In Love with Verona, Italy | Top 10 Things To See & Do

In Love With Verona, Italy

You’ll find Verona in northern Italy, in the Veneto region, roughly halfway between Milan and Venice on one of Italy’s main train lines. It’s an easy stop by train, which makes it perfect for a short stay or as part of a longer itinerary. Verona is best known as the setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, but the city offers far more than a single love story. The historic center sits along a gentle bend of the Adige River and is compact, walkable, and full of layers from Roman times through the Renaissance.

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We spent three days exploring Verona during a side trip while staying in Parma back in 2016, when we were living in Italy for 90 days. We stayed in a B&B right next to the Arena di Verona. There was a rock concert one night, but it didn’t disrupt our stay at all. We joked that Andrea Bocelli would have been a better fit. What stood out most to us was the city’s overall feel. Yes, Verona is popular with visitors, but it still feels relaxed and lived-in, especially once you step away from the main sights.

Here are a few reasons we loved Verona and things you should try and see when visiting this magical city. These are in no particular order:

1.  House of Juliet (Casa di Giulietta)

The House of Juliet is linked to the Cappello family, who lived here during the Middle Ages and are often connected to Shakespeare’s fictional Capulets. The small courtyard is one of Verona’s most visited spots and, in my opinion, still worth seeing. It does get crowded, and you’ll almost always find people waiting to take photos while touching Juliet’s bronze statue for luck in love.

For a small fee, you can enter the house and step out onto the famous balcony. The entrance passageway is lined with notes, names, and messages left by visitors. While I skipped adding my name to the walls, I did leave a letter to Juliet. Not asking for advice, but simply saying thank you for a long and happy marriage—almost 38 years at the time of this initial post. Now… we’ve celebrated 45 years!

The city is so famous for love that it gets letters addressed to “Juliet, in Verona, Italy.” There are volunteers that respond to these letters! You can find out more at www.julietclub.com. One of our favorite movies is Letters to Juliet, about a girl who finds a letter while visiting the House of Juliet, replies to her, and then when she actually comes for a visit from England, helps her travel through Italy to hopefully reunite her with her lost love of 50 years.

 

2. Juliet’s Tomb

Juliet’s Tomb is located in a different part of the city, within the former convent of San Francesco al Corso. The site includes a quiet courtyard and a small museum. While the tomb itself is symbolic rather than historical, it’s a calm stop and far less crowded than the House of Juliet.

 

3.  Arena di Verona

The Arena di Verona dominates Piazza Bra and is one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheaters in Italy. Built in the first century AD, it once held close to 30,000 spectators. Today, capacity is reduced for safety, but the arena is still very much in use.

The Arena is world-famous for its summer opera season, which runs from late spring through early fall, along with concerts and special events. Even if you don’t attend a performance, it’s worth stepping inside to walk the stone corridors and take in the scale of ancient Roman engineering.

In 2019, Gary and I spent 60 days living in Verona, discovering whether this city could be our “perfect Italian town” to live in. We did enjoy every moment exploring and wrote about it in our book, [Modica, Our Italian Journey, Living Our Dream in Italy for One Year, page 191, 2020]. One of my special moments was seeing Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata. In this open arena, it was magical under the stars.

 

4. Castelvecchio

Castelvecchio is a 14th-century fortress that now houses one of Verona’s most important museums. The castle features seven towers, interior courtyards, and elevated walkways with great views over the city and the Adige River. Be sure to walk across the Castelvecchio Bridge (Ponte Scaligero), one of the best photo spots in Verona.

Inside the museum, you’ll find medieval sculptures, weapons, and an impressive collection of paintings by artists such as Mantegna, Bellini, and Pisanello. Plan on spending a couple of hours here if you enjoy history and art.

 

5.  Piazza delle Erbe

Piazza delle Erbe has been the heart of Verona since Roman times, when it served as the city’s forum. Today, it’s a lively market square filled with stalls selling seasonal produce, souvenirs, and local goods. The surrounding buildings feature frescoed facades and beautiful Renaissance details.

This is one of the best places in Verona to stop for an aperitivo. Grab a table, order a spritz or a glass of wine, and enjoy some classic people-watching.

 

6.  Duomo

Verona’s main cathedral (Cattedrale di Santa Maria Matricolare) dates back to the 12th century. The exterior is fairly understated, but the interior is anything but. Inside, you’ll find richly decorated chapels, detailed mosaics, and important works of art, including a painting by Titian. It’s well worth a slow walk through.

 

7.  Piazza Bra

Piazza Bra is Verona’s largest piazza and one of its most lively gathering places. It sits directly in front of the Arena and is lined with cafés and restaurants. It’s a great spot to sit, enjoy a meal, and soak in the city’s energy.

Each December, between the 11th and 13th, Piazza Bra hosts the traditional Saint Lucy fair, a long-loved local event, especially for families.

8.  Ponte Pietra Bridge

Ponte Pietra is the oldest bridge in Verona and one of its most scenic spots. Originally built during Roman times, the bridge has been destroyed and rebuilt several times, most recently after World War II. Today, it remains one of the most important and photogenic Roman monuments in the city.

9.  Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore

The Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore is considered one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture in northern Italy. Dating from the 11th and 12th centuries, the church is dedicated to Verona’s patron saint.

Enter through the side via the elegant Romanesque cloister, but don’t miss the bronze doors on the main façade. They are decorated with detailed reliefs of biblical scenes. Inside, you’ll find frescoes from the 13th to 15th centuries and, in the crypt, the remains of Saint Zeno.

 

10.  Teatro Romano

Across the Ponte Pietra on the hillside sits the Teatro Romano. Built in the first century BC during the reign of Augustus, the theater was excavated in the early 20th century. The climb to the top is steep and can be challenging if you have mobility issues, but the views are worth it.

Today, the Teatro Romano hosts performances and events, including the Verona Jazz Festival. From the upper levels, you’ll get some of the best views over the city and back toward Ponte Pietra.

 

In closing…

Beyond the food and the famous sights, one of our favorite parts of Verona is the evening passeggiata. Locals of all ages head out for a stroll, stopping to chat, shop, or linger in a piazza. Joining in is one of the simplest and best ways to experience the city’s real rhythm.

Look at the ancient ruins we found looking for gelato, right in the middle of the street!

_{Editor’s Note: This post was initially published in October 11, 2018 and was recently updated in March 2026 for accuracy and additional information.}