Verona may be the setting for the world's most famous romance, but there’s more to the city than Romeo and Juliet. A Roman amphitheatre, Renaissance gardens, atmospheric enoteche (wine bars), a UNESCO-listed medieval centre – travel to Verona from Glasgow Airport and discover a uniquely Italian escape.
Romantic Verona
Romeo and Juliet never existed outside of Shakespeare’s imagination, but that doesn’t stop millions of travellers coming to Verona to gaze on the balcony where Romeo would have whispered sweet nothings to Juliet. Even today, Verona is an undeniably romantic city – just take in the view over the narrow lanes of the Old Town from the top of the Torre dei Lamberti, a perfect Italian tableau of church spires and terracotta rooftops.
Centuries of architecture
From the immaculately preserved Roman arena that dominates Piazza Bra to the baroque facades that surround Piazza delle Erbe, Verona is an architectural masterpiece. Credit for this celebration in stone and mortar goes to the powerful families of ancient Verona, who competed to build ever more elaborate palaces and castles. Explore the ramparts of the Castelvecchio and step back into a world of battling kings and family feuds. The castle doubles as Verona’s top art museum, with a grand collection of medieval sculpture and Renaissance painting.
Drama in the blood
Shakespeare had the right idea when he chose Verona as the setting for his famous romance. The city has a rich tradition of drama and the arts, dating back as far as Roman times, when the Verona Arena hosted everything from gladiatorial battles and horse races to theatrical re-enactments. The Arena is still used today, with a grand programme of opera shows during the summer Opera Festival. In winter, culture moves to the Teatro Filharmonico Verona, one of Italy’s oldest venues for ballet and classical music.