Verona is, without doubt, a must-see city when exploring Italy. Filled with spectacular monuments and rich in Italian history, a visit to Verona truly allows you to experience real Italian culture.
Here are the must see attractions in Verone.
1. Torre dei Lamberti
Located in the centre of the Piazza delle Erbe is the largest tower in Verona, the Lamberti Tower. Built by the Lamberti family in 1172, the purpose of the tower was to warn the people of Verona about any imminent dangers, such as the Venetians attacking.
The tower has two bells: the Rengo and the Marangona. The Rengo was used to call the citizens of the city and the town council during times of war, while the Marangona was used as an alarm to signal a fire. The bells still ring now, and are incredibly loud if you are up the tower.
You can take a lift (or a lot of stairs!) up to the top of the 84 meter tower to give you phenomenal panoramic views of the city. This is definitely worth doing as the views are remarkable, so if you take the stairs the climb will without doubt be worthwhile!
2. Casa di Giulietta
Perhaps the most well known attraction in Verona is Juliets balcony.
When entering the courtyard the stone walls are completely covered by writing and love notes, with those visiting the attraction stopping to leave their mark at the romantic location.
Due to the popularity of this attraction the courtyard is incredibly busy with numerous amounts of tourists wishing to see the balcony. The courtyard is not huge and therefore it can be very crowded.
Located within the courtyard is a bronze sculpture of Juliet. Some of the metal on the chest of the statue is worn as it is believed that if you touch her right breast this will bring you luck in love!
Within Juliets house is a small museum which you can pay to visit. This also allows you to go up onto the balcony and look out over the courtyard.
3. Piazza delle Erbe
The Piazza delle Erbe (Market Square) is surrounded by some of the greatest monuments in Verona, therefore you are likely to walk through here on your way to visit other places.
Within the square are countless stalls selling a variety of souvenirs, clothing and food. The surrounding area also has a lot of shops. The Piazza delle Erbe is also full of restaurants and bars, where you can stop for a relaxing coffee or for a proper Italian meal.
This area is usually busy since it is so central in Verona, however even though it is a popular tourist point it never seems to feel overcrowded. The atmosphere here, just like the rest of Verona, is joyful and relaxed making this a lovely place to visit.
4. Arena di Verona
Built in the 1st century and situated in the Piazza Bra, the Arena di Verona is a spectacular Roman amphitheatre. The arena to date hosts large-scale opera performances and has hosted huge artists such as Whitney Houston and Elton John in the past. During the day you can take a tour around the arena, stopping to soak in the Italian sunshine by sitting on the stepped stone seating. At the highest points of the amphitheatre you can look out over the Verona, and take in the beauty of this picturesque city.
Walking through the stone corridors and out through the stone arches into the arena is stunning whether you visit during the day or for an evening performance. If visiting the arena during the day note that when there is an opera performance at night, access to the arena closes at mid-afternoon to allow time for preparation.
If you are going to see a performance in the evening the prices of tickets vary depending on where you sit. The stone seating is cheaper and cushions are available to rent for the performance. For those lucky enough to see an opera here, many of the surrounding restaurants in the Piazza Bra stay open until the early hours of the morning.
By Catriona Kidd
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