Best way to spend 24 Hours in Verona.
For those who love, and for those who have lost, Verona is a great destination. Of course, the story of Romeo & Juliet is not the only reason to visit Verona, so in this First Time Visiting Article we will summarize four places you can adventure, should you find yourself with 24 lovely hours in this beautiful north Italian town.
Arena De Verona & Piazza Delle Erbe
This amazing amphitheater from the first century is absolutely remarkable. Traveling into the center of Verona, this site makes for an awesome venue to either have a drink, appertivo or sit down lunch or dinner. The piazza Bra is lined with great shops, restaurants and park near by making it a perfect place to relax midday on your twenty four hours here.
Given the condition of this theater, live performances such as operas are often held here so be sure to check the official website before you come! Nearby you also have Piazza Delle Erbe which is also another great place to rest up in between your destinations either for a lunch, dinner or enjoy a delicious natural Gelato they make in the shape of flowers at Amorino you can find on the north side of the Piazza.
A view from the south side of Piazza Delle Erbe, seen in the distance is Pallazzo Maffei. Locals and travelers join together under umbrellas to enjoy a meal on a great day.
Piazza Delle Erbe also has quite the history. Pallazzo Maffei is an architectural beauty and recognizes Verona’s loyalty to the powerful and long lasting Republic of Venice. The ancient town hall is also located here along side the Torre dei Lamberti
Pallazzo Maffei decorated with Greek gods and St.Mark’s lion represents one of the most preeminent buildings in Verona, Italy.
Casa di Giuletta
Near Piazza Delle Erbe you find your long awaited romantic tour Verona has promised you. Casa Julietei is less then a five minutes walk away and you start to get the feeling that you are there as you get closer and the crowds really start to mass.
The court yard, which is free to enter only features the fantasized balcony from which Juliet was wooed by Romeo. However, if you purchase ticket to tour the museum inside, you will be able see some rare paintings and ceramics, as well as, an exhibit on Romeo and Juliet scene furnishings and costumes. Click here for more information about visiting Casa di Giuletta.
San Giorgetto & Saint Anastasia Church
Okay, Okay I know by this point if you are a seasoned Italian/European traveler you have seen 1 million catholic churches and are frankly wondering if there are any tours in this country that don’t involve seeing at least one basilica or Duomo. Well this is not that tour because next up we are taking you to church!
Saint Anastasia Church standing tall alongside of San Giorgetto in one of the oldest parts of Verona, Italy.
Entering the courtyard you have two churches here, one straight ahead and one on the left. San Giorgetto, named in honor of the cult of St. George, is the chapel on the left and was re-purposed several times though out the centuries in the eyes of those who occupied it ( at one point, just as a stable for the soldiers of Neapolitan). Inside you will find many beautiful fresco like the one below that due to the re-plastering and painting over the years have had to be uncovered, resulting in the pock marks you see in the photo.
Seen in San Giorgetto Chapel, a fresco from the 14th century uncovered showing St.George offering a presenting a Knight to the Virgin Mary and child. By Badile Bartolomeo
Making your way out of the Chapel you will notice an interesting looking tomb perched above an entrance to a courtyard between San Giorgetto and Saint Anastasia. This is the monument to Dr. Bavarino de 'Crescenzi and the Gothic era sculpture carries ties to another significant element of Verona. Shown in the directions below; a two minute walk away will lead you to the Scaliger Tombs, which have laid to rest ruling 13th and 14th century Veronese family. Politics aside, the shrine is keen example of architectural marvels developed during this time and has become quite an attraction for the city.
Lastly make your way in to Saint Anastasia Church. The entrance is free so you should for sure take advantage of this opportunity to see one of the oldest places in Verona. The Gothic styled Basilica started construction the 13th century and places an astounding premium on Gothic aesthetic beauty.
The inside of Saint Anastasia Church decorated with brilliant paintings accentuating the red Verona marble seen throughout.
Museo Archeologico Teatro Romano and Castel San Pietro
Lastly, at the end of you day head across the Ponte Pietra bridge, which is in itself a restored Roman architectural beauty, to the Archeologico Teatro Romano. The museum is not only of the Theater itself but also host a galleria of articfacts and information of what Verona was like during the Roman empire. The tickets are bought at the entrance for € 4 and the hours are Monday 1:30PM to 7:30PM and Tuesday to Sunday 8:30AM to 7:30PM.
Ponte Pietra is one of the oldest bridges in Verona, connecting the main town to Castel San Pietro just across.
The last moments you are going to want to spend in Verona is watching the sunset into the distance from a top the hill at Castel San Pietro. I know this sounds really corny, but come on, we came to Verona for a bit cliche romance despite the awesome tour of this small Northern Italian city you just took part in.
At a strategic point of the Castel San Pietro is fortified very well and will take a little huffing and puffing to get up. You will be lead to the foot path if you just continue to go straight after crossing Ponte Pietra. The Romans called this hilltop Monte Gallo or Rooster Mountain due to a cultural and religious significance. It wasn’t until Medieval times that the structure started to resemble what you see to today.
Conclusion
We hoped you really enjoyed our article about how to spend a meaningful 24 hours in the vibrant small city of Verona, Italy. Please keep in touch about all your questions you have related to this article and any others you see on the site, we really appreciate your input! That’s all for this travel itinerary, take a look below to see any other stories or travel plans that interest you on First Time Visiting!
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Extras From This Article!
Site-seers hangout aside a mural of lovers’ names outside the famous terrace of Juliet in Verona.
A pretty impressive cone of Gelato in the shape of a rose, crafted by Amorino in Piazza Delle Erbe.
Like many historic attractions, Casa Julietei has inspired many to leave their own mark on the romantic landmark.
The Torre dei Lamberti standing tall in Piazza Delle Erbe, Verona, Italy.