Best Things to Do in Verona

Wandering through the historic center, or centro storico, is a must. This is where you’ll find many major sights, including countless churches, wide piazzas, and Juliet’s House. It’s made for wandering, getting lost among the charming side streets and squares, stopping for lunch in one of the outdoor cafes, and exploring important monuments and buildings. Piazza Delle Erbe sits at the heart of the historic center serving as one of the liveliest hubs of activity here. During Roman times, it would have served as the settlement’s main forum. It’s home to fountains, marble statues, cafes, and restaurants, along with several important buildings here, like Palazzo Maffeia and Torre Lamberti, the city’s tallest tower, soaring over 275 feet. It dates back to the 12th century and was expanded 300 years later. Topped with an octagonal dome with a series of marble arches, it includes a huge clock face on the wall that faces the piazza.

Verona’s largest piazza is located in the historical center but stands out on its own as one of the main tourist areas in the city. Some say it’s the largest piazza in all of Italy. The ‘Bra’ as it’s often referred to, comes from the German word breit which translates to broad. It was defined as a square around the mid-16th century when the Palace of Honours was built here followed by the Palace of the Grand Guard that defines its southern boundary. Paving was finished in 1782, which made it a favorite spot for a stroll. As far back as the mid-12th century the area was used for a livestock market with the traditional fair of Saint Lucy in December surviving as a remnant of the ancient custom of fairs held here. In addition to the historic buildings, there are many shops, eateries, and residential structures with beautifully decorated balconies and shutters.

Castle Vecchio sits along the banks of the River Adige. Built in 1354, it was constructed to defend the city and was considered the Scaliger dynasty’s greatest engineering achievement. You’ll see the imposing gatehouse at the front along with two guard towers and a series of crenulated battlements. Step inside to explore the museum focused on the castle’s history with displays and artifacts. Attached to the main complex is the Castle Vecchio Bridge. Made from red brick, it was the longest of its kind in the world when it was constructed and decorated in the same style as the castle walls. By climbing the stairs, you can access the towers of the bridge and enjoy a spectacular view of the river and beyond from an elevated vantage point. You can also get some great photos by walking along the banks of the river, capturing the castle from the side.

Behind the 16th-century Palazzo Guisti, a Mannerist structure with an early 18th-century tower, are the Giusti Gardens, located along the eastern bank of the River Adige. Planned in 1570 by Agostino Guisti, a Venetian Republic knight, it was designed to take advantage of the terraces which were to reveal glimpses of the city a little at a time. It’s often ranked among the very best Renaissance gardens in Europe and offers a fabulous tranquil oasis that visitors will particularly appreciate during the hot and busy summer season. There are winding paths to stroll that are divided among the eight formal parterres, each of which has a different pattern of hedges along with statues and fountains. There’s also a small, wooded area to walk through while a path up the steep embankment leads to a less formal garden that has a grotto and offers picturesque views of the city, framed by grand old cypress trees.

Consecrated in 1187, Santa Maria Matricolare, most often referred to as the Verona Cathedra, is particularly impressive. Located in the northernmost part of the city center, south of the River Adige, it’s one of the oldest buildings in the city. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, while it was constructed in a style similar to the Basilica of San Zeno, it’s larger and even more magnificent with a finely decorated portal at the front featuring griffons and stained-glass windows. The entrance is at the back where you’ll see a picturesque baptistery with an ornate front and a small chapel that includes openings that provide a glimpse of the foundations of an even earlier church. The opulent interior includes a stunning fresco at the main altar, and you’ll see other Renaissance frescoes in the main chapels. Highlights include the two gilded organs and the massive, pillared semicircle of the marble choir screen.

Located next to Piazza dei Signori, the Scaliger Tombs commemorate the influential Della Scala family who ruled the city and wield a significant amount of power during the 13th and 14th centuries. They’re a series of five gothic-style funerary monuments that sit outside Santa Maria Antica Church dating to the 14th century. Attached to the exterior wall of the church, the first tomb belongs to Cangrande I, the most famous of the dynasty and the protector of Dante, the poet. A statue of his likeness on the back of a horse with harnessed dogs fronts the tomb. Another simple tomb memorializes Alberto II while the tomb standing in memory of Giovanni is also built into the church wall. Other tombs are in memory of Mastino II and Cansignorio, the latter of which is the most ornate with its sculptures of warrior saints. They can be visited independently and are often included on Verona walking tours.

Piazza dei Signori is another not-to-be-missed square that is accessed via an archway from Piazza delle Erbe in the heart of the historic center. A monument dedicated to Dante was erected here in 1865 and stands in the middle. It’s surrounded by palaces, including the Town Hall, Palazzo della Ragione which sits on the south side and dates back to the late 12th century. Its façade was built in  Renaissance style and dates to 1524, while the entrance to the Torre dei Lamberti and a grand gothic staircase date from around the mid-15th century. Palazzo dei Tribuali also sits on the square, transformed from a Scaliger palace around 1530 featuring a Renaissance doorway. Originally another Scaliger palace, Palazzo del Governor is located on the east side of the square while the Loggia del Consiglio, one of the finest early Renaissance buildings in the country, is on the north side.