A Roman arena, Juliet's balcony and the vineyards of Valpolicella. Verona is one of the most romantic cities in northern Italy.
Tuscan countryside
Staying in a villa or farmhouse among the vineyards is one of the great pleasures of a holiday in Tuscany.
Verona lies on the Adige river in the Veneto region of northern Italy. The historic centre is on the UNESCO World Heritage list, with Roman ruins, medieval squares and elegant palaces. It is also the setting for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
Verona is easy to combine with Lake Garda, Venice and the Dolomites. See more of the country in our Italy travel guide and our guide to the Dolomites.
Verona is the city of the Arena and Juliet’s balcony, and Lake Garda is only half an hour away. Combine the city with a few days by the lake.
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In Verona: Due Torri Hotel. See rooms at Due Torri Hotel
On Lake Garda: Villa Cortine Palace. See rooms at Villa Cortine Palace
See the Arena di Verona, a Roman amphitheatre that hosts a famous opera festival every summer.
Visit Casa di Giulietta, Juliet's house, with its balcony and courtyard.
Have a coffee in Piazza delle Erbe, the old market square, and walk on to Piazza dei Signori.
Explore Castelvecchio, the medieval castle and museum by the river.
Climb up to Castel San Pietro for the best view over the city.
Taste Amarone and other wines in the Valpolicella hills just outside the city.
Tuscan countryside
Staying in a villa or farmhouse among the vineyards is one of the great pleasures of a holiday in Tuscany.
Lake Garda is around half an hour away by car or train. About 30 minutes south, the village of Borghetto di Valeggio sul Mincio is one of the prettiest in Italy and famous for its tortellini. Venice is just over an hour away by train.
Spring and early autumn are the most pleasant. The opera season in the Arena runs through the summer, when the city is busiest and hotels fill up early.
Two days is enough to see the main sights of Verona: the Arena, Piazza delle Erbe, Juliet’s house, the Roman theatre and the views from Castel San Pietro. Add a day or two if you want to visit Lake Garda, the Valpolicella wine country or Borghetto sul Mincio, all within easy reach of the city.
Verona has its own airport, Verona Villafranca, with a shuttle bus to the main railway station, Verona Porta Nuova. The city also sits on the main railway lines between Milan and Venice, so it is easy to combine with both. From Venice the fast train takes just over an hour.
Romeo and Juliet is fiction, but the house is a real medieval building, and the balcony was added later. It is still one of the most visited places in the city.
Stay in the historic centre inside the bend of the river, near Piazza Bra and the Arena, and you can walk to Piazza delle Erbe, Juliet’s balcony and the restaurants. Veronetta, across the river, is quieter. If you want to combine the city with a spa and village charm, Borghetto sul Mincio, around half an hour away, is a lovely alternative.
Destination
The Dolomites is Italy's largest and most dramatic mountain range. If you love both activity and nature, we are talking about a paradise for everything from cycling and climbing to alpine skiing and air sports.
Luxury farmhouses and villas
We have curated 10 of the most stunning villas and farmhouses available for rent, nestled among vineyards and idyllic landscapes in Tuscany.
Cities
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