Holiday in Verona

What makes Verona special as a destination?

Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet, has far more to offer than the legendary (albeit fictional) love story. The best-preserved Roman arena in Italy — an amphitheater for 22,000 spectators from the 1st century — now serves as a spectacular opera venue: The summer opera festival featuring Aida, Carmen, and La Traviata under the starry sky is one of the most impressive cultural experiences in Europe. The Piazza delle Erbe, the former Roman marketplace, is surrounded by medieval houses, frescoes, and the Lamberti Tower, from which one can overlook the entire city. The Piazza dei Signori with the Dante statue and the Gothic Scaliger tombs testify to Verona's glorious past as the capital of the powerful Scala dynasty. Juliet's House with the famous balcony (Via Cappello 23) is a tourist magnet — more authentic is a walk across the Ponte Pietra to Castel San Pietro, from where the view over the Adige River and the old town is breathtaking. The Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore is considered a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture. Verona is also a culinary discovery: Risotto all’Amarone, Pastissada de Caval, and the local Bardolino wine. Its location at the southern end of Lake Garda makes Verona the perfect starting point for lake excursions. With the high-speed train, you can reach here in 70 minutes from Milan or Venice.