In Fair Verona

So, after I waxed poetic (or got all amore, as my friends would say) about Italy in my last post, it’s time to get down to the details, starting with Verona.

Verona, Italy square

Verona was exactly what I needed as my reintroduction to Italy–it is relatively small, has some major charisma, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it’s the perfect place to take a nice afternoon stroll.

verona italy arena

As I’m sure everyone’s well aware, Verona is the setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, and no visit is complete without seeing Juliet’s famous balcony. Yes, it’s incredibly touristy, but it takes only a moment. If your little heart desires, you can make your way up to the balcony and stand on it while reciting “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?”

juiliet's balcony romeo and juliet shakespeare verona italy

After a quick visit to Juliet’s balcony, I recommend exploring the small city on foot. Verona’s got some great shopping and some great eating. It’s hard to wander down any street without catching a whiff of something you want to consume or seeing something in a window you wish you could afford. The old square had a lovely little marketplace set up where you could browse and purchase everything from sweets and meats to clothing and trinkets.

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verona italy

One of the best things about wandering around down back alleyways is to get away from all the tourists and catch glimpses of real life happenings. I love spotting fresh produce carts, mothers embracing their children, a table of old men telling stories and laughing together. And sadly, if you stay only in the main square of a city, you miss out on all that good stuff.

italian fruit cart italian fruit cart verona italy balcony verona italy buildings

Verona would make a great day-trip from Milan, as it’s relatively close by (less than two hours by car) and it’s small enough that you can get a good sense of it in just a few hours. It’s also not quite as rife with tourists as some other Italian cities, so it’s a good place to sort of get away from it all and still be surrounded by that beautiful Italian culture.

Verona, Italy square market

Author: Megan

Megan is an ordinary girl who outgrew her small town and decided to try the world on for size. She's on a mission to travel, photograph, and write about the world.

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  • I stayed in Verona for a week and a half as made day trips from there.
    If you head back during the summer the Opera season is unreal and takes place in the open air amphitheatre. I was lucky enough to attend opening night in June when they televised it and showed a couple scenes/songs from each opera they showcased that season.
    It’s also where I had one of the best Gyros I’ve ever had.

    Murissa
    The Wanderfull Traveler recently posted..ArtSmart: Artist as Comedian in Vicenza, ItalyMy Profile