Verona, Italy in 24 Hours

Verona in 24 hours is not what I would recommend but that was all the time we had as it was a stopover on our way to Alto Adige. The main reason we decided to stay a night was to attend the opera “Aida” at the Verona arena but after our experience in this charming city, we realized that you would need a few days to fully explore the city. A designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, Verona boasts a bevy of splendid attractions.

Often associated with Romeo and Juliet, I’d tell you upfront that Juliet’s balcony was the most disappointing attraction in this town – it was extremely crowded, chaotic and shockingly unkempt. I know, I know, it’d be wrong to skip the attraction that draws crowds to Verona, but just keep your expectations in check.

To be precise, we spent less than 24 hours in Verona as we arrived by car at 2pm and left the next day by noon. However, if you are short on time, you can still cover a lot of ground, but be warned that it will be an exhausting day. Here’s what we were able to see during our short stay in the city and we hope to be back again to visit sites we missed.

Duomo di Verona (Cathedral of Verona)

Rebuilt in Romanesque style in the 12th century after an earthquake destroyed the church dating back to the 8th century, it features Romanesque as well as Gothic elements. The bell tower was added in the 16th century.

Piazza delle Erbe

Piazza delle Erbe is a picturesque and vibrant piazza that is home to Torre dei Lamberti. During the day, you’ll find a market here and at night, in summer, it’s a great spot to enjoy an aperitivo and do some people-watching.

Torre dei Lamberti (Lamberti’s Tower)

There are several places in Verona for breathtaking views of the city and Torre dei Lamberti is one of them. Situated in Piazza delle Erbe, you can get to the top, for a small fee, either by taking the stairs or the elevator. With 360-degree views of the city, it’s certainly worth it. Just one note – the bells are still functioning so it gets loud here when they start ringing!

Ticket Price: €6
Winter Hours (October 1st to May 31st): Daily from 8.30am – 7.30pm
Summer Hours (June 1st to September 30th): Daily from 8.30am to 8.30pm. Except Fridays with extended closing hours until 11pm

Corso Porta Borsari

From Piazza delle Erbe, walk along Corso Porta Borsari and as you make your way to Castelvecchio. You undoubtedly pass through Porta Borsari, ancient Roman gates where travelers were required to pay a tax when entering and leaving the city. Today, only a small part of the façade remains.

Chiesa di San Lorenzo 

Definitely not a sight that is on the top 10 places to see in Verona, we stumbled across the Church of San Lorenzo as we made our way from Porta Borsari to Castelvecchio. Located on the right, the small yet pretty grounds looked inviting and we decided to duck in…and we were so glad we did.

This church built in the 12th century in Romanesque style provided refuge from the heat as well as the crowds.

Castelvecchio 

An imposing castle built in the 14th century as a defensive structure, Castelvecchio is today home to a museum. As we were short on time (we had the opera that evening), we didn’t get the chance to visit the museum. More information about the Castelvecchio museum on their official website.

Ponte Castelvecchio (Castelvecchio Bridge)

Also known as Ponte Scaligero (Scaliger Bridge), the original structure which was built in the 14th century was destroyed by retreating German troops in 1945.  The reconstruction of the bridge started in 1949.

Ponte Pietra

Together with Ponte Castelvecchio, Ponte Pietra was destroyed in 1945 and restored to its full glory in 1959.  Crossing the Adige river, it is one of the oldest and most picturesque bridges in Verona.

Via Mazzini

The heart of the shopping scene in Verona takes place in Via Mazzini. A street connecting Piazza delle Erbe to Piazza Bra, it’s lined with a wide variety of fashion boutiques, a far cry from when it was home to barracks and warehouses in the 19th century.

Piazza Bra

It’s here in Piazza Bra that you will find the iconic Verona arena. Lined with restaurants and bars – most likely catering to those who attend the opera – this piazza is bustling! While it was crowded, thanks to its size, it didn’t feel cramped.

Arena di Verona (Verona Arena)

Attending the opera in the outdoor Verona Arena was high on my bucket-list and as we would have to drive pass Verona to Alto Adige, it was the perfect excuse. And even more exciting was that the weekend we were there, Aida was the scheduled performance. An incredible and unforgettable experience (more on this in a later post).

Teatro Romano (Roman Amphitheatre)

As we were staying in a lovely B&B near the Roman Amphitheatre – not to be confused with the Arena di Verona – we dropped by the morning before we left. The Teatro Romano also plays host to jazz concerts, ballets and various festivals in summer and home to the archaeological museum.

Unfortunately, when we were there the museum was closed but as the entrance fee was only €1 to see the Teatro, we ducked in for a quick look.

Views of Verona

Want to take in more stunning views of Verona? Then head to Castel San Pietro on the hills above Teatro Romano which you can reach on foot (remember it’s uphill).

If you have a car, drive up to Santuario Madonna di Lourdes, for even more spectacular views of Verona.

Additional resources

• Province of Verona website in English where they list various itineraries for your visit.
• Opening times and fees of attractions in the historic center of Verona (in Italian)
• How to Travel to Verona, Italy by USAToday
• Top 10 budget eats in Verona by Guardian Travel
• If you plan on staying in Verona for more than 24 hours, these two articles will help give you further ideas: 36 Hours in Verona, Italy by NYTimes and 48 Hours in: Verona by The Independent

Have you been to Verona? What were your favorite sights?