Verona
维罗纳 · Verona, Italy
The well-preserved Roman amphitheatre still stages open-air opera, while the Castelvecchio Bridge, Piazza delle Erbe, the Basilica of San Zeno and the bend of the Adige layer Roman, medieval and Renaissance history into one cityscape, inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2000.
Know before you go
- Do not walk around or take photographs during performances
- do not make loud noise in the old town's residential streets at night
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Stories & people
Stories & people
Legend
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet are fictional characters from Shakespeare's play, and the feud between their families is likewise a literary story. Even so, the love story has long been bound up with Verona and draws visitors from around the world.
Source: Wikipedia: Verona
History
The balcony of Juliet's House
The link between the building now known as Juliet's House and the Capulets developed only later. It was converted into a museum in the 1930s, and the famous courtyard balcony was added at that time.
Source: Wikipedia: Verona
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
Verona lies on the River Adige in the Veneto, west of Venice. The Roman Arena is still used for open-air opera and other performances, and the Castelvecchio Bridge, completed in 1356, had the largest bridge arch in the world at the time. Verona was an important Roman city and flourished in the 13th and 14th centuries under the della Scala (Scaliger) family. Shakespeare set plays such as Romeo and Juliet and The Two Gentlemen of Verona in the city, making it a "city of love" in the literary sense.
Local customs
- See an open-air opera in the Arena on a summer night
- cross the Castelvecchio Bridge for a view of the Adige
- stroll through Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza dei Signori
- visit the courtyard of Juliet's House to see its famous balcony.
Etiquette & taboos
Etiquette & taboos
Rules that apply here
Rome's Spanish Steps: no sitting, eating or drinking
Do
- Walk up the steps and keep moving after your photo
Don’t
- Sitting, resting, eating or drinking on the steps
Banned by Rome's urban police regulations since 2019; media report fines of €250, rising to €400 for dirtying or damaging the steps.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: ANSA: Rome bans sitting on the Spanish Steps (2019)
Don’t DON'T
- Do not walk around or take photographs during performances
- do not make loud noise in the old town's residential streets at night
Locals appreciate DO
- Keep quiet inside churches and museums
- follow the house rules during opera performances
Plan your visit
Practical info
Travel tips
- The old town is made for walking, and flat shoes are recommended on the stone paving. Opera-season tickets sell fast, so book ahead
- prices are subject to official information. Summer days are hot, so you may want to plan activities for the evening.
- From Milan or Venice, the train takes a little over an hour. The main sights of the old town can all be reached on foot. The airport lies about 10 km southwest of the city and is linked to Porta Nuova station by bus. Spring and autumn are best for strolling
- the summer opera season is the city's highlight
- winter is quiet, with a special atmosphere during the Christmas market.
Photos
Photos
Sources & verification notes
More in Europe
Also nearby
Neapolitan pizza
The original soft, thin pizza with a puffy rim — though the Margherita story may have been made up later.
Italian coffee bars
An espresso knocked back standing at the bar is how Italians start the day.
Carnival of Venice
January 23 – February 9, 2027
Put on a mask and a cloak, and step into the old Venetian Republic in St Mark's Square.