Verona, perfect to go as a couple, alone, with friends...
It doesn't take more than 48 hours to fall in love with what they say is the most romantic city in all of Italy and why not, of the world. And it is that Verona has that 'I don't know what, what do I know', that catches you from the first moment, moving you and shrinking inside as if you were experiencing first-hand what it is to have a crush for the first time.
Being the city in which the renowned English writer Shakespeare was inspired to create the story of the tragic lovers in his work Romeo and Juliet has become one of the main attractions of this Italian destination today, but not in the unique. Because Verona not only lives from these two young characters created in 1597: Verona talks about much more. And for this reason, it is vitally important to live it as many times as possible.
Halfway between Venice and Milan, It is the perfect destination where to rest for a few days if we are road trip through northern Italy or if we have escaped a weekend from the routine with friends, as a couple, as a family or alone. Because we are not going to lie to you: Verona is romantic and perfect to visit as a couple, but if you don't have it, we are not going to waste the opportunity to discover it in any other company.
Tour its main monuments and attractions, wander aimlessly through its cobbled streets, taste the delicious cuisine of the Veneto region, watch the sunset with the image of the city in the background, savor its famous spritz in a local on the banks of the Adige River... ** 48 hours will be more than enough to fall in love with her.** Are you ready for the crush?
The most romantic city in Italy
FRIDAY AFTERNOON
6:00 p.m. The easiest way to get to Verona is either by car or by train thanks to the Porta Nuova station, not far from the center. After leaving your bags at the hotel, touch take a walk through the historic center to make a first contact with it. The next day, we will have time to behave like real tourists and visit the most important points, but as soon as we arrive, why not stroll around to start merging with the environment and customs of northern Italy.
We can start our passeggiata in Piazza Bra (the largest in all of Verona and, according to some, also competes with others in the country for being considered the largest in Italy). It is home to one of the most emblematic and representative monuments of the city, the Verona Arena . Known as the little brother of the Colosseum in Rome, despite the fact that it was built before the one in the capital of Italy, it is the second largest Roman amphitheater in Europe , with a capacity for 25,000 people.
Every summer since 1913, this impressive monument with its fabulous acoustics hosts the Verona Festival, which, from June to September, brings together numerous opera concerts that include performances by the likes of Placido Domingo, Anna Netrebko or Yusif Eyvazov during the summer months.
And the rest of the year? They have passed through here Tiziano Ferro, Elton John, Fedez, Laura Pausini, Paul McCartney or Adele to delight us with their concerts, so it would not hurt to come to the box office to ask about the performance of the day. At night, fully illuminated, with incredible acoustics and surrounded by views of the Roman amphitheater structure... we will not witness anything like it in our lives!
The Arena di Verona is impressive
In the same square we can admire the Palazzo della Guardia, the Palazzo Barbieri or the Statua di Vittorio Emanuele II. To continue with our walk, we can take the best of the options: continue walking along the Via Giuseppe Mazzini, one of the main arteries of Verona, linking the two famous squares of Erbe and Bra.
We will go precisely from Pizza Bra to Erbe. Although it is during the day when it becomes one of the liveliest for its souvenir stalls, appreciate it at night, guarded by the stately Lamberti Tower, it is very worth it.
7:30 p.m. If we continue walking for another ten minutes in the direction of the Adige River, specifically to Ponte Pietra, we can enjoy excellent views and of course, the ** famous Italian aperitif .** Because, once evening falls, if you want to experience the true Italian essence, we have no choice but to enter some of the many places to experience firsthand this custom that is so prevalent in this part of northern Italy.
We will have the famous spritz, a glass of wine or a beer accompanied by different snacks to start filling the stomach: small pizzas, sandwiches, cold meats, cheeses, nuts and even pasta dishes They are served to accompany.
A few steps from the bridge, waiting for us Terrace Bar at Ponte (Via Ponte Pietra, 26), the perfect place to end the afternoon and start the night in the best of settings. Already from the Ponte Pietra you can see its idyllic terrace with views of the river and part of Verona. It is a quiet place where you can mingle with local people and enjoy a proper aperitif at an affordable price for such a privileged location on the banks of the Adige. And if we get hungry afterwards, the gastronomic offer of the place is also very successful. It is obligatory to stop here on our way through Verona.
If we want to change location for dinner, we can walk ten more minutes and go to the next bridge, the Ponte Nuovo , but, this time, on the other bank of the river. There is located the Pizzeria Da Salvatore (Piazza S. Tomaso, 6) .
Frequented mostly by locals, and specializing in Neapolitan pizza, it has been serving since 1961 one of the best pizzas in town at an affordable price . We can opt for their genovese focaccia, their classic pizzas, their particular pizzas -whose ingredients cannot be modified- or their specialties, hot or cold dishes such as the melanzane alla parmigiana (eggplant Parmesan) or the carpaccio di bresaloa with ruccola... Simply delicious!
11:00 p.m. Once we have eaten, it is time to rest because, the next day, a day full of tourism and new experiences awaits us. When choosing accommodation, it is best to do it in the area that encompasses the historic center and, if it can be near the river, much better. The Giulietta Suite (Vicolo Crocioni, 8), located in a renovated palace dating from 1400 and adjacent to the famous Juliet's balcony, is a good option.
If, on the other hand, you don't mind going a little further from the old town -but not too much-, in the San Zeno neighborhood you will find Five Luxury Rooms (Piazzetta Portichetti, 3), a unique accommodation project in the city launched as the first street hotel. There we will receive a total of six bedrooms in a stately and elegant building. We will not need more for a restful and comforting sleep in Verona.
SATURDAY
9:30 a.m. After getting up, we can either have breakfast at the hotel or go in search of an authentic Italian coffee to start the morning with honors and gain strength for the long day ahead. The Caffè Borsari (Corso Porta Borsari, 15) is one of the most emblematic of the city. The real Italian coffee was this! We can accompany it with some of their pastries, which are a true little piece of heaven, and we will be ready to go out and discover all the corners of the most romantic enclave in Italy.
Le Suite di Giulietta, "Juliet's balcony just for you"
1:00 a.m. What shouldn't we miss on our way through Verona? The good thing is that most tourist attractions are located in the historic center, very close to each other, therefore, if we proceed slowly but steadily, in one day we will have taken over the city and visited its essentials. It depends on us how much we want to extend the stay, because if we are sure of something, it is that Verona is there for a long time: each corner, alley or monument gives a stamp with which we will want to stay and live for a long time.
We can start our tour in the stalls full of life in Piazza del Erbe and climb to the top of the Torre dei Lamberti with its 84 meters high, from where you can witness a 360º view of the historic center and its surroundings. We have two options to go up to it: either going up the 368 steps or in the comfortable elevator. It's up to you!
After having crossed the Piazza dei Signori, a few steps away, we find the famous House of Giulietta , a stately palace of medieval origin that became, after its total restoration in 1940, the favorite stop for inveterate romantics.
Of course, we must arm ourselves with patience, because we are facing one of the most frequented places and most of them want to take the obligatory photo at the statue of Juliet. As tradition dictates, we must touch her breast in order to return to Verona or find true love. What each one prefers at that moment! We will find locks and messages of love in every corner of the place, making our blood sugar level rise at times.
The famous statue of Juliet
12:30 p.m. Being in Italy, the cradle of the Catholic religion, it is inevitable not to come across spectacular architectural temples translated into churches, parishes or duomos They deserve to dedicate a good bit of our time to them.
The duomo (or main church) of Verona is the Cathedral of Santa Maria Matricolare , located a few steps from Ponte Pietra. Other names that we should not overlook are the Chiesa di Santa Anastasia, the Chiesa di San Pietro in Monastero, the Chiesa di San Fermo Maggiore, the Chiesa di San Nicolò, the Basilica di San Lorenzo and that of San Zeno. We can end the morning by visiting the Arena di Verona inside, an essential stop.
2:00 p.m. For lunch, they await us at ** La Bottega della Gina ** (Via Fama, 4/c), one of those places where you know you've made the right choice as soon as you walk through the door. If we are lucky, we will be able to sit down at one of the two tables that they have in the establishment and, if there is no room, we can either order the food to go or wait for a stall to be released, because customers are usually quite in a hurry. .
The counter is full of dozens of varieties of sun-dried tomato paste, truffle, ricotta, pesto, courgette, ragout and everything else we can imagine in the form of this Italian delicacy. Each of the dishes is as delicious as can be, but if there is one that stands out above the rest, it is his famous lasagna . Difficult to describe in words!
3:30 p.m. If after eating we get a craving for sweets, we must go in search of the **best ice cream in Verona. Gelateria La Romana ** (Piazza Santo Spirito, 9) is located near Porta Nuova, a bit far from the old town, but the walk is worth it: the company has been offering exquisite quality products in hundreds of flavors and combinations since 1947 .
Our next stop is Castelvecchio, a military fortification belonging to the Scaliger dynasty, which ruled the city during the Middle Ages. The castle, the famous Castelvecchio bridge and the museum, one of the most relevant in the city, are located here.
5:00 p.m. Once the tourist day is over, it's time for the pilgrimage until what will probably be the most memorable and magical moment of our visit to Verona. Depending on the time of year in which we find ourselves, we will have to do it sooner or later, but watch the sun set over the city It will be stored in our retina for life.
To do this, we must go to the best point to see the sunset: the viewpoint of Piazzale Castel San Pietro . The views from here, both of the city and the Satuario della Madonna di Lourdes or of the valley in which the city sits, are impressive. If we also bring some Moretti beers or a bottle of wine, we will surely suffer from the well-known ** Stendhal Syndrome .** The viewpoint bar is also a not too abusive option and has a beautiful panoramic view.
The sunset is magical in Verona
8:00 p.m. Now it's time to continue enjoying the delicious Italian gastronomy. If we want to have an aperitif, ** La Tradision ** (Via Guglielmo Oberdan, 6) is one of the great bets of the old town. Accompanying the wine or the spritz of charcuterie and cheese boards is going to become our best pastime. Depending on how hungry we are, we can choose up to three sizes of boards at different prices.
10:00 p.m. If after our visit to this wine bar we are still hungry, we can continue enjoying the gastronomic festival in Osteria del Bugiardo (Corso Porta Borsari, 17/A). We have the option of choosing between cured meats, cheeses, pasta, typical dishes of the Veneto region and desserts that are a true taste of heaven. After dinner, it's time for the de rigueur walk back to the hotel and to rest
SUNDAY
09:00 a.m. On this occasion, we must get up early to leave as soon as possible. **Less than an hour's drive from Verona is one of the boot's most prized jewels, Lago di Garda. ** We are facing the largest freshwater surface in Italy, often relegated to the background by the famous Lake Como, but that has nothing to envy to this.
Having a whole day ahead of us, we should not hesitate to take a rental car to go around the lake and -if the weather conditions and traffic allow it- and stop at the key villages located on the water's edge , which make up a picture of incalculable beauty. We will be passing through three different regions of Italy in less than 24 hours: Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto and Lombardy.
10:00 a.m. Our first stop, the closest to Verona, is Garda fisherman . Due to its strategic position, it is a fortified city, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The first thing we should do is take a walk along its wall, to later enter the historic center and visit both its Town Hall and the port and canals.
Peschiera del Garda, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
11:00 a.m. Continuing with our road trip, we cross the towns of Bardolino, Garda, Torri del Benaco or Brenzone, until reaching Malcesine, the next stop on the way. This small medieval town is one of the most attractive and visited enclaves of the entire lake due to its beauty and its key location, just halfway on the eastern part of the water surface.
And what should we not miss here? The port, the Palazzo dei Capitani, the Castello Scaligero or the old town They have a special beauty. Malcesine is also guarded by the impressive baldo mount, a mountainous massif belonging to the Alps that can be reached either on foot after a trekking route of about 11 kilometers, or thanks to the funicular that connects the town with the top.
The views from this place are simply impressive. In addition, there is a wide variety of adventure sports such as paragliding, skiing, hiking or mountain biking that can be practiced in the area.
1:00 p.m. Leaving behind Malcesine, we set course for Riva del Garda , but not before making a technical stop in torbole to admire the windsurfers who gather here daily around the school located on the shores of the lake. Due to the location of the town, the wind currents are abundant and more than favorable to practice this type of activities.
Once we arrive at Riva del Garda, the northernmost town on the lake and the second most populous town behind Desenzano del Garda, we find that due to its location to the north, most tourists are German, Swiss and Austrian , so it's like leaving Italy for a while. Since it's time to eat, we can get closer until panema (viale Roma, 11) and try their delicious gourmet sandwiches.
Malcesine, guarded by Monte Baldo
3:30 p.m. Once satiated, we continue our road trip until we reach Limone Sul Garda. It is advisable to go down to the bottom in the port area, because it is where the narrow streets full of shops and souvenirs are located to take a good souvenir home, as well as the restaurants where you can have a refreshing snack. We should not leave without first trying the delicious lemons that are grown in the area (hence the name of the town), either in limoncello format or accompanying some of the most famous fish or sweets in the region.
5:00 p.m. Now it's time to head for the southernmost part of Lago di Garda, first passing through the historic and stately saló or for the lively Desenzano del Garda until reaching Sirmione , one of the most charming towns around the lake . Its historic center is guarded by a fortress that makes this 2.5-kilometer-long peninsula even more beautiful, if possible, as it penetrates the water until it almost merges with it.
Stroll through its cobbled streets, enter one of its churches, try the thermal waters that emanate from the Garda or relax in Jamaica Beach -if good weather permits- it will become the finishing touch in this first contact with the Garda. Because, if you end up convinced of something after visiting it, it is that you will return one day to enjoy a good and well-deserved vacation.
8:00 p.m. We are only an hour's drive from Sirmione to Verona, so if time is used well, we will be back for the farewell dinner in the city. Where do you have to choose this time? The place remains to be seen, but the pasta, pizza and beer are more than guaranteed.
An unforgettable walk on the banks of the Garda