We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Read my full disclosure here.
For my fortieth birthday, my sister, aunt, uncle and I headed to Northern Italy for a week of sightseeing, eating and celebrating. We were based in the small town of Lecco, situated on Lake Como. Each day we ventured out on various trips, and my favorite was our Verona Day Trip.
hover over image to pin for later:
Verona Day Trip
Verona is a small Roman city in the Veneto region of Northern Italy. Situated about 160 km east of Milan and 120 km west of Venice, it is easily accessible from either city by car or train.
On this particular trip we drove to Verona and found street parking for our van after 5 minutes of searching for a spot. We arrived a little later than expected and desperately needed a cappuccino and a pastry since we rushed of the house to hit the road.
After a much needed pasticerria stop, we met our guide, Mariapia. Since most of us were new to Verona, we arranged for a guided tour. Italian tour guides are the real deal as they have to be certified and receive intense training to be authorized as a guide. I HIGHLY recommend doing a guided tour when visiting historical sites in Italy. You will learn so much about what you are looking at- all about the history, architecture, and art. A good guide will recount local legends that you will miss if you go on your own. And if you are visiting Verona, I highly recommend Mariapia –she literally wrote all of the English and Japanese guidebooks to Verona!
Use this link to our awesome travel agents at Exclusively Italy to book a tour with Mariapia (or any awesome Italy adventure – read about our Cooking class here)
Verona is not a huge city, so its reasonable to spend a day and see all the major sites, have a leisurely lunch, and even have time to window shop in the high-end stores or grab a gelato! The three main sites to see are:
L’Arena
This is the Roman Colosseum located off the main Piazza, Piazza Bra. This amphitheater was built in the first century A.D. and pre-dates the one in Rome! It was used for the same purpose, gladiator battles!. Mariapia told us many tales of what happened in this stadium, and yes, it was pretty much as brutal as the movie, Gladiator. She even told us where the name Arena comes from – the Latin word for sand which graced the floor to soak up the gladiator blood!
Now the L’Arena is still home to several concerts a year and you can tour inside for 10 Euro a person. Since we were short on time, we only visited the outside of this Colosseum.
Piazza d’Erbe
A short walk from L’Arena, you will find a bustling piazza, appropriately named Erbe. The markets in this square date back to the times when farmers would sell their excess crops, or agricultural goods. Erbe literally means herbs, so you can see how this name is a good fit.
Now a days the vendors sell fruit, flowers, along with local crafts and souvenirs for tourists. Like most Roman piazzas, a fountain is found in the center and the surrounding architecture is very Roman. We also saw the penthouse flat that Madonna owns. An awesome mix of Roman history and modern glamour, which pretty much sums up Verona.
Juliet’s Balcony
Perhaps the most famous sites in Verona, and possible one of the most famous landmarks in Italy, is the balcony of Juliet Capulet. The one made famous in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet! Not only did Mariapia take us round to see the balcony (for 3 Euro you can enter the house and go out on the balcony), she also took us to the villa where it is believed Romeo met Juliet, and she sat us down for about 15 minute to recount the 14th Century legend of these two famous lovers that prompted Shakespeare to write his play in the mid 1700s.
In the piazza where the balcony is located also stands a bronze statue of Juliet. Legend has it that if you touch her right breast, you are assured luck in love. Along the wall you will find hundreds of  locks donning the names of lovers who came looking to seal their love in Verona, much like Romeo and Juliet.
After a morning of sightseeing, we had worked up quite an appetite. After our tour, we headed back to Piazza Bra to sit in the piazza at one of the restaurants lining the square and have a leisurely lunch. We chose to dine at Bistrot Mamma Mia and it was your quintessential Italian lunch. We started with Aperol Spritz (aperol and prosecco), which is drunk before a meal as an aperitif (to get the appetite ready). We dined on caprese salads and delicious plates of pasta, all while people watching from the outdoor tables, over looking the square and the Colosseum. Truly a fitting end to a wonderful day in Verona!
I love Roman cities, and could have spent more time wandering around. PRO-TIP: Wear comfy shoes, you will be doing ALOT of walking! We did window shop through Louis Vuitton and down Via Giuseppe Mazzini. I’m sure Verona would be a great place to stay for a night, and take in another meal or two, all the restaurants looked delicious. But Verona was the perfect spot for a day trip, or maybe a layover as you make your way from one larger city to another. I am so glad we had the opportunity to visit.
Have you been to Verona? Did a visit to Juliet’s statue really make you lucky in love?
HEADING TO VERONA? THEN BE SURE TO PICK UP:
LINKING UP WITH:
 
Thanks to our awesome agents at  EXCLUSIVELY ITALY. They are your top Italy Destination Specialists!
Check out other Momma To Go Italy posts:
Follow along on social media!    Twitter, Facebook,   Pinterest  and Instagram!
Please share.Â
Oh, I’ve been to Verona for a day as well back in 2011! It’s soooo much fun to see what other people do when they are in this beautiful city! I’ve visited pretty much the same spots, but we skipped the balcony. TOOOO CROWED!
So cool to learn about the Colosseum in Verona. I didn’t know about that. The food in Italy is always so amazing.
I know! The colesseum in Rome is so famous, but this one is even older!
It looks like you had a wonderful time! We just got back from our first trip to Paris, Barcelona, & Rome last month & we can’t wait to go back! <3
That looks like a fun day! Can’t wait to visit Italy!
Belle | One Awesome Momma
Ah! Looks and sounds so fun. That pasta though….WOW. I miss Europe! :'(
The pasta was amazing!
I love hearing about your travels! I’m living vicariously through you 🙂 Verona is on my list of places I want to visit.
I visited Italy about 15 years ago with my parents. I would love to go back with my husband and kids! Verona looks lovely.
I think the story of Romeo and Juliet is so amazing. (Not just the Shaksperian story.) I didn’t know that you could find luck by touching the statue! That pasta looks delicious. I want some now!
my uncle touched the boob, but I didnt post the pic. Didnt want to incriminated anyone…
I have not been to Verona but to other states of Italy. I didn’t know that Verona has so much to offer other than cities such as Milan.I will definitely put Verona in my bucket list if I have the time visiting Italy in the future.
Verona sounds like a wonderful place to visit. I’ve always wanted to visit Italy. If I ever make it, Verona is on my list.
Ahhh, is that pesto in the last photo? Looks amazing! I’m dying to visit Italy!
oh yes it is! I love me some pesto!
I have never been to Verona, and it looks wonderful. I want to see all those places too!
So nice to walk around Verona with you for a few minutes! I almost felt i was there, too!:) I think the same thing about the guides in Italy, they are sooo well trained…comparing to other countries’ guides, they must have a university degree in History or Archaeology! 🙂
We only went to Rome, this year, and loved it! Italy is very close to our country and we always postponed our italian trips saying we can get there anytime :)) But we really enjoyed the italian spirit, and definitely try more cities. Verona is now on the list thanks to you. Cheers! 🙂
This is beautiful. I love all the images with details of Italy- it’s always been a “bucket list” place for me. Love it.
My daughter visited Italy last summer and said it was her favorite out of Italy, France and Greece. I cannot wait to go and visit myself now! I never knew that about the Colosseum.
Wow! I’ve always wanted to visit Italy and these pics have made me want to go even more. Great post, thanks for sharing 🙂
I’m so jealous! I’ve been dying to go to Italy!
I love the sites, but its worth it for the food alone!
Oh wow….your trip sounds amazing. My hubby and I are yearning for a good trip and this sounds amazing. Thank you for sharing your experience.
It is an amazing guideline for Verona! Usefull information for travellers! For the other Italy destinations you can check our website https://www.littlefamilyontheroad.com/
I’ve always wanted to visit Verona!
Next time I go to Italy I totally want to go to Verona! I think it would be super romantic to go with my hubby!
Verona, is now on the cards for us. Great post and will keep this article for tips when we want to travel. Thanks.
Great tips! I love your article!
I’m actually planning to go there pretty soon, so this post is very usefull
Thank you 🙂
This trip sounds wonderful. I’ve been meaning to go back to Italy for some time and this makes me long to go even more
Oh wow! Visiting Juliet’s balcony would be so incredible. I am seriously going to look into doing a trip to Verona in the next few years because of this post – so thank you!
Also, I love that you also said how long it took you to find parking because that is always such a huge thing with my boyfriend in cities – he’s convinced we would never find a spot so we might as well train and walk everywhere.
Great guide! xx
we had a van because we had 7 people. we were coming from a small town, Lecco so I think if we trained we would have had to go to Milan first, maybe, not even sure. The parking wasnt too bad, it was Saturday so not sure if that makes it better, or worse!
We visited Verona as a day trip once as well and this brings back so many good memories. I would also recommend climbing the Lamberti tower for some incredible views, and arena is really worthwhile seeing from the inside. Very impressive!
I went to Verona on a day trip in 2013. I was really excited and it started off really well… until lunch. I have no idea what happened but I guess I got food poisoning because it started as look for the pretty buildings and ended with look for the nearest trash can in case I need to throw up (again). So cut my day early but would love to go back. Such a gorgeous city.
OMG that is horrible! memorable at least…
UGH! Looks like such a wonderful weekend ! That coffee looked amazing!
That all sounds so fun! I hope to make it to Italy one day…
Lovely pictures. Looks like an amazing trip. I would love to travel more. I remember when I was younger collecting those clay painted face masks, brought back fun memories 🙂 Thanks for sharing at The weekend blog hop.
WOW, looks like you had an incredible time, and happy belated! What better way to celebrate a bday than a trip to Italy??
Really nice,
I loved Verona so much. I was there in December 2015.
I tool my parents on a trip to Northern Italy. We visited Milan, Verona, Padua and Venice.
All of them are great places to visit.
This is my little travel corner and the article I wrote about our journey, I hope you’ll have time to check!
https://egodiary.com/2017/03/20/travel-with-your-parents-a-trip-to-northern-italy-part-i/
oh wow I’m checking that out right now, thank you for sharing! I was traveling with my aunt and uncle, sister and cousin. a multi-generational trip!
Hey.. lovely.. i havent been to italy, but if i go, i will definitely try to hit this place.
PS: the pasta looks so yummy! 😛
Okay, that coffee looked amazing!!! And, HAPPY 40th BIRTHDAY!!!! I love all things Italy, seriously one of my favorite countries. But, I have yet to visit Verona or Lake Como. This post made me realize I need to book a trip 😉
I love Italian coffee and that picture looks so good! We are currently watching the show Spartacus and it is crazy to think that gladiator fights really happened at that Arena. Verona is such a beautiful city!
I know that stuff was for real!
Love the place, hope i could to Italy and will find verona.
I am just back from a trip to Italy but couldn’t include Verona in the itinerary. Now I am feeling to go back as soon as possible
I’ve never been to Verona but I’d love to go one day – as with everywhere in Italy!
Thank you so much for sharing this with me. The only thing I knew about Verona was Juliet’s balcony but the food and roman coluseum look amazing. Saving this for when I head to italy in december!
Verona is such a pretty city! Sounds like you had an amazing day trip, I’ll also take on your suggestion of a guide as it wasn’t something I’d thought about before!! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you for the tip about using a guide since they need to be certified. That pasta looks divine!
How I looove Verona <3
Carmelatte
Ohhh that pasta, I’m jealous! I visited Verona a few years ago and absolutely loved it!
yes, the food was amazing!
If I ever get a chance to visit any city in Italy, I think I would totally go for Florence, Verona and Pompeii. Verona has been on my list ever since I watched Letters to Juliet, although the first thing that got me familiar with the city is their football teams, Hellas Verona and Chievo Verona. 😛
I need to see that movie!
This looks so great. We had intended to go to Verona on our last trip to Venice, but time just got away. I guess that I will just have to plan another visit?!
Such a great tip about hiring an Italian guide so you can learn as much as possible about the city. Also good to know that you can easily get to Verona from Milan. Such a great birthday present.
After I saw the movie Letters to Juliet, I wanted to go to Verona. So while spending a month in Italy this past August, I took the train to Verona and spent 3 nights there. I had no idea how beautiful this city is. A walk along the river revealed a lovely castle perched above which glowed in the twilight. Every walk there was a surprise. Near the Arena, there was a small pizza place that had the most excellent pizza with the best crust I have ever tasted. There were posters inside showing that the chef had won awards for the best pizza. It was fun to try various restaurants featuring local specialties. I couldn’t resist posting a letter to Juliet on the wall near Juliet’s balcony.
that sounds so amazing! makes me want to go back!