Verona: Roman Arena and Shakespeare's Lovers
Verona is a historic city in the Veneto region of northern Italy, set in a loop of the River Adige and known for its Roman arena, its associations with Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and its elegant, rose-tinted piazzas. The city's historic centre was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, recognised for layers of Roman, medieval and Renaissance architecture that survive almost intact. The old town is compact, and many of its best moments, such as crossing the arched Ponte Pietra at dusk, take place on foot.
The Arena, a first-century Roman amphitheatre, is among the best-preserved in Italy and hosts an annual open-air opera festival each summer, a tradition dating from 1913 that fills its stone tiers with an audience in the thousands. Close by, Piazza Bra opens the old town, and Piazza delle Erbe, built on the old Roman forum, is lined with market stalls and frescoed houses. The House of Juliet, with its famous balcony, draws visitors from around the world, while the Scaliger Tombs and Castelvecchio recall the powerful medieval rulers who shaped the city.
Amarone, Pandoro and the Valpolicella Hills
Verona sits at the gateway of one of Italy's great wine regions. The nearby Valpolicella hills produce Amarone, a rich red made from dried grapes, along with fresh, cherry-toned Valpolicella, and the whites of Soave lie to the east. Each spring the city hosts Vinitaly, the international wine fair, and many visitors extend their stay with a tasting visit among the vineyards. On the plate, regional dishes include risotto all'Amarone, bollito misto served with the peppery pearà sauce, and gnocchi, which feature in the local carnival tradition.
Pandoro, the golden, star-shaped Christmas cake, originated in Verona and fills shop windows in December. Cafes under the arcades are ideal for pausing between sights, and the climb up the Torre dei Lamberti or to the Castel San Pietro terrace rewards visitors with a view across the terracotta roofs. An airline connecting Verona with the UK can offer a short, romantic city break, and any tourist board has many cultural hooks to choose from.
Read the full Verona guide on Visit Travel Group, or see VisitVerona.co.uk on Visit Travel Group.