- The most romantic places
- In search of the Roman Empire
- Medieval town
- Not a single spectacle
- All conditions for shopping
Verona is constantly in the shadow of other, more popular Italian cities: Rome, Milan, Venice, Florence. After all, it is these settlements that are more likely to be chosen by those tourists who are just discovering Italy. Perhaps it is right that people come to Verona later, already surprised by the sinking Venice, having visited all the forums in Rome, leaving a fortune in the markets of Florence and in the shops of Milan. And then an insight happens: Verona, with just one ray of the setting sun that suddenly flashed on the ancient stones, a glass of delicious Amarone wine, an opera aria that resounds over the quarters around Piazza Bra, makes you fall in love and binds you to itself. And you already consider the vacation spent in this city the best in the world. And you plan to definitely come back. How not to miss anything interesting, where to go in Verona, what to see first?
The most romantic places
Verona is often called the city of love and romance. Here, souvenirs with hearts are sold on every corner, people come here to get married from all over Italy, and lonely people dream of meeting their soul mate here. Such a romantic excitement around one of the main cities of the Veneto region is caused by the fact that the English playwright William Shakespeare moved here the action of his tragedy "Romeo and Juliet". We hasten to reassure those skeptics who consider it strange to visit places associated with invented characters: according to historical data, Juliet Cappelletti really lived in Verona (this is how her last name is written), and near the temple at the monastery of San Francesco al Corso, where at one time he went and St. Francis himself, was her crypt. Church authorities sounded the alarm because people were visiting Juliet's grave. They decided to destroy the tomb, and in 1548 they flooded it, declaring it a water reservoir.
Much time has passed since then, and the city municipality realized that most tourists come here on a real pilgrimage to places associated with great love. So, it was necessary to play along with the travelers and not disappoint them. This is how sights appeared in Verona that no real tourist can miss. These include:
- Juliet's house with the famous balcony, under which there is a bronze statue of Shakespeare's heroine. They say that touching her will allow you to find your love. Juliet's House is a complex of 12th century buildings built around a small courtyard. For a long time there was an inn here. At the beginning of the 20th century, the buildings began to belong to the city, which set up a museum here with historical interiors;
- Romeo's house on Arche Scaligere street. In fact, the merchants of Nogarola lived in this building. The building was used not only for housing, but also for storing goods. The house is still owned by private individuals. Only a few rooms are reserved for osteria;
- Juliet's tomb. It is still there - in the crypt of the monastery of San Francesco al Corso. There is also a chapel where Romeo and Juliet got married.
In search of the Roman Empire
Verona in the press is sometimes poetically called the Second Rome for a number of perfectly preserved monuments of the ancient Roman era. You should definitely see the Arena, which occupies a significant part of the Bra Square. This is an antique amphitheater, which is about 50 years older than the Colosseum. It was built for the entertainment of the nobility. The local arena served as a platform for gladiatorial fights and battles with wild animals. It is said that the Verona amphitheater became the prototype for the structure of Hell in The Divine Comedy.
If the Romans did not spare their ancient monuments, using them as building materials, then the Veronese did not allow the destruction of the grandiose Arena. Since 1913, an opera festival has been held here in the summer. Tickets for performances are snapped up as soon as they go on sale. Even if you haven't got tickets for a concert or opera, you can comfortably sit in one of the cafes on the square and enjoy the magical music that can be heard far beyond the ancient Arena.
The Verona Amphitheater is open to the public. It can be viewed both independently and as part of an excursion. Unlike the Roman Colosseum, here you can go down to the arena itself and imagine yourself as a gladiator.
Another interesting monument from the times of Ancient Rome is the Porta Borsari gate, from which only one three-story facade has survived. They were part of the city walls, erected in the 1st century AD. NS. One of the main streets of Ancient Verona, the current avenues of Corso Borsari and St. Anastasia, began immediately behind two arched aisles with triangular tympanes. The gate was named later with the word "Borsari". In the Middle Ages, there was a customs point, where the borsari, the person in charge of taxes, ran everything.
You can see another antique gate called Porta Leoni. They got their name after sarcophagi with lions were found next to them. From the towers that framed the gates, only parts of the foundation remained.
Medieval town
In addition to ancient monuments, Verona has many medieval buildings worthy of the attention of any traveler. One of the main structures of that period are the Arches, that is, the sarcophagi, of the Scaliger family - the former rulers of Verona. We can say that this is a cemetery adjacent to the temple of Santa Maria Antica right in the center of Verona, not far from the House of Romeo. The tombs, decorated in a Gothic manner, are located behind a wrought-iron fence.
Nearby, on Piazza Senoria, you can find two more buildings from the 12th century. This is the Palace of the Commune, which was later rebuilt in the style of the Renaissance. Its courtyard, which locals call the Old Market, is of great interest. The second medieval monument in this square is the bell tower of Torre dei Lamberti, which one of the feudal families of the city began to build as its own fortress. This tower, most likely, would have been demolished, like the rest of the city's private citadels, if its owners had not fussed in advance and sold it to the city authorities. Subsequently, this bell tower was completed twice.
The castle of Castelvecchio, built in the 14th century by one of the Scaligers as a safe haven, also belongs to the Middle Ages. On the one hand, it was protected by the Adige River, on the other, from the city, by impregnable walls. It was possible to leave the castle in haste through the new Scaligero bridge. Under Napoleon, the castle housed barracks; now it has been transformed into a museum, which can be visited even with a child.
With children, you can go to the Giusti Park, founded at the end of the 16th century on the left bank of the Adige River. There is so much here: caves, a boxwood labyrinth, fountains, flower beds, graceful statues, a belvedere and much more.
Not a single spectacle
One of the main entertainments in Verona is visiting various restaurants. There are, of course, several nightclubs here, but not many. The local respectable public prefers to spend evenings not in a frenzy of dancing, but with a glass of good wine and a leisurely conversation.
Fans of discos can be recommended to pay attention to the popular among young people “Berfi’s Club” and the institution “Dorian Gray”, designed for older people.
The rest of the guests of Verona can start their acquaintance with its culinary traditions with visits to the best restaurants in the city. These include the "Antica Bottega del Vino" on Scudo di Francia, which serves delicious pork risotto and delicate gnocchi seasoned with a variety of sauces. All this splendor should be washed down with local wines.
Restaurant "l'Oste Scuro" on S. Silvestro street will appeal to lovers of fish and seafood dishes. This is where you should try oysters served on a layer of ice. Gourmets are also delighted with the fish soup and the original cooked lobster. The local chef also offers delicious desserts.
The miniature "Al Pompiere", located in an iconic tourist spot - next to Juliet's House - is designed mainly for the local public. It is customary to book a table here in advance. It serves simple and hearty local and Venetian cuisine.
All conditions for shopping
Verona is a large Italian city with hundreds of shops, several large shopping centers, small markets, souvenir stalls - that is, all those places where you can spend your euros with sense and pleasure.
Those who dream of updating their wardrobe by choosing outfits from European designers should go to the Mazzini shopping street. Other tourists also know about local boutiques, so to avoid the crush it is better to come here in the morning. The pavilions adjacent to the clothing stores sell the delicacies of the Veneto region - the famous Sopressa Veneta salami, fine red and white wines, etc.
On Santa Anastasia street there are several boutiques selling clothes created by famous Italian couturiers. At the same time, here you can visit shops for household goods, where there are many all sorts of interesting little things that can create a unique atmosphere, and antique salons. Wonderful antiques with their own history are on display at the local antique market in Piazza San Zeno. On the ruins it is easy to find old postcards with buildings that already look different, slightly faded, but not lost their charm watercolors, plates in perfect condition, watches and jewelry, dishes, figurines and much more.
For those who like to shop quickly and do not waste time looking for the necessary items, we advise you to go to the Upim shopping center. There are no expensive shops here, local boutiques are designed for ordinary people. Pay attention to the chic section of bags.
