Verona: Shakespeare's City of Romeo and Juliet

In the heart of Veneto, where the Adige River draws elegant curves between hills and plains, rises Verona, one of Italy's most romantic and fascinating cities. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000, this Scaliger jewel enchants visitors with its extraordinary historical stratification, embracing two thousand years of art and culture, from Roman times to the Renaissance.

It is here that William Shakespeare set his immortal tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, transforming Verona into the world capital of love. But the Scaliger city is much more than a romantic backdrop: it's an open-air museum where every stone tells stories of gladiators, medieval merchants, Renaissance lords, and visionary artists.

Strolling through its cobblestone streets, among noble palaces with frescoed facades and harmonious squares, you breathe a unique atmosphere that has conquered illustrious travelers from Goethe to Dickens. Today, as then, Verona knows how to enchant with its timeless beauty and cultural vibrancy.

The Verona Arena: Roman Giant in the Heart of the City

The Verona Arena is undoubtedly the symbol of the city and one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheaters in the world. Built in the 1st century AD, this majestic ellipse of pink Valpolicella stone could host over 30,000 spectators for gladiator fights and venationes.

Today the Arena continues to live as one of the most prestigious opera theaters on the planet. During the summer season, from June to September, its tiers fill with opera enthusiasts from around the world to attend performances of rare suggestion. The natural acoustics of the amphitheater and the starlit scenery create an exciting and unrepeatable experience.

Visit Tips

• The daytime visit allows you to appreciate the architecture and climb the highest steps
• For evening shows, book in advance and bring a cushion
• The nearby Maffeiano Lapidary Museum completes the understanding of the Roman era

Piazza delle Erbe: Verona's Living Room

Piazza delle Erbe represents the beating heart of Veronese life for over a thousand years. Built on the site of the ancient Roman forum, this rectangular square is a triumph of colors, scents, and architectures that blend in perfect harmony.

The morning market transforms the square into a kaleidoscope of stalls selling fruit, vegetables, souvenirs, and local products. All around, a crown of historic palaces forms the frame: from the Case Mazzanti with their 16th-century frescoes to the baroque Casa dei Mercanti, from the Gothic Palazzo del Comune with the Torre dei Lamberti to the Renaissance Domus Mercatorum.

At the center of the square stands the Madonna Verona fountain, with the 4th-century Roman statue that has watched over the city for centuries. Don't miss the column of San Marco, testimony to Venetian rule, and the Capitello, an ancient medieval tribunal.

Juliet's House: On the Trail of Eternal Love

A few steps from Piazza delle Erbe is one of Verona's most visited places: Juliet's House. This 13th-century medieval palace, belonging to the Dal Cappello family (from which the Shakespearean Capulets would derive), houses the famous balcony from which, according to legend, Juliet would appear for her love conversations with Romeo.

The house's courtyard is always crowded with visitors from around the world who come to touch Juliet's bronze statue (said to bring luck in love) and leave love messages on the walls. The balcony, added in the 20th century to satisfy the collective imagination, has become one of the city's most photographed symbols.

What to See in the House

• The frescoes and costumes from Zeffirelli's 1968 film
• Juliet's bed in the reconstructed bedroom
• The collection of Renaissance ceramics
• The view of the courtyard from the famous balcony

Piazza dei Signori: Renaissance Elegance

Adjacent to Piazza delle Erbe, Piazza dei Signori represents the noblest and most refined face of Verona. This square, also called "Verona's living room," is surrounded by buildings of extraordinary elegance that testify to the power of the Scala family.

Dominated by the Palazzo del Capitanio with its imposing 84-meter-high Torre dei Lamberti, the square hosts at its center the statue of Dante Alighieri, who found refuge here during his Florentine exile. The poet was indeed a guest of Cangrande della Scala and dedicated some verses of Paradise to the Veronese lord.

The Palazzo della Ragione with its mercantile courtyard, the Renaissance Loggia del Consiglio, and the Palazzo del Governo complete this scenic architectural complex that represents one of the finest examples of Italian medieval urban planning.

The Scaliger Tombs: Unique Funerary Monuments in the World

Next to the small Romanesque church of Santa Maria Antica lies one of Europe's most extraordinary monumental complexes: the Scaliger Tombs. These Gothic mausoleums, built between the 14th and 15th centuries, house the remains of the Scala lords who governed Verona during its period of maximum splendor.

The Tomb of Cangrande I, with the famous equestrian statue crowned by the condottiere's enigmatic smile, is considered a masterpiece of Gothic sculpture. No less impressive are the Tomb of Mastino II and that of Cansignorio, with their soaring spires and refined decorations that seem to defy gravity.

These funerary monuments tell of Verona's military and economic power in the Middle Ages, when the city controlled trade routes between Northern Europe and the Mediterranean.

Castelvecchio: Scaliger Fortress and Art Museum

Castelvecchio represents one of the most important examples of 14th-century military architecture. Built by Cangrande II della Scala in 1354, this imposing crenellated castle dominates the Adige with its powerful mass and the famous Scaliger Bridge, a masterpiece of medieval engineering.

Today the castle houses the Civic Art Museum, one of the most important art collections in Veneto. Among the exhibited works stand out masterpieces by Pisanello, Mantegna, Veronese, Tiepolo, and an extraordinary collection of medieval sculptures. The museum arrangement, designed by architect Carlo Scarpa in the 1960s, is itself a work of art that harmoniously dialogues with the ancient architecture.

Museum Highlights

• Pisanello's Madonna of the Quail
• Mantegna's Holy Family
• The equestrian statue of Cangrande I (original)
• Frescoes detached from Veronese churches
• Weapons and armor from the Scaliger collection

The Cathedral and San Zeno: Treasures of Sacred Art

The Cathedral of Santa Maria Matricolare represents an extraordinary example of architectural stratification. The 12th-century Romanesque facade, work of master Niccolò, merges with Gothic and Renaissance elements creating an ensemble of rare beauty. Inside, Titian's Assumption Altarpiece illuminates the first chapel on the left with its warm colors and Venetian luminosity.

But the true jewel of Veronese sacred architecture is the Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore, considered one of the masterpieces of European Romanesque. The gabled facade with the magnificent rose window called "Wheel of Fortune" and the portal decorated by masters Niccolò and Guglielmo introduce an interior of extraordinary suggestion.

Mantegna's triptych on the high altar, with its Madonna enthroned surrounded by saints and musician angels, represents one of the peaks of Italian Renaissance painting. Don't miss the famous bronze door panels of the main portal, 48 panels that narrate biblical and hagiographic stories with the expressive vivacity of Ottonian art.

Practical Information for Visiting Verona

Verona can be comfortably visited on foot, as the main monuments are concentrated in the historic center. The Verona Card offers free admission to museums and main monuments, plus use of public transport.

When to Visit

• Spring (April-May): mild climate and spectacular blooms
• Summer (June-August): Arena season, but high temperatures
• Autumn (September-October): ideal period with fewer crowds
• Winter (November-March): intimate atmosphere, but some sites close earlier

Gastronomic Specialties Not to Miss

• Amarone Risotto: with the king of Valpolicella wines
• Boiled meat with pearà: traditional dish with grated bread sauce
• Pandoro: the Christmas sweet born right in Verona
• Mountain hut gnocchi: Friday gnocolar tradition

"There is no world without Verona walls" - so Shakespeare makes Romeo say, and whoever visits this magical city can only agree. Every corner tells a story, every stone keeps a secret, every sunset over the Adige paints the colors of eternity in the sky.