Verona Italy hotels and attractions.
The setting for two of Shakespeare’s most popular plays – Romeo and Juliet and Two Gentlemen of Verona – Verona Italy is a charming destination in Italy. The city has a lot to offer, including well-preserved Roman ruins and restored medieval palaces. Many of these opulent palazzos are now Verona hotels.
Piazza Bra is the lively center of town. It’s dominated by the monumental Roman Arena. Seating 25,000, it was built in 30 AD and is the third largest Roman stadium ever built. In summer, the arena is a popular venue for concert and opera performances.
If you climb the 44 tiers of the stadium, you’ll have great views of the region.
Piazza della Erba is another piazza that’s worth exploring. The site of the old Roman forum, there’s a market here every morning. And the square is lined with beautiful civic buildings and palazzos.
Piazza dei Signori is where you’ll find two more impressive palaces – the Palazzo Capitano and the Palazzo della Ragione. If you get tired, you can stop for a glass of wine at one of the sidewalk cafes here.
If your legs can handle more climbing, tackle the 275-foot Torre di Lamberti, which was built in the 12th century. When the weather’s fine, you can see Lake Garden, the Alps, and the surrounding countryside.
With a rose window dating from the 12th century and wood doors with bronze panels, San Zeno Maggiore on Piazza San Zeno is definitely worth a visit. One of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture in Northern Italy, it also contains an altarpiece by Mantagna.
There’s a 14th-century castle on the Adige River that’s been converted to an art museum. Here, you can see paintings by Tiepolo, Bellini, Veronese, and others. It’s not far from the ruins of the old Roman theater.
Travelers who love gardens mustn’t miss Giardino Giusto, one of the most beautiful Renaissance gardens in Italy. Wandering the gardens, admiring the topiary, fountains, and grottoes is a delightful way to pass an afternoon.
Among the delightful hotels in Verona, Due Torri Hotel, Hotel Giulietta e Romeo, and Hotel Accademia are standouts because they occupy centuries old palaces that have been restores. Coloma d’Oro is housed in what was a convent during the middle ages.
If you’re coming during high season or during a popular festival, make your reservations well in advance.
