10 Things to Know About Verona

Verona, located in the northern part of Italy in the Venetian region, is one of the main tourist destinations. This city is home to so many testimonies of its Roman past, such as the Arena, the Theater, the Doors, and Ponte Pietra but everyone knows this city as the City of Love. It is famously known as the setting of ‘’Romeo and Juliet’’ by William Shakespeare. Who hasn’t heard of their love story? This work of art has been the reason why Verona is among the most visited city in Italy. If you are planning a visit and still don’t have any information just continue reading this article and know about the 10 most famous things.

Verona Arena

In the middle of the historic center of Verona, it stands a true wonder, the Arena of Verona, spectacular, and well-preserved. The Roman Amphitheater stands as a triumph of Roman engineering. It was constructed in 30 AD and after thousands of years, it still has stood in such good conditions. The amphitheater would have held 30 000 spectators and it is here that have been held various shows and games, such as the Roman Ludi. Nowadays you can visit the inside part to admire the architecture and yet it is the place where some big concerts and musical shows are still held here.

Castelvecchio

The Castelvecchio stands on the banks of the River Adige. The construction of this castle started in 1354. During the Scaliger dynasty, it was the greatest achievement. Firstly it served as a mode of defense for the city. In 1928 the castle was completely restored and transformed into one of the most important art museums in Veneto. Between 1958 and 1974 there was a complete restoration with modern criteria by Carlo Scarpa. Today it is one of the most popular and well-known destinations in northern Italy by lovers of culture and art, inside you can admire beautiful paintings from the 12th to the 16th century and works and frescoes by some of the most famous Veronese painters such as Stefano da Verona, Pisanello, Giambono, Carlo Crivelli, Mantegna, Carpaccio, Giovanni, and Gentile Bellni.

Bridge of Castelvecchio

Known as the ‘Castelvecchio Bridge’, the medieval Ponte Scaligero is part of the fortress of Castelvecchio and crosses the Adige River. Built between 1354 and 1356 during the lordship of Cangrande II Della Scala, the bridge was used to guarantee an escape route from the Castelvecchio complex towards the Tyrol in the event of uprisings by the enemy factions of the Della Scala family present in the city. On April 24, 1945, the retreating German troops blew up the Castelvecchio Bridge, which required a complete reconstruction, also begun in 1945 and finished in 1951.

Church of San Zeno Maggiore

The Basilica of San Zeno, also called San Zeno Maggiore, is an example of the Italian Romanesque style. It was dedicated to San Zeno, also called the “Moro Viscolo” due to its African origins, who became the eighth bishop of the city of Verona in 362. The basilica is on three levels: the crypt, the parish church, and the presbytery. The crypt, which has housed the body of San Zeno since 921, is the lowest part of the sacred building, is divided into nine naves, and has forty-nine columns that support the arches. With the invasions of the Hungarians, between 899 and 933, the church suffered considerable damage, so much so that in 967 Bishop Raterio had to promote a new reconstruction. Around the end of the eleventh century and the beginning of the twelfth, a huge renovation project of the Romanesque style church began. The works had to stop due to the Verona earthquake of 1117, however around 1138 much of what is now the church had been completed. Over the following centuries, the building underwent further modifications and tampering which, however, did not change the layout while maintaining its medieval origin.

Erbe Square

Piazza Delle Erbe is a place to consider visiting while a visit to Verona. Originally this was the place where the city’s Roman Forum was located. This beautiful rectangular square is located in the heart of the historic city center and is surrounded by splendid medieval palaces and towers. In the center of it are a 14th-century fountain and a Roman statue. Once the city market was also held here, but today there are small shops which mostly sell souvenirs.

Giusti Garden

The art, history, and nature make the Giardino Giusti famous all over the world. This magnificent park is divided into two parts: the lower part known “in the Italian style” between fountains, statues, and well-ordered alleys, and the upper part, where a beautiful row of cypresses extends along the side of the hill. A spiral staircase leads to a wonderful place from which you can enjoy a vast panorama of Verona. The garden develops on the hill behind the building has kept all the original structures intact: fountains, caves, boxwood and Italian-style flower beds, statues, and the labyrinth. The labyrinth was redesigned by Luigi Trezza in 1786 and it is still accessible today. It is small but is considered one of the oldest in Europe.

Verona Cathedral

Verona Cathedral was created similarly to the Basilica of San Zeno but larger and quite more decorative. It is one of the oldest religious buildings in Verona, dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The construction of the new Cathedral began in 1120 and ended in 1187. The façade has some fantastic artworks, marvelous on its own, so is the interior just as decorative as the exterior. The current appearance of the interior is due to the changes made to the Romanesque church in the 15th century: divided into three naves by tall pillars in red Verona marble, which support Gothic arches.

The portal is carved with images of prophets and animals. The central nave, built by the architect Michele Sanmicheli, ends with the main chapel.

Lake Garda

Lake Garda is one of the largest lakes in Italy with a surface area of 369 squares km. Not coincidentally it is one of the most visited places. The beauty of nature is indescribable, something you can only understand if you master it because words would not suffice. The northern part of Lake Garda can be considered as the last remnant of the Mediterranean before reaching the Dolomites.

This area on the slopes of the Alps reveals a unique environment, where olive and lemon trees grow not far from the typically alpine flora; the human landscape has been modeled on this natural environment, urban centers in which cultural, historical, and naturalistic aspects are intertwined.

House of Juliet

When you see the beautiful city of Verona, one of the obligatory stops is undoubtedly the House of Juliet, the character made immortal by William Shakespeare’s tragedy. Just go to via Cappello and enter a passage where the walls are totally covered with love notes, signatures, and phrases of lovers who find themselves passing here. From the passage, you enter a courtyard where the famous balcony makes a fine show of itself on the façade of the annexed fourteenth-century building. Who does not imagine the romantic dialogue of the two lovers in the moonlight, seeing this little balcony?

Lamberti Tower

Torre dei Lamberti is the tallest tower in Verona. Its construction started back at the 1100s and stands on the Piazza Delle Erbe, dominating the historic center. The tower is 84 m high and if you love to see Verona from another angle just climb it. The view from the top is fascinating. The tower clock was placed in 1798 where we can still admire it today, replacing that of the nearby Torre del Gardello, which has not been functional for some time.

Where to do the best photos in Verona for your memories and your social media

You cannot leave this city without exploring every Instagrammable spot. You should consider the below places :

Juliet’s Balcony and Home (from Romeo and Juliet!)

Arena di Verona

Top of Torre dei Lamberti

Palazzo Giardino Giusti