000-year-old structure is a stark reminder of how fleeting our modern contraptions are. Pre-booking tickets to one of its events isn’t just wise—it’s the difference between standing outside and actually seeing how its acoustics still put modern venues to shame.
2. Piazza delle Erbe: The Social Pulse of the City
There’s something intoxicating about this square, though perhaps that’s just the spritzes being passed around. Once a Roman forum, now a bustling marketplace, it’s the kind of place that hums with life at all hours. Vendors sell everything from fresh produce to trinkets that you’ll likely stash in a drawer once home.
Its defining feature, however, isn’t the market itself but the architecture surrounding it. The frescoed facades and looming tower — Torre dei Lamberti — offer a taste of Verona’s layered history. Climbing the tower is an experience in itself, particularly if you’ve got children tagging along.
It’s an easy climb if you take the lift, although purists might argue the spiral staircase gives you a greater sense of achievement. Either way, the view from the top is your reward: red rooftops stretching out towards the horizon, a visual buffet.
3. Juliet’s Balcony: Shakespeare’s Gift to Verona
It would be criminal to write about Verona without mentioning its most famous fictional resident. Casa di Giulietta, or Juliet’s House, is a curious blend of literary myth and historical structure. People flock to this 14th-century building, eager to relive some of the most famous lines in literature.
Is it absurd to believe Juliet ever leaned out of that balcony, given she’s a fictional character? Yes. But that doesn’t stop visitors from writing love notes and sticking them to the walls — a bizarre but strangely touching ritual. And while it’s tempting to scoff at the crowds jostling for their turn to pose below the balcony, there’s a pathos in seeing how a story from centuries ago still resonates.
Walking here from your lodgings — possibly after one of the smooth transfers from Verona airport — you’ll notice the city itself feels like something out of fiction. The stone-paved streets and medieval alleys are a storybook waiting to be written.
4. Castelvecchio: History with a Moat
Crossing the Adige River by way of the Scaliger Bridge, you’ll find yourself in front of Castelvecchio. The fortress, with its imposing red brick walls, has an air of defiance. Originally built to protect the city, it now houses a museum filled with artwork and artefacts.
Wander through its halls, and you feel the sense of Verona being both a cultural and military stronghold in its time. The bridge itself is a marvel, both for design and the fact that it has endured centuries of war and weather. Strolling across it, with the river below and the castle towering beside you, can feel like stepping back in time. It’s less a tourist spot and more immersion into a medieval landscape.
5. Giardino Giusti: Where Nature Meets Design?
Gardens are probably not the first thing that comes to your mind when visiting Verona, but Giusti Garden is no ordinary patch of greenery. This Renaissance masterpiece is a labyrinth of manicured hedges, fountains, and statues. The climb to its highest point rewards you with a great panoramic view of the city, but the uphill walk might make you question your life choices if you are not particularly fond of exercise.
There is a quiet serenity to wandering these gardens, worlds away from the busier parts of the city. You’d hardly believe this tranquil spot is only a short car ride from Verona’s bustling center. It’s a place where you can reflect, perhaps with an espresso in hand, on the sheer artistry of landscaping because, yes, even trimming hedges can be an art form.
Verona is not just a city but an experience, living, breathing canvas of history and culture. Whether standing in the Arena, writing love notes at Juliet’s House, or reflecting on life atop a tower, the city offers a peek into both the past and the beauty of the present. So when you come, maybe from Verona airport after a well-planned transfer, remember: this isn’t just a stopover; it’s a destination in its own right.