Verona: History, Heart, and a Home in Northern Italy

Ponte Pietra bridge Verona
The historic Ponte Pietra bridge connects Verona’s past and present.|©iStock/pawel.gaul

“In fair Verona where we lay our scene…” wrote Shakespeare, and the timeless line is a great place to lay our own scene, because this city of 255,000 residents is more than fair—it’s downright alluring.

Verona offers something for everyone: romance, history, atmosphere, great wining and dining… You’ll quickly see that Verona doesn’t just dwell in its ancient history, which gave it UNESCO World Heritage status, but also keeps up with contemporary trends wrapped up in its beautiful setting in the crook of the Adige River. As a literary city, Dante was given refuge here when he was driven from Florence, and many other literary figures have poetically praised Verona as well.

“In Verona, love is as timeless as the stones beneath your feet.”

La Città dell’Amore – The City of Love

Juliet’s balcony draws visitors to Verona’s romantic heart.
Juliet’s balcony draws visitors to Verona’s romantic heart.|©iStock/anshar73

Famously known, thanks to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, forget the tragic love affair and see Verona as the lovely city it is. The streets and quiet quarters and the bridges, views, pastel palazzi, and overall feel are downright romantic. Yes, you can certainly visit Juliet’s house and the famous balcony (and even snap a picture on the tiny terrace, if you pay for the house tour). Everywhere are love-inspired inscriptions, love locks, and crowds packing into the courtyard for the free view. For fans of the film Letters to Juliet, yes, there really is a Juliet Club with volunteers that read and respond to the countless letters left to the star-crossed girl who died for amore. There is a Shakespeare Interactive Museum for those who really can’t get enough of the Romeo and Juliet theme.

What could be more amorous than a moonlight stroll across the crenellated Ponte Scaligero to Castelvecchio? With suffused lighting and the medieval atmosphere, it is inspiring. So is a riverside aperitivo and a stroll along the Adige River. Or ride the funicular tram up Colle San Pietro for fabulous views over the city and countryside. There is the aptly named Sunset Bar at the top, or the classy and romantic Re Teodorico with a panoramic terrace for drinks or a meal. (You can also DIY it and bring your own bubbly, like some Italian couples do at the overlook, too!)

Dinner for two at Romeo’s House? Well, in what had been the stables of the Palazzo Montecchi, Osteria al Duca was a traveler’s lodge and is now a restaurant serving good traditional fare, and despite its touristy location, it’s a local favorite for just that reason—they adhere to the classics. Lastly, for lasting love, toss a coin into the Pozzo dell’Amore (Well of Love). It’s popular for singles who desire true love to make a wish there, too.

La Piccola Roma – The Little Rome

Roman Arena hosts concerts where gladiators once fought.
Roman Arena hosts concerts where gladiators once fought.|©iStock/SCStock

“In Verona, the grandeur of the past is still present in every stone, street, and corner. You don’t just visit Verona, you experience it.” – Paul Theroux

The city is called la piccola Roma for good reason; it became a Roman city in 49 BC under Julius Caesar and boasts a wealth of ancient monuments, palaces, temples, and well-preserved relics that make it a perfect place to revel in Roman history. The most visible sight is the Arena, Verona’s impressive colosseum, built in the 1st century and one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheaters in the world. It still hosts concerts and open-air operas during the summer months. The archaeological museum on the top floor holds a host of artifacts, while pieces of the ancient Roman wall can be seen outside in Piazza Mura Gallieno.

The city’s Roman gateways, bridges, the Arch of Gavi with a piece of Roman road below it, and Scavi Scaligeri, an underground archaeological site, provide many glimpses of ancient Rome. The other notable Roman relic is the Ponte Pietra, or stone bridge, beloved by locals and visitors alike, and on the other side, up on the hillside, sits the Roman theater, a semi-circular space designed for optimal acoustics and still in use. You can literally sit in history here in Verona!

The monumental Porta Borsari, one of the ancient gateways, was also a customs duty stop in the 3rd century. Vast Piazza Erbe, outlined in palazzi and towers, was once the Forum. Akin to Rome’s Campo dei Fiori, it hosts the open-air market every day except Sunday. Here, the ancient blends with the medieval and modern so seamlessly, you can sit at a piazza-side caffè and contemplate it all. The Capitolare Library next to the cathedral is the oldest in the world still operating as a library, founded in 517 as a scriptorium, preserving a wealth of manuscripts, parchments, and more. Frequented by Dante and other illustrious scholars, it is worth a visit as they display interesting special exhibits.

Verona, like Rome itself, isn’t “only” ancient—it holds many architectural gems from the Middle Ages and Renaissance as well, making it even more like the Eternal City in ambiance and feel. Besides the locations associated with Romeo and Juliet, and with Dante’s years here, the Piazza dei Signori with its surrounding palazzi is fully medieval, like the striped stone Palazzo della Ragione with its courtyard and museum, Palazzo del Capitano, and others. Overlooking both Piazza dei Signori and Piazza Erbe is the soaring Torre Lamberti; at 84 meters (275 feet) tall, it’s dubbed “the highest drawing room in the city.” The panoramic terraces and bell chambers can be visited by climbing 368 steps or by taking the elevator (hello!), and afford 360° views of the city and surrounding environs. Perfect for the panoramas, by night it is also the scene of events and special evenings of aperitivi, so check the schedule to see if there is something planned, as it is really special. Meander the pastel lanes in this area to really step back in time amidst the medieval streets.

Art and Ambiance, Shopping and Dining

Piazza delle Erbe buzzes with cafés and daily market life.
Piazza delle Erbe buzzes with cafés and daily market life.|©iStock/xbrchx

“The Italian cities are the most beautiful in the world. I like Verona best.” – Ernest Hemingway

Verona lacks nothing in ambiance, as you’ll quickly see as you stroll around. Art fans will love the masterpiece-filled museums and ornate, frescoed churches around town. The Duomo has works by Titian, fanciful frescoes, and Renaissance works. San Zeno Basilica displays an altarpiece by Mantegna among its other allures, and the Giardini Giusti, with palazzo and Renaissance gardens, is gorgeous and also has one of Europe’s oldest labyrinths. There is contemporary art mingled with medieval and Renaissance-era works all around Verona, so you’ll have plenty to revel in, whatever your taste.

Shoppers will be enthralled. There are several areas, but Corso Porta Borsari is one street, and aptly named. Borsari derives from borsa, meaning purse, so bring yours (or wallet) and prepare to spend! Via Mazzini is more similar to Rome’s Via dei Condotti, with upscale and designer brands. In both, the cross-streets also hold shops and cafés, so you won’t drop.

The town boasts seven Michelin-starred restaurants and plenty of swanky ones, but also a great wealth of simple trattorias where you can still enjoy an unadulterated down-home type of traditional meal without the fuss (here, often called osterias). There are lots of wine bars, from old-style and homey to trendy, so again, Verona has something for everyone.

Verona in the Spotlight

The Adige River winds through Verona’s colorful old town.
The Adige River winds through Verona’s colorful old town.|©iStock/Isaac74

If you want to avoid crowds, don’t go in January 2026, as Verona has been selected as the scene for the closing ceremony of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics! It will also host the opening ceremony for the Paralympic Games in March 2026. Verona is already known for the reasons pointed out, but the city takes it in stride and says the spotlight won’t change its outlook, cultural status, or sense of hospitality. As a quote says, “Verona is always where the past and love are ever present. Verona will always be Verona.”

Share