Verona, italy
Attractions Guide

Verona is a beautiful UNESCO listed city which is very popular for its attractions related to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, as well as its well-preserved ancient Roman and medieval structures. Perhaps because of its ties to Romeo and Juliet, Verona is considered to be a romantic destination. Verona is located in Northern Italy along the Adige River near Lake Garda, just south of the Italian Alps.

Verona is also popular for half-day visits or day-trips due to it being a major transportation hub located in between the cities of Milan and Lake Como to the west, Venice to the east, Innsbruck, Munich, and the Italian Alps to the north, and Florence and Bologna to the south.

If you plan to see several of Verona’s attractions, the cheapest way to do so is to purchase the Verona Card, which allows access to most of the city’s top attractions for a much lower price than paying for each sight separately.

Verona’s historic city center sits is surrounded on three sides by a bend in the Adige River, and so its southern side has historically been protected by a stretch of walls since it was an Ancient Roman city. Today a mix of Roman and medieval walls still stand.

Ancient Roman Gates

Along the southwestern side of Verona’s walls is the Porta Borsari, which was the main Ancient Verona. This gate was built in the 1st century and features lavish columns and arches. Near the river along the eastern side of Verona is a portion of the ancient Porto Leoni gate, which was built in the 2nd century.

Portini della Bra

At the southern entrance to Verona are the medieval gates known as the Portoni della Bra, which are quite photogenic and feature a 19th century clock placed in the middle of the gates.

Just beyond the Portoni della Bra medieval gates is Verona’s most famous attraction, the Verona Arena. This ancient Roman arena was built in the 1st century and has been so well-preserved to this day that it still hosts regular events, including operas and musical performances. You can also visit the arena to explore inside of it without buying a ticket to a show.

Juliet’s House

Another extremely popular attraction in Verona is the Casa de Giulietta (or Juliet’s House), which is said to be the house in which Juliet would have lived in Shakespeare’s famous fictional play.

This lovely 14th century gothic home now hosts a small museum, but its main draw is its stone balcony, which is a very popular photo spot. Next to the house there is also a lovely Statue of Juliet, as well as a Romeo and Juliet themed gift shop.

Tomb of Juliet

Along the river on the southeastern side of Verona is another Romeo and Juliet attraction, the Tomb of Juliet. This tomb is located within a medieval Capuchin convent and was modeled to look like the fictional tomb in which the story of Romeo and Juliet would have ended. There are also small but lovely gardens and Romeo and Juliet plaques outside the convent.

Romeo’s House

Unfortunately for Romeo’s House there isn’t much to see, as the home is a private residence. The only thing to signify that the home is Romeo’s House is a small sign on the side of the home. The house is very easy to see however, since it is located next to many of Verona’s major attractions, including the Piazza dei Signori and Scaliger Tombs.

Verona’s most famous square is its Piazza delle Erbe (Market’s Square) which also functioned as the city’s ancient Roman forum.

This piazza is extremely scenic and lined with beautiful historic buildings, including the elegant Palazzo Maffei palace, the medieval Domus Mercatorum (House of Merchants), and the rustic fresco-covered Mazzanti Houses. The Piazza delle Erbe is also lined with many restaurants, cafes, and shops.

Torre dei Lamberti

Rising high above the Piazza delle Erbe is the Torre dei Lamberti, a giant medieval clocktower. You can climb to the top of this 12th century tower for amazing panoramic views overlooking Verona.

Just north of the Piazza delle Erbe is the smaller Piazza dei Signori, another picturesque public square lined with historic buildings, including the medieval Palazzo di Cansignorio and the elegant Loggia dei Consiglio.

Scaliger Tombs

On the northern end of the Piazza dei Signori are the intricate gothic structures funerary monuments of the Scaliger Tombs. These stunning medieval funerary structures were built during the 13th-14th centuries by the wealthy Scaliger family.

Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore

The Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore is actually located quite far to the west of the Central Verona. Verona’s Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore is over 1,000 years old and built with lovely Romanesque style, with a castle-like tower in front and a large bell tower in back. The church’s interior is also quite impressive, and its cloister is especially charming.

Apart from its architectural beauty, this church’s crypt was used as the setting for Romeo and Juliet’s wedding in Shakespeare’s famous play.

Verona Cathedral

The Verona Cathedral is perhaps the most beautiful church in Verona, and definitely one of the city’s top attractions. The church’s elegant exterior display Veronese-style Romanesque architecture mixed with gothic and baroque features. The church was built in the 12th century but has been well-preserved.

Inside the Verona Cathedral you’ll find elaborate Renaissance-era frescoes, as well as one of the world’s oldest continuously functioning libraries, which holds an important collection of ancient books and manuscripts.

More Churches

The Church of Santa Anastasia was built in the 13th century near the Verona Cathedral and is best known for its striking gothic-style interior. Another impressive medieval church is Verona’s Church of San Fermo Maggiore, which is quite beautiful on the outside, but even more stunning and intricate on the inside. San Fermo Maggiore is located on the eastern side of Central Verona near the Porta Leoni.

Ponte Pietra Bridge

One of Verona’s most picturesque attractions is the Ponte Pietra Bridge, an ancient Roman bridge spanning the Adige River built in 100 BCE. This beautiful bridge is known for its arches, most of which were rebuilt following the destruction of WWII, however part of the original bridge survived.

The Ponte Pietra is located at the northern tip of Central Verona. From the northern side of the bridge you can enjoy incredibly photogenic views of the rustic buildings along the river framed behind the Ponte Pietra.

Roman Theatre

On the other side of the Ponte Pietra bridge is the ancient Roman Theatre of Verona, which was built into the hillside along the river around the same time as the Ponte Pietra, about 2,100 years ago.

The theatre hosts modern seats built over the ancient stands, as it still hosts performances today. The Roman Theatre is also open for tourists to explore, and hosts a small archaeological museum of artifacts from Ancient Verona.

Castle San Pietro

On the hilltop above the Roman Theatre is Verona’s Castle San Pietro, a popular attraction due to its incredible views overlooking Verona. The views from the Castle San Pietro are the best you’ll find in the city, with many of Verona’s historic buildings seen behind the Adige River. You can reach the Castle San Pietro via a short steep hike or via a funicular railway that connects up to the castle.

On the southwestern side of Verona along the Adige River is a must-see attraction, the Castelvecchio (or Old Castle). This incredible medieval castle / fortification displays brilliant gothic architecture and is surrounded by imposing walls and towers. Castelvecchio was even surrounded by a moat, which is now filled with grassy fields.

The castle grounds are highly photogenic with impressive architectural features that you can walk around and admire. Castelvecchio also hosts interesting exhibits with collections ancient weaponry, Romanesque-era Veronese sculptures, gold works, ceramics, and a small collection of paintings by famous Italian artists such as Pisanello.

Castelvecchio Bridge

The castle also connects to a heavily fortified medieval bridge, known as the Ponte Scaligero, or Castelveccchio Bridge, which spans across the Adige River. This lovely bridge is very picturesque, especially when viewed from the riverside with the castle in the background.

Arco dei Gavi

Another ancient Roman relic in Verona is the Arco dei Gavi, which is located just north of Caselvecchio. This beautiful ancient arch was reconstructed in the modern era from the ruins of the original.