Are you looking for the best things to do in Verona, Italy? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
If you’ve ever read any Shakespeare, you would know that Romeo and Juliet was set in Verona. For centuries, the city has been a magnet for tourists hoping to experience a little of its enchantment for themselves.
While Verona is a magical place for literary enthusiasts, it’s also an ideal vacation spot for those who love history. There are still a few remnants of the city’s Roman past to be seen throughout this northern Italian city between Venice and Milan.
Verona, a city steeped in romance and history, may not want to be known as the “City of Love,” but that is what it has become.
However, it’s not just love that draws people to this lovely Venetian city. Let’s find out more.
13 Best Things To Do in Verona, Italy
Let’s admit it: Verona isn’t Italy’s most famous city. Let’s give the title to Rome, Venice or Milan — and maybe Florence, too. However, a trip to Verona is a must if you’re visiting this side of the country.
Read on for the greatest sites to see and things to do in Verona if you’re planning to visit this part of Italy soon.
1. Start at Piazza Bra
The city of Verona offers several patios and cafés where you may enjoy people-watching while you decide what to do next.
Piazza Bra, on the outskirts of the medieval city center of Verona, is the city’s largest public square.
Numerous walking excursions depart from here, and the Roman amphitheater called Arena di Verona is also located in this area.
For those who want to dine in between exploring, there are many options in the area surrounding Piazza Bra, including taverns, restaurants, and cafés.
2. Take a stroll through Verona’s historic center (Centro Storico)
Verona’s medieval center is one of its most picturesque spots, and it’s best explored on foot.
A stroll in this historic hub is easily one of the best things to do in Verona. Just wander around and follow your feet wherever they lead.
In addition to taking in the scenery, you’ll get the opportunity to take in the architecture from both the medieval and Renaissance periods.
UNESCO has certified the City of Verona as a World Heritage Site in 2020 because of how effectively these structures have been kept.
3. Admire Arena di Verona
There are three other remaining Roman amphitheaters in Italy: the one in Capua, the Colosseum in Rome, and the Fondazione Arena di Verona, which is the largest of the three.
The amphitheater, which dates back to the 1st century and can accommodate 25,000 people, is today home to Verona’s premier opera companies and the famed Festival lirico all’Arena di Verona, a yearly opera festival that has been held there since 1913.
This Roman arena, however, is best visited in the daytime when the stage is bathed in sunlight. During the day, it’s easy to imagine the amphitheater’s original look, even if it’s currently filled with bright orange and red chairs. At sundown, the place is often utilized for less formal activities than watching a play or opera.
4. See Verona from Torre dei Lamberti
If you’re in Verona, this tower is one of the best places to visit because it has great views of Piazza delle Erbe. With its fantastic location overlooking the city, it’s an excellent place for visitors to gain a feel of the city’s size (and how flat it is).
Now, you have the option of either ascending the tower’s numerous stairwells or taking a lift directly up to the top. Rather than risk your precious vacation time by walking up and down numerous flights of stairs, it’s best to take the lift. There’s just a small fee, but it offers the convenience of being whisked to the top in a matter of seconds.
5. Visit Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore
The magnificent San Zeno Maggiore Basilica, built during the 11th and 12th centuries, is widely regarded as northern Italy’s most important Romanesque structure.
Archaeological evidence suggests that the Romanesque campanile (1045–1178) and a 14th-century battlemented defense tower of a previous Benedictine abbey once stood on the site.
There is a side gate leading into the exquisite cloister, but the main entry has bronze doors with superb Romanesque reliefs depicting biblical and secular subjects; be sure to check them out!
A remarkable 14th-century timber ceiling adorns the inside of the church, painted between the 13th and 15th centuries.
There is a 14th-century marble sculpture depicting St. Zeno, the 4th-century bishop of Verona, in the choir. Relics are kept in crypts, which is uncommon in that they have the same prominence and size as the chancel above them.
Another must-visit in Verona is Mantegna’s Madonna and Child with Saints, a 15th-century masterpiece you’ll find on the altar.
6. Hike up Castel San Pietro
Another must-do in Verona is to travel up the hillside to the summit of Castel San Pietro via an automated funicular.
From the top of the hill, you can get a breathtaking view of the city. During the ascent, you’ll be able to take in all of the modest houses and quiet streets that have been constructed.
However, visitors are only able to view the vista from the square, since the castle is not open to the public. Still worth a look and photo ops, though, for its historical significance. The castle was formerly the site of a Roman stronghold and was reconstructed in the 19th century.
7. Have a look at Juliet’s House
Casa di Giulietta, or Juliet’s House, is one of Verona’s most well-known landmarks and is where the famous Juliet’s Balcony is located. It is definitely one of the most popular things to do in Verona.
Given how tragically the Romeo and Juliet narrative ended, it’s surprising that this spot is a favorite among visitors, who consider it one of the city’s most romantic spots.
A bust of Juliet has been worn down by so many people rubbing it for good luck that you’ll find countless inscriptions on the walls here.
You don’t have to pay to enter the courtyard here, but if you want to go up to the balcony, you will. The good thing is that the fee is not merely for the chance to climb on that balcony — you’ll also be supporting a museum dedicated to the area’s architecture and filmography.
8. Visit Juliet’s Tomb and the Museum of Frescoes
Said to be the setting for the tragic finale of the tragic Shakespeare play, Romeo and Juliet, “Juliet’s Tomb” is a red marble sacophagus without a lid. The coffin is said to have belonged to Juliet Capulet.
A rather curious attraction in Verona, Tomba di Giulietta (Juliet’s Tomb) lies in a small underground chamber in the Museum of Frescoes.
Unlike the more popular Juliet’s House nearby, Juliet’s Tomb is not as crowded. But just like Juliet’s House, Juliet’s Tomb is fictional. That doesn’t stop fans to keep visiting the sites, however.
Juliet’s Tomb is worth a look if you’re visiting Juliet’s House. If you’re a Shakespearean enthusiast, then this should make it to your list of things to do in Verona.
9. Step inside the Basilica of Sant’Anastasia
This is one of the city’s most gorgeous and intricately designed cathedrals, making a visit one of the best things to do in Verona.
A 13th-century brick church in the center of Verona, Basilica di Sant’Anastasia, is the city’s best example of Gothic architecture. Stone carvings depicting episodes from St. Peter’s life hang over a 15th-century fresco above the church’s entryway.
This holy water font was crafted by Gabriele Caliari, father of famous Italian artist Paolo Veronese. He was the artist behind St. George and the Princess fresco in the Vatican.
10. Explore Castelvecchio and Ponte Scaligero
One of Verona’s most popular spots for a promenade in the 14th-century, Ponte Scaligero is a completely traffic-free bridge and a favorite of the city’s residents.
The bridge, the city, and the surrounding hills can all be seen from the castle’s main tower and ramparts. Carlo Scarpa, the architect, has repaired and altered the castle’s interior into a light exhibit space without compromising the castle’s integrity or history.
There is a display here of the Civico Museo d’Arte’s Veronese sculpture, applied art, and paintings by Bellini, Rubens, and others from the Veronese school of the 15th and 16th centuries.
A few steps from the Arco dei Gavi is a 1st-century stone archway that once linked two sections of the ancient Roman road. Here, you’ll even find the wheel grooves left in the stone by chariot wheels.
11. See the Arche Scaligere (Scaliger Tombs)
The Scaliger Tombs are in a court outside the church of Santa Maria Antica in Verona, protected from the street by an iron grille-clad wall.
The Tombs are a collection of five Gothic burial monuments commemorating the Scaliger family, who ruled the city from the 13th to the late 14th centuries. These are enormous Gothic tombs with each family member’s effigies in full armor atop them.
The ladder (scala) is the heraldic emblem of the family, and it appears frequently in the exquisite wrought-iron railings.
The sarcophagus and horse figure of Cangrande della Scala, who died in 1329, can be seen above the church’s main entrance on the church wall (the original is beautifully displayed at Castelvecchio).
Giovanni’s 1359 mural monument and Mastino I’s 1277 sarcophagus may be found on the left. The sarcophagi and equestrian sculptures of Mastino II and Cansignorio, who died in 1351 and 1375, respectively, are housed inside the railings, under a canopy.
A visit to the Scaliger Tombs is definitely one of the most interesting things to do in Verona.
12. Visit the Giusti Palace and Garden
Located in the east of Verona, not too far from the city center, Palazzo Giusti is a 16-century palace with an exquisite Italian garden. A tower was added in 1701.
Beautiful flowers and trees are everywhere in the vast Giusti Garden. Although not recommended for people with limited mobility, a climb to the top will provide great panoramic views of the city.
Best time to visit is at sunset, when the place is at its most stunning. This is definitely one of the best an absolute must-see in Verona.
13. Sample local cuisine and take a food and wine tour
Italian cuisine is known over the world for its savory wines and carbo-loaded meals — from pizzas to pastas to cannolis and everything in between.
When in Verona, it’s a must to sample the Veneto region’s specialties such as the native polenta, risotto, and gnocchi.
From risotto stuffed with minced pork to spaghetti with beans, Verona has a wide variety of unique dishes. Check the best restaurants in the city for the most amazing Veronese offerings.
A walking food and wine tour is ideal if you have a limited amount of time available in your schedule. While on this tour, you will get the opportunity to sample local fares like cappuccino, pastries, and Valpolicella wine as well as learn about the history of the city as a whole.
For those who want to observe how pasta is cooked in a traditional Italian kitchen and learn from a local expert about the best wines to take back to their own countries, going on a food and wine tour is definitely one of the top activities in Verona.