Verona Holidays

Holidays in Verona take you to a city steeped in culture. Galleries, opera and Romanesque and Gothic architecture make this the perfect destination for art and history buffs. Situated between Milan and Venice, the city has UNESCO World Heritage status thanks to its architecture and history as a military stronghold.

Verona was a centre for artists in the Renaissance era, and you can see a collection of paintings and sculptures in the Museo di Castelvecchio. The city is renowned for its Romanesque 11th and 12th Century churches, and their displays of valuable artworks. There are also landmarks dating back to Verona's days as a Roman colony, including the amphitheatre, which was built in the 1st Century. Romantics will delight in visiting the city of love, the setting for Romeo and Juliet. You can visit Casa di Giulietta, (Juliet’s house), and have your photo taken on the famous balcony.

Verona is also an excellent destination for an active holiday. Lake Garda is a stone's throw away, and there are plenty of walking opportunities, both around the lake and Il Vittoriale botanical gardens. Or, join a bike sharing service and explore the city's sights and the paths along the river Adige.

Explore Verona like no other

As the leading Italian holiday specialist for the past 95 years, Citalia is dedicated to making sure you have an immersive Italian experience during your visit to Verona.

Start your sightseeing in Verona at Piazza Bra, the city's main square, which sits in the shadow of the Arena di Verona, the Roman amphitheatre, and the neoclassical Palazzo Municipale (town hall). Cafés and restaurants line a broad walkway, so stop for a glass of Amarone, which is said to be one of the region's greatest red wines.

Once you’ve replenished your energy levels, head over to Castelvecchio, a former palace and fortress built in the 14th Century. This medieval complex houses a museum where you can see a combination of art and historic relics including armour, weapons and coins.

If you want a break from sightseeing, wander over to Via Mazzini, at the north end of Piazza Bra. Here, you'll find an array of designer shops, independent boutiques and exclusive shoe shops selling locally made leather shoes. Foodies will love the selection of specialist delis, where you can pick up tasty oils, cooked meats and local cheese and wines.

Your plans, our expertise

Start planning your Citalia holiday by getting in touch with one of our Personal Travel Planners.

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Verona Multi Centre Holidays

Take a look at our suggested itineraries for inspiration, or call our Personal Travel Planners on 01293 762400* for a bespoke multi-centre

8 day suggested trip

Verona and Lake Garda

From £1145 per person

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Spend two nights in the birthplace of Shakesphere’s Romeo and Juliet, Verona
Relax on the shores of Italy’s largest lake
Day trips to Sirmione and Malcesine
Up to £200 off when you book before January 31st 2025

Find Out More About Verona and Lake Garda

9 day suggested trip

Venice, Verona and Lake Garda

From £1549 per person

ATOL Protected

Enjoy live classical music whilst sipping on a coffee in St. Mark’s Square
Dine on traditional Italian cuisine against a breathtaking backdrop
Visit Scaligeri Castle, one of four castles built by the Lords of Verona
Up to £200 off when you book before January 31st 2025

Find Out More About Venice, Verona and Lake Garda

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Handpicked Hotels in Verona

Discover the real Verona while staying in one of our carefully selected hotels

Italian Cities, Verona

Due Torri Hotel

Located in the centre of medieval Verona close to all the main sites
Panoramic terrace with amazing views of the city

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Recommended

Italian Cities, Verona

Giberti

Located 1km from the renowned Roman Arena
A short walk to the historic centre of Verona

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Italian Cities, Verona

Hotel Indigo Verona - Grand Hotel des Arts

Located a five-minute walk from café lined pavements of the Piazza Brà
Relaxing private garden courtyard and hotel bar

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Italian Cities, Verona

Hotel Touring

A boutique hotel with architecture dating back to 1928
Within easy reach of Verona’s many historic sites

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Italian Cities, Verona

NH Collection Palazzo Verona

Historic and elegant hotel built around Roman ruins
Perfect location just 550 yards from Juliet’s House in Verona
Spacious rooms decorated in an elegant and charming style

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Things to do in Verona

If you're in Verona over the summer, don't miss the opera festival, which runs from mid-June to the end of August. Opera originated in Italy, and this world famous festival does the country proud, with around 50 performances watched by thousands of people. You can see all the crowd-pleasers, from Aida to Tosca, so book your ticket for your favourite and enjoy an amazing musical experience.

The Basilica of San Zeno is considered one of the most beautiful Romanesque buildings in northern Italy, with exquisite frescos and intriguing marble statues looking down on you from balconies above. The Duomo of Verona (cathedral), is a complex that incorporates the cathedral, a Baptistry, church, Canon's Cloister and the remains of a 4th Century basilica.

If you want to add something special to your holiday, take the train to nearby Venice. In just over an hour you could be taking a gondola ride down the Grand Canal or visiting the Doge’s Palace and its unparalleled collection of fine art, in St Mark’s square.

Things to doBasilica di San ZenoThe Basilica di San Zeno is best-known for being the very place that Shakespeare’s ill-fated lovers – Romeo and Juliet – got married, but it’s also worthy of a visit on merit of its architecture alone. Find out more about Basilica di San Zero

Things to do Castelvecchio By The River AdigeLocated on the banks of the Adige River, the Castelvecchio or 'old castle' was built in 1354 by Cangrande Il della Scala and is a prominent example of gothic architecture.Find out more about Castelvecchio by the river Adige

Things to doChurch of Santa AnastasiaDesigned in the Gothic style and built back in 1280, the church has a curiously plain exterior enhanced only by a dramatic 72-metre high bell tower and a few small flourishes.Find out more about the church of Santa Anastasia

Things to doGiusti GardensSurrounding the grand Piazza Giusti, the Giusti Gardens are often considered to be one of Italy’s finest formal gardens. Find out more about Guisti Gardens

Things to doJuliet's BalconyOne of the most famous sights in Verona, Juliet's balcony has for many years seen tourists flock to get a glance at the spot where Romeo allegedly declared his eternal love. Find out more about Juliet's balcony

Things to doPeople Watching in Piazza BraRight at Verona’s heart lays Piazza Bra – arguably the most breathtaking square in all of Italy. Cobbled to perfection and ringed by rainbow-colour medieval buildings, the square ticks every box on the Italophile’s checklist. Find out more about people watching in Piazza Bra

Things to doPiazza dei SignoriThe magnificent Piazza dei Signori is the obvious starting point for catching Verona’s most iconic sights, as the former centre of Verona’s power.Findo out more about Piazza dei Signori

Things to do Piazzale Castel San PietroThe Piazzale Castel San Pietro is a medieval fortress set high on a hilltop above the city. The architecture is quite remarkable, being one of the largest historic buildings in Verona, but the views from the surrounding terrace are the main reason to make the calorie-burning climb. Find out more about Piazzale Castel San Pietro

Things to doPonte PietraVerona’s oldest bridge has a history that plays out like a Hollywood blockbuster. It was built by the Romans back in 100 BC in order to provide easy access to and from the city’s amphitheatre.Find out more about Ponte Pietra

Things to doTorre dei LambertiVerona’s Torre dei Lamberti is the city’s tallest medieval building and one of Italy’s most inspiring monuments. Rising more than 275 feet above the cobbled streets, the tower has seen numerous additions throughout the years following the lead from Bologna’s tower-filled skyline. Find out more about Torre dei Lamberti

Flight Information

Direct flights to Verona airport (VRN) are available from Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, London Gatwick, London Stansted, Manchester, Newcastle and Southampton and take approximately 2 hours. Transfers to the city centre take approximately 20 minutes.

When to go

It is possible to visit Verona throughout the year. The summer months are the busiest due to the ever popular opera season, this is also when you will find the hotel prices at their highest. To avoid large crowds, visit during the spring and autumn when the weather is also a little cooler.

Visa Information

At the current time, British citizens do not require a visa to visit Italy.

Tipping

Whilst tipping isn’t embedded into Italian culture it is always appreciated as an acknowledgement of good service. Nowadays people generally round up a bill in a bar or cafe and leave 5-10% extra on a restaurant bill. Taxi bills are usually also rounded up.

On guided tours/excursions, it is customary to leave a token of appreciation for the driver and guide.

On small group escorted tours, it is customary to leave a token of appreciation for the driver and guide at the end of the tour.

Introduction to languages

The official language of Italy is Italian. English is widely spoken too, so getting by is easy.

Verona Specialities Veronese cuisine has an old fashioned air about it. One of the area’s favourite dishes dates back to the 5th Century. Pastissada de caval is horse meat braised in red wine, vegetables and spices. The meat is marinated for a day, then slow cooked on a low heat. This rich meal is served with Polenta Gialla (creamy polenta with a similar consistency to mashed potato), or grilled polenta, (cooled until it goes firm, then cut into squares). It goes well with a full-bodied red wine such as Amarone della Valpolicella.

Verona Specialities Risotto is another widely eaten dish in Verona. Risotto al Tastasal is made with a blend of pork seasoned with salt, and the name tastasal means ‘try the salt’. The rice is cooked with meat broth and garlic, then mixed with the tastasal, and finished off with a grating of Parmesan. Try it with a Valpolicella Ripasso, a red wine which is well suited to a hearty meal. If you prefer a vegetarian risotto, then Risotto al Radicchio, made with locally grown radicchio is a good choice. Cooked with red wine, butter, onion and garlic, the bitterness of the radicchio is counterbalanced by the sweetness of the onion and wine, leaving you with a delicious warming dish.

Verona Specialities Veneto is Italy's biggest wine producing region, which means Verona is well served by the vineyards surrounding it. The region produces both red and white wines. Try a dry white such as Soave, the most exported white wine in Italy, and Lugana, which has enjoyed a surge in popularity over the past few years. Famous reds of Veneto include Bardolino, a versatile red with a spicy fragrance, that can be served with any dish and goes well with pizza. Valpolicella is another regional favourite, an everyday, medium bodied wine that is perfect when paired with cured meats or risotto.

Verona HistoryVerona has its fair share of medieval and Renaissance art and culture, as well claiming to have more Roman ruins than any Italian city. Verona was a key Roman settlement due to its location on both the east-west and north-south trade routes – visible still with the city's ancient gates and imposing amphitheatre. The amphitheatre, familiar from countless images, was built in AD30 and much of the original arena is still preserved. Since Verona was founded in the 1st century BC, a remarkable number of monuments are still intact, landing it on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 2000.

Verona Holidays

Explore Verona like no other

Your plans, our expertise

Verona Multi Centre Holidays

Verona and Lake Garda

From £1145 per person

Venice, Verona and Lake Garda

From £1549 per person

Handpicked Hotels in Verona

Due Torri Hotel

Giberti

Hotel Indigo Verona - Grand Hotel des Arts

Hotel Touring

NH Collection Palazzo Verona

Things to do in Verona

Flight Information

When to go

Visa Information

Tipping

Introduction to languages

What our customers think