How to spend 3-4 days in Verona, Italy

Verona is a picturesque city in the province of Veneto, in northern Italy. Most people associate Verona with Shakespeare’s “Two Gentlemen of Verona” or “Romeo and Juliet”.  I think there is a lot more to this beautiful city, than the famous balcony and I strongly recommend adding it to any itinerary when travelling in this region. The city is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it’s pretty obvious why it got this recognition.

I travelled to Verona by train from Milan, my preferred mode of transport in Italy. Trains are extremely reliable, relatively cheap and very comfortable. The journey took 72 minutes and a first class ticket cost €22.90 one way. I usually travel first class by train as you are assigned a seat, you have space to store luggage and they offer a complementary beverage service at your seat.

The main station is called Verona Porta Nuova and it is 15-20 minute walk to the city centre. You get a great feel for the city straight away. You walk down a wide street with commercial and residential properties, you can see glimpses of the roman architecture and then you arrive at Piazza Bra, the location of the Verona arena. The arena immediately reminded me of my first visit to Rome and how awe struck I was when first seeing the Colosseum. The piazza has a variety of restaurants so I decided straight away to stop for lunch and enjoy the view. 

I stayed at a boutique hotel situated at one of the pedestrian streets just off Piazza Bra, called Hotel Giulietta e Romeo (of course !). The location is excellent, all staff were extremely helpful and the room was lovely, equipped with everything you need.

I spent three days in Verona and I hope this blog will inspire you to visit soon.

The Verona Card 

This can be purchased online or at a tourist office (there is one at Piazza Bra) and it allows you free access to several main attractions and free travel on local busses. I purchased one for 48 hours for €25 and one for 24 hours is available for €20. As entrance fees cost between €5 to €8 it is great value for money if you plan to see most of the main attractions.

The Verona Arena

This Roman amphitheater is the third largest in Italy (after the Colosseum and one in Capua) and was completed in 30 AD. If you walk around the Piazza you can enjoy it from various angles. Since 1984 a shooting star made of white iron has been attached to the arena as part of the cities Christmas decorations. Unfortunately a small part of the Arena was damaged when it was removed this year and it may not be attached to it again.

Like most Amphitheatres, once you exit the box office, you are in the circular tunnel with steps at various intervals into the arena. The original capacity of the arena was 25,000 and today it is used for open air operas, fairs and theatres. Pink limestone from the Valpolicella region of Italy is visible throughout. The steps to the top are steep but is it well worth climbing to the top. The view of the piazza and the city is amazing. You can walk around the top tier and appreciate the views from various points.

Torre dei Lamberti

Visiting this tower  (84 meters high) was undoubtedly one of the highlights of my trip. You can take a lift or climb the 368 steps to the top. I climbed the steps but don’t recommend it, if you don’t like enclosed spaces or are not relatively fit, as there isn’t room to stop and rest along the way. While I thought the view from the Arena was wonderful, the panoramic view of the city and the surrounding areas is quite spectacular from the top of the tower. The sun was starting to set and I really enjoyed the view. I took lots of photos taking advantage of the impact of the changing colour of the sky on the landscape and the buildings.

Piazza delle Erbe

While Piazza Bra has the Arena and a lot of restaurants, I preferred the atmosphere of Piazza Erbe. It felt more authentic and less touristy than Bra and all restaurants had outdoor and indoor dining. It has a lot of market stalls making it great for people watching. The prices of food and drink is comparable to other small Italian cities. I paid €25 for a pasta dish, side salad, bottled water, two glasses of wine and a coffee one evening. The piazza is enclosed by a variety of historic buildings including the Lamberti tower and the ambiance at nighttime was really lovely.

Casa de Guilette

You can’t go to Verona without visiting this historic site. You can enter the courtyard and see the famous balcony free of charge, but you must reserve a time to go inside the house. You book it online selecting a time slot. If you intend visiting, I recommend booking this when you arrive in the city, as it is extremely busy.

I enjoyed the interior and think they have done a great job of showcasing the rooms, clothing, household items etc. You get a great understanding of what a young Guilette’s life must have been like. When I visited, it seemed as if everyone had planned the photo opportunity, so getting out onto the balcony took awhile. Groups and couples were well organised with one person posing at the balcony, while another remained in the courtyard to take the all important photo.

Conclusion

While most people visit the province of Veneto to go to Venice, one of my favourite Italian cities, I highly recommend seeing more of the region and visiting Verona. I plan to go back during the summer as attending an opera at the Arena is now on my “Must Do Wishlist”.

Ciao and grazie per aver letto (thank you for reading)