Not many people realize it is, in fact, Verona not Venice that is the capital of Veneto. With over 250 thousand inhabitants it’s the second largest city in the region and the third largest in the northeast part of Italy. While most of you will know the town for being the setting of the Shakespeare’s famous play Romeo and Juliet, the tiny, unquestionably romantic courtyard with Juliet’s balcony is just a tip of an iceberg of things to do in Verona. Located on the route between Venice and Milan, Verona has always maintained a strategically advantageous position in the Po valley. Having a desirable location, in the first millennium of its existence, Verona was ruled first by the Romans, then Ostrogoths, Goths an, at last, the Roman Empire. Read more
O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo? That’s right, in fair Verona, the city made famous by William Shakespeare, you can visit the balcony where Juliet pined for her lover. Yes it’s fiction and yes neither Romeo or Juliet probably ever really existed, but hey, it’s one of the greatest love stories (read tragedies) of all time, and if you visit Verona, it’s a must. So, pull up with your lover and snap a photo beneath the balcony. And, for all you lonelyhearts, don’t dismay. It’s believed that rubbing the right breast of the statue of Juliet, that sits in the courtyard beneath the balcony, will bring you luck in love. Let's go
Verona has its own Colosseum! The pink stoned Arena di Verona, which survived a devastating earthquake and was once the 8th biggest amphitheater in the Roman Empire, no longer plays host to those sorts of shows. No, now one of the great Verona attractions is an open-air theatre that puts on concerts and they’re pretty spectacular too. Can you think of anything better than sitting, alfresco, in the warm summer air late one night watching an opera like Carmen, Aida or Turandot? If you can’t, it’s quite simple, head to this legendary open-air opera house, one of the best places to visit in Verona and catch a show. Let's go
Sitting right next to the Piazza delle Erbe, which like the cooler, older brother garners much more attention from the tourist crowds who flood through Verona, is the Piazza dei Signori. It should definitely be included on your “what to see in Verona” lists. This square is referred to by the locals as Verona’s “living room” and plays host to many Renaissance palazzi. The Loggia del Consiglio is one of the most beautiful Renaissance palaces in northern Italy. And, while you can’t go inside, you can get lost in the splendor of its exterior. You may, however, go into the Palazzo della Ragione, in which young couples sometimes get married. Let's go