Verona

Verona is best known as the setting of the famous love story Romeo and Juliet. It is also home to an amphitheatre known as the Arena. Immensely popular with both Italian and international tourists, every year it attracts visitors from all over the world.

When you get to Verona, which is the capital of the province of the same name, you’ll realize just how much there is to see in addition to the most famous attractions. The city still has urban fabric dating back to Roman times, as shown by the walls built by the Emperor Gallienus. It is also possible to see urban developments dating back to Medieval times and the following periods due to the range of Renaissance, 18^th century and 19^th century buildings.

Places of interest:

The Arena is unquestionably one of the most significant and iconic landmarks in Verona. It is in the square known as Piazza Bra, in the heart of the old town centre.

The tale of Romeo and Juliet is well established in the collective imagination of the local people. They have even picked out a place that is claimed to be Juliet’s House in real life. It was actually the home of spice merchants called Dal Cappello. It is part of a medieval complex which was subsequently extended with 16^th century additions and an early 20^th century condominium. In the 1960s, a statue of Juliet was put up in the courtyard.

It is just a short distance from Juliet’s House to the stunning Piazza delle Erbe, where you can take a stroll among the market stalls and admire the Madonna Verona fountain, which stands on white marble paving.

Proseguendo una passeggiata nel centro della città non si possono non notare Piazza Signori, la Loggia di Fra Giocondo, il Palazzo di Cangrande, il Palazzo di Cansignorio, il Palazzo della Ragione e Piazza Duomo dove, all’interno della chiesa, è possibile contemplare l’Assunta di Tiziano Vecellio.

If you cross the Adige River on the nearby Ponte Pietra, you can see the Roman Theatre near the San Pietro Hill. It’s the oldest construction in Verona and it’s still used today, playing host to the Shakespeare Festival and Verona Jazz Festival in the summer.

San Pietro Castle, which was built as a military stronghold by the Visconti and later became a Hapsburg barracks.

The Castelvecchio is a monumental castle built by the Scaliger family. It features a fortified bridge and it is now home to the Castelvecchio Museum, where significant collections of Medieval, Renaissance and modern art are exhibited.

Things to taste

Tra i piatti caratteristici si distinguono il manzo bollito condito con una particolare salsa pepata, fatta di pane, midollo e parmigiano (la pearà), la polenta pastissada, gli gnocchi, la pasta e fagioli, le carni di anatra e faraona con la salsa peverada. Molte anche le pietanze a base di pesce grazie alla vicinanza con il Lago di Garda.

Verona is the home of the famous Pandoro Christmas cake, which is an iconic part of the festive season for Italian families.

The Verona area is renowned for a large number of products, including olive oil, asparagus, chestnuts, truffles, cheese and tortellini from Valeggio sul Mincio. Many of them are “celebrated” at the numerous festivals that take place in the province every year.