Verona

Overview

Despite the fact that the fictitious Juliet never lived in the 13th-century Juliet's House, it attracts countless couples and romantics from around the globe year after year. But this Veneto region city on the Adige River is more than just Romeo and Juliet; it is also home to the remarkably preserved Verona Arena, a Roman amphitheater built in 30 AD that is still used today for operas and concerts; and a medieval old town, where you will find the famed Piazza delle Erbe, an ancient Roman forum containing structures and monuments from many ages. Verona is also the gateway to stunning Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy.

What to see

Juliet’s House, or Casa di Giulietta, is the medieval home of the Cappello family, thought to be the inspiration for the fictional Capulet family of “Romeo and Juliet” fame. The home’s renowned balcony was added in the 20th century to round out the Romeo and Juliet fantasy. The courtyard beneath the balcony is adorned with a statue of Juliet and inside you will find a museum, gift shop and the actual bed from Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 film “Romeo and Juliet.” Built on the site of the first settlements in Verona, Castel San Pietro overlooks the Adige River and has commanding views of the city. In fact, it is one of the most popular places to take in all of Verona at a glance. Located in Piazza Brà, the Verona Arena, built in the first century AD, is one of the largest and best-preserved Roman amphitheaters in Italy. Once a venue for gladiator fights, today it hosts the annual Arena di Verona Opera Festival. Centuries collide in Piazza delle Erbe, which is teeming with venerated architectural elements and statues from various ages. Often referred to as “the most beautiful square in the world,” it is home to the 17th-century Palazzo Maffei, 14th-century Fountain of Madonna Verona, 13th-century Palazzo del Comune, 12th-century Torre Dei Lamberti and much more.