Our trip to Verona is quite spontaneous. From Milan, we decided to get on the fast train to Verona and within an hour and few minutes, our shoes are ready to explore this lovely town where Gladiators play in the Arena, the tale of famous ill-fated tale of the lovebirds Romeo and Juliet continues to lure couples and where hanging Sarcophagus serves a delight to thirsty tourists everyday.

Verona took me by surprise,naturally and the whole family seemed to be feeling good while we let our shoes get lost in the charm of this city.It´s quite old, defensive and has a rich history.

I was glad that we didn´t skip this place prior to having a stop in Lake Maggiore and exploring the Breschia region.I haven´t made any research about this place, thinking that maybe it´s better to just get lost and just wander carelessly. I´ve heard about the Verona Arena though, since anything that resembles the Colosseum and ancient Roman antiquities have always been a magnet to me, and I am always curious. I had the impression that it´s like a little Rome.

Since its summer, it was crowded with tourists but we already expected that. From the bus going to the city center, I could see the crowds are only directed to one direction–the main square, and the Arena di Verona .

The Arena was really beautiful, and very well preserved,unfortunately I wasn´t able to see whats inside, bad planning I suppose.The colors, the stones are still very rich and intact.The lines were really super lengthy and it is almost midday when we arrived.Instead, I just rewarded myself in looking closely to the walls, admiring this great piece of achitecture.I am speechless because this place hold so much history. Arena di Verona was built in the first century AD. Like other Roman amphitheater, it is built for processions, protests, gathering with dance and music, and blood sports.In the old days, this is indeed the playground for Gladiators. I haven´t seen a real Gladiator but instead a tourist trap where a man dressed up as a Roman gladiator trying to humor us, with his spears and swords,alluring all the other tourists with his roman charms for photo op sessions and money.

I almost laugh when I stood in front of the Arena because there is the statue of Pyramids and Pharaohs and Sphinx. Thought for a second if I am in Cairo or am I in Abu Simbel. It is believed that this arena is even older than the Colosseum , around 1,994 years, so around 30 AD! Really amazing! The inner city is quite small and most of the interesting things to see are quite nearby to each other so it´s making Verona so walkable. I really enjoyed walking and wandering through the tiny streets and having a glimpse of ancient, yet marvelous architecture.

The closing ceremonies of Milan-Cortina di Ampezzo 2026 Winter Olympics and the 2026 Winter Paralympics are scheduled to be held in this Arena.

Some parts reminds me so much of Venice, I guess beige and this rust tones are so common in Northern Italy as well.Walking through the large Piazza, (or Square, market place) the Piazza Bra was really wonderful for just having a moment to rest and watch people, admire the facades, and everything. I loved the vibe and the enormously heavy detailed facade of the houses and old buildings.It was rather busy, the cafes and the rows of stalls and shops are so alive. The criwds are eagerly looking for delicious threats and beautiful finds. From the viewpoint in front of the fountain, I managed to admire the walls, there are 4 different sides if I must remember and each one has different character. The windows, the doors, Oh i just love being there!

The name “Bra” has its origins in the word “braida”, which means “wide square” in the ancient language of the Lombards.

There are quite a number of famous piece of history that I´ve spotted in Verona.One is the clan of warriors–the Della Scala Famiglia who ruled Verona in the 13th & 14th century. La Scala means stairs so I just familiarized with the symbols that I have seen while touring the Scaligers Castles (Scaligeri Castel ) in Riva del Garda and Sirmione.This famous clan have a habit of building castle and fortresses as part of their defensive technique to protect their city from invasion and of course, to showcase their expansionism.

There´s also Dante Alighieri the famous Italian Poet and writer, who happens to be close to the Della Scala family.

Having lunch in one of the Italian restaurant in the Piazza Bra is quite fascinating.While waiting for our food, I busied myself contemplating how is it to live in this vibrant city.I mean I cannot even recognized locals from the tourists !The walls of this square is cemented with pink marble from the Valpolicella region.

The sight of stairs in Verona is really amazing. Everywhere there are plight of stairs!

Not only stairs, but also a public memorial display of Sarcophagus and coffins can be seen in the same alleys where people gather everyday.The Scaligers family really wanted to show off even from their deaths! The Scaliger Tombs is quite a unique attraction in Verona–not that I expected to see it but I happened to see it while walking outside the church of Santa Maria Antica.they have series of tombs, on hanging tabernacles-hanging above the ground.In Milan I saw a church full of skulls and bones and here in Verona- actual tombs and Mausoleum are on display.

Verona strike me with such humor, irony and depth. I was planning to dig more about this Scaliger family knowing that they are associated with stairs, dogs, religion, warriors , family drama and bloodshed. Architecturally speaking, their Baldachins or tabernacles are one of the great examples of Gothic art.But I cannot stopped thinking why they chose dogs and not horses!

My husband insisted that we go and check Juliet´s House.I am not a fan of Romeo and Juliet but I have seen the movie of leonardo di Caprio and Clair Danes. I told him that it is not real and only a tourist trap, besides that it is full of hungry Instagrammers.But off we go because my daughter wants something else, right in front of Casa di Guiletta–is a store of Legami!

We were in line for a while and I said to myself what am I doing here, squeezed in between the crowds and anxiety, trying to calm myself, my eyes went busy just admiring the hanging plants on the streets.Finally, we were inside the little square frontyard of Juliet´s house.The manmade balcony is there and I manage dto get some snaps.

This place is crazy, and I wouldn´t recommend it for anyone to see because I don´t see anything special about it. People flocked around the statue of Juliet, all trying to squeeze and grabbing her breast, believing that if they made a wish after groping it, then it will come true.

I haven´t tried touching it, neither making a wish!

But for the sake of just being there, go there if you must . Anyway, its free, not unless you wanna climb her bedroom as well and rummage through her room which turned into a museum nowadays.

Going back outside, we continue to explore the outskirts of Verona and yes- a must see is the Adige river and the Castelvecchio castle.The view was splendid and the soft summer breeze from the river really cooled us down. There are so many old trees in Verona and we just love tree-hugging there!

On our way back , we passed again through the Piazza Bar and lingered more on this beautiful fountain.

The fountain in the park, also known as the Fontana Delle Alpi was constructed on the occasion of Verona’s pairing with Munich and was built by the Germans. In turn, a statue of Juliet was set up at the ancient town hall in Munich. The residents of Verona often refer to the fountain as the “Lemon Squeezer” because it is shaped like one.

I really enjoyed a day in Verona. It´s atmosphere, undeniably beautiful architecture, delicious food, and tranquil vibe really made our hearts happy.I wished that we have more time to explore the neighborhood and outskirts but then, a glimpse of this town brought us great memories.

Until then, Tschüß!