Verona holidays

1. See Shakespeare’s ‘fair Verona’. Call in at Juliet’s house to stand on her famous balcony. Admire the tumbling foliage and see little letters of devotion left around the courtyard by smitten couples. Romeo and Juliet weren’t real people, but this was once the home of the Cappello family who many say inspired the Capulets (the balcony was a later addition). Just a short walk away, small osteria Al Duca serves big plates of pasta in ‘Romeo’s house’ i.e. the home of the Montecchi family who might have inspired the Montagues.
2. Attend the summer opera festival at Verona Arena. This Roman amphitheatre in Piazza Bra has hosted the likes of ancient gladiators and guitar-wielding pop stars. During the annual opera festival, crowds sit on cool stone seats under the stars and get swept away by the voices of sopranos and mezzos. Visiting outside of the summer season? See a performance at Teatro Filarmonico instead.
3. View the city from above. Torre dei Lamberti is a medieval belltower in Piazza delle Erbe that still sings a clanging sonnet – climb to the top for 360-degree views of the historic centre and beyond. Alternatively, take the Castel San Pietro Funicular to stand on the terrace of a hilltop fortress. You’ll face views of towering cypress trees, red rooftops and the Adige river flowing under Ponte Pietra. Giardino Giusti, a Renaissance garden filled with grottoes and trickling fountains, is another lovely spot with panoramic views of Verona.
4. Visit the Castelvecchio Museum in the ‘Old Castle’ by the river. Walk over the mighty brick and marble bridge, Ponte Scaligero, before wandering through 29 exhibition rooms glowing with paintings and glinting with weapons and keys. The museum displays medieval, Renaissance and modern art. Admire the view from the ramparts and take in the architectural prowess of Carlo Scarpa who renovated the fortress after World War Two.
5. Take a trip to Lake Garda. Visit villages full of Roman ruins and waterfront trattorias. Peschiera del Garda, lined with beaches and crossed by canals, is around 19 miles away by car. Sirmione, with its huge castle and thermal baths, is around 24 miles away. If you’re mostly interested in the vineyards around Lake Garda’s southern shores, travel 20 miles from Verona to Bardolino for a glass (or two) of the town’s namesake wine.

• Porta Nuova was the original gateway to Verona, and it still makes for a grand entrance to the historic centre. Here you’ll be close to many of the best things to see in Verona as well as the city’s main train station Verona Porta Nuova.
  
• San Zeno is an atmospheric neighbourhood surrounding the Basilica of San Zeno where, according to legend, Romeo and Juliet were wed. You can get a taste of traditional Verona – and a taste of the almond-stuffed pastries in the pasticcerias.
  
• Borgo Trento is just across the river from the historic centre. ‘Borgo’ means ‘village’ in Italian and that’s exactly the vibe here: it’s a family-friendly area boasting leafy parks and serene spots. This neighbourhood offers a residential feel while still having easy access to Verona attractions.
  
• Veronetta, also across the river from Citta Antica, is popular with young locals who love the neighbourhood’s street food and nightlife. Here you can see a different side of Verona, literally – this is also where you’ll find amazing viewpoints at Giardino Giusti and Castel San Pietro.
  

Three days in Verona is enough time to see top sights like Juliet’s balcony and the Verona Arena without rushing. On a three-day trip you’ll also have time to be flexible and make the most of evening activities like attending a ballet or opera performance. If you stay for a week or longer, you’ll also be able to fit a trip to Lake Garda into your itinerary.