The home of Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers tends to be overshadowed by the tourist safe-haven of Venice. But here’s why you should move Verona up to the top of your bucket list this year.
Firstly, let’s thank the Italian tourist gods for making most of the popular attractions in Verona free or fairly priced! On sale for just €25 is the Verona Card, which gives you free or discounted entry to most sights in the city for 48 hours. This is a truly beautiful asset for visitors because it also includes free bus travel and you can skip the long queues for purchasing tickets at most of the locations listed below.
Arena di Verona
Budge over Colosseum! The Arena di
Price: €10 or free with the Verona Card; Ticket prices to shows vary.
Romeo and Juliet tours
Despite Shakespeare having most likely never actually set foot on the ground in Verona, this city is featured in some of his most loved work and still remains a huge part of the Shakespearean legacy even centuries later. Verona has definitely capitalised on this association and as a result, there are plenty of tours and places to visit for all you fans of great love and great writers. If you’re feeling extra smushy you can even pay a visit to Juliet’s balcony and reenact that famous love scene.
Price: Juliet’s house is €6 or free with the Verona Card
Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore
Cited as a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture, this basilica is an architectural dream and something all Verona visitors will wish they had laid their eyes upon before leaving the city. Italy’s relationship with Christianity is a huge part of the nation’s identity and so these religious buildings are extremely well kept and impressive. Even as an atheist you are sure to admire and appreciate the true work of art that this place of worship embodies.
Price: €3 or free with the Verona Card
Castelvecchio Museum and Bridge
Image credit: Javen / Shutterstock.com
Perched upon the banks of the River Adige, you can find the almighty structure of the Castelvecchio. This landmark dates back to 1354 and has a long impressive history of defending Verona, which you can learn all about inside the onsite museum. Whilst there you’ll definitely want to check out the adjoining Scaliger Bridge, with its beautiful arches that will make you feel like you’re on the GoT set in King’s Landing.
Price: €6 or free with the Verona Card
Best photo opportunities
Let’s face it, it would be a crime when visiting one of the most beautiful countries in the world not to take advantage of the top-quality photo opportunities and fill up all your social media with envy-inducing holiday snaps. Here are a few suggestions of photo op places in Verona that you should definitely make a pit-stop by…
Torre dei Lamberti
Image credit: Efired / Shutterstock.com
If you’re anything like me, you’ll feel like you haven’t quite seen a place until you’ve climbed to the highest point possible and viewed all the busy commotion from above. The Torre
Price: €8 or free with the Verona Card
Giardino Giusti
This charming Italian Renaissance garden is sure to win you over. Offering a picturesque surrounding filled with tall cypress trees and maze hedges that will make you feel super classy. Put your best sunglasses on and pose like you own the place!
Love notes and locks
Gaining some international attention after the release of the 2010 film Letters to Juliet. The Verona love walls have filled couples everywhere with hopes and desires for what good is to come. Why not ditch any cynicism for one photo and get a picture in front of these huge displays of devotion! Sometimes it’s nice to be a little soppy and appreciate the better side of humanity.
Price: Free, just bring your own locks if you want to partake!
Piazzale Castel San Pietro
This medieval fortress is the largest historic building in Verona and looks super majestic situated on a hilltop overlooking the entire city. Unfortunately, you can’t enter the Castle but even just wandering around this regal structure is entertainment enough.
Price: Free, just requires a little sweat, maybe a few tears and hopefully no blood to get there!
Lake Garda
Technically it’s not in Verona, but with Lake Garda only a very short drive away you will be a miss if you don’t pay this scenic paradise a visit. This is Italy’s largest lake and offers many one incredible panoramic views of gorgeous natural scenery that will leave your jaw on the floor!
Price: Depends on how you choose to get there. There’s plenty of options via bus, train, car.
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