This Hidden Gem in Northern Italy Is Called 'Little Rome'—and Its Historic Center Is a UNESCO Site

Here’s everything you need to know to plan a trip to Verona, Italy.

Verona, Italy

• Stroll through the cobblestone streets of the charming Città Antica and visit the Casa di Giulietta, home to Shakespeare’s most legendary heroine.
• Watch an opera at the Arena, one of the world’s largest surviving ancient Roman amphitheaters.
• Check into the Hotel Due Torri, the city’s most historic grand dame with an impressive collection of antiques.
• Sip local wines like Lugana and Valpolicella at Caffè Monte Baldo, a historic wine bar known for cicchetti (small plates).
• Savor dishes that combine French techniques and local ingredients at Trattoria I Masenini, one of the city’s best restaurants.

Most famous as the hometown of Shakespeare’s tragic couple Romeo and Juliet, Verona isn’t typically one of the first cities in Italy that tourists visit, but it’s definitely worth a trip. Located in the northern Italian region of Veneto, Verona is about 75 minutes from Venice and Milan via high-speed train. It’s also within striking distance of Lake Garda, making it a great stop on a trip through northern Italy.

Founded by an ancient tribe, Verona became a Roman colony in 89 B.C.E., and you can still see traces of the ancient civilization (the city is even called "little Rome"). In fact, the Arena of Verona is the world’s third largest surviving Roman amphitheater, and every summer it hosts the city’s renowned opera festival. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Verona was ruled by the della Scala (Scaliger) family, under whose reign Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet fell in love and met their tragic ends in Shakespeare’s famed play. Today, visitors come from around the world to see sights inspired ...
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