Verona in a Few Hours!

Ah, Verona!

City of romance and love! It is wonderful to spend a few days there, strolling around and inhaling the spirit of Shakespeare’s endless love.

But what if you have just a few hours to do that? It happens so often that we come to a place we really want to get to know better, but we have either very limited time or simply do not know where to start… In order to avoid future regrets, I will offer you my itinerary that you may find useful. I based it on top 10 or 20 sights to visit, suggested by a few internet sites. I found those places on the map and made my own route that saved me a lot of time and footsteps.

ITINERARY

1. L’Arena di Verona
2. La Piazza Brà
3. Il Palazzo Gran Guardia
4. Il Palazzo Barbieri
5. I Portoni della Brà
6. La Casa di Giulietta
7. La Piazza delle Erbe
8. La Fontana di Madonna
9. La Torre del Gardello / La Torre delle Ore
10. Il Palazzo Maffei
11. La Colonna di San Marco
12. La Torre dei Lamberti
13. L’Arco della Costa
14. Il Cortile del Mercato Vecchio
15. Il Palazzo della Ragione
16. La Piazza dei Signori
17. La Loggia del Consiglio
18. Le Arche Scaligere
19. La Chiesa di Sant’Anastasia
20. La Cattedrale Santa Maria Matricolare / Il Duomo
21. Il Ponte Garibaldi
22. Il Ponte di Castelvecchio /Il Ponte Scaligero
23. Il Museo di Castelvecchio

Assuming that everyone can show you where the Verona Arena (Arena di Verona) is, I chose it as our starting point. It is a Roman amphitheater in Piazza Brà, where you will also find two other famous Verona’s palaces: the Gran Guardia, and the City Hall (Palazzo Barbieri), numerous shops, cafes, restaurants and hotels. Next to the Gran Guardia, you will see I Portoni della Brà, an impressive gateway with a clock.

Taking street (Via) Mazzini, from Piazza Brà, you will get to Piazza delle Erbe, Verona’s ‘other famous square. Just before entering it turn right and 50m away, you will find the famous Juliet’s House (La Casa di Giulietta). The house and even more famous balcony inspired Shakespeare to write his play Romeo and Juliet. There is a bronze statue of Juliet in the courtyard and hundreds of people trying to touch it, to visit the balcony, or to leave their love notes on the wall at the entrance.

After this little adventure you really deserve to take some time to enjoy Piazza delle Erbe. Every corner here is a small masterpiece. Madonna Verona Fountain, built in 1368, is in the middle of the square. On the left side you can see The Gardello Tower (La Torre del Gardello), called also “The Tower of the hours” (La Torre delle Ore).

The beautiful baroque palace with a facade full of ornaments and sculptures “Palazzo Maffei“, built in 1668 by Rolando Maffei, is right next to it. There is also The Statue of Leone Marciano, (Colonna di San Marco), a winged lion of St. Mark’s, a saint patron of Venice in front of it, to remind that Verona was a part of Venice’s interest sphere.

Finally, the most impressive piece to admire here is The Lamberti Tower (Torre dei Lamberti), the tallest (84m) medieval tower in the town built in 1172. Its 230 steps, or more easily the elevator will offer you a superb view from the top.

When you are done, take a walk through the Arco della Costa and enter the Old Market Square (Cortile del Mercato Vecchio) in the interior of the Palazzo della Ragione, with its stunning gothic stair-case.

Right in front of it, there is “La Piazza dei Signori”, also known as La Piazza Dante because of its statue of Dante Alighieri. La Loggia del Consiglio behind it, built in 1476, is a masterpiece of the Venetian Renaissance and its most magnificent building.

Next, you will come across The Scaliger Tombs (Le Arche Scaligere), five funerary monuments in honor of the Scaligeri family, rulers of Verona during the 13th and 14th centuries.

Turn left to Vicolo Cavalletto and then right, at the first corner to Corso Sant’Anastasia. It will take you straight to The Basilica of Saint Anastasia (Chiesa di Sant’Anastasia).

Turn left to Via Massalongo, further  Via Duomo, and you will get to The Cathedral of Verona (La Cattedrale Santa Maria Matricolare, Il Duomo di Verona) the Roman Catholic cathedral dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Follow the street Arcidiacono Pacifico, which will take you to Garibaldi Bridge (Ponte Garibaldi). Then simply follow the Adige River to the left. You will first reach Ponte della Vittoria and then finally Castelvecchio Bridge (Ponte di Castelvecchio or Ponte Scaligero), built in the first century AD, destroyed in WWII and then rebuilt with the original red-colored bricks.

It is connected to the Museum of Castelvecchio, an impressive 14th century fortress.

Street (Via) Roma, beginning right in front of the museum takes you back to Piazza Brà, our starting point, and that is where our circle ends! 🙂

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