Travel Guide VERONA.

Population: 259.351 Currency
1 Euro = 100 cents

Opening hours
Shops are usually open between 9.00-12.30 am and 3.30-7.30 pm (closed on Sundays).

Publications
See the local pages of the dailies L’Arena and Corriere della Sera (Corriere Veneto);
Corriere della Sera,
La Repubblica,
La Stampa
Il Sole24ore

Emergency number
Carabinieri: 112
Police: 113
Fire brigade: 115
Medical Emergency Service: 118

Tourist office
I.A.T. (Informazione e accoglienza turistica)
via degli Alpini, 9 - Tel. +39 0458068680
Open 9.00 am-7.00 pm (Mondays-Saturdays) and 9.00 am-3.00 pm (Sundays and on public holidays)

The Arena - symbol of the city – was built by the Romans outside Verona’s first circle of city walls in the first part of the 1st century AD. Today it hosts opera and concerts.
Welcome to verona
Verona is world-famous for its magnificent Arena and its association with Shakespeare’s love story of Romeo and Juliet. The city is one of the most important tourist destinations in Italy and in 2000 was nominated as ‘a cultural and historical treasure’ by UNESCO.
do & see

The city
Close to Lake Garda, Verona is a city of rare beauty, set back against the hills to the north and laid out harmoniously along the smooth curves of the Adige river. Founded as a commercial and political town in Roman times, traces of this period remain with the massive Arena, the Roman theatre, the Gavi Arch and the Borsari gate, as well as the archeological area of Porta Leoni and that of the Scaligeri excavations. Large sections of the ancient walls are still standing and they bear witness – along with the monumental gates and other fortifications – to the strategic importance of the city.
Yet, the whole centre of Verona is well worth visiting, with its rich collections of churches and palaces. Crowds flock to the house and tomb of Juliet, whose tragic love-story with Romeo was immortalised by William Shakespeare. Verona is also full of prestigious cultural institutions, from the ancient Civic Capitolare Library to the university and the oldest Music academy in the world. The Fondazione Arena has been producing stunning opera productions for its 15,000 capacity audience for over a hundred years, and every summer an international crowd packs the open-air theatre to cheer each performance.

do & see
The Arena
Built by the Romans in the 1st century AD, this stadium played host to gladiators and wild animals. Today it is used above all for the opera and concerts.
Price: 4 euro, Address: Piazza Bra, 1
Tel. +39 0458003204
www.arena.it
Duomo
The Duomo, originally in Romanesque style, was re-built in the XII century in an area where the Romans had exploited the natural hot springs.
Price: 4 euro, Address: Piazza Bra, 1
Tel. +39 0458003204, www.arena.it

Castelvecchio
This castle, built by Cangrande II of the Della Scala family (1354-1357), was intended both as a home and a set of fortifications.
Price: 4 euroAddress: Corso Castelvecchio, 2
Tel. +39 0458062611,
www.comune.verona.it/castelvecchio/cvsito/

Juliet’s house
Dating back to the 12th century, this house was originally owned by the Dal Cappello family. The confusion of the name Cappello with Capuleti was the source of the popular myth that this was the home of Juliet, the heroine of the Shakespeare play.
Price: 4 euro (house + tomb 5 euro)
Address: Via Cappello, 23, Tel. +39 0458034303
www.comune.verona.it/Cultura/index.htm

Juliet’s tomb
Juliet’s tomb is where, according to legend, lie the remains of Romeo and Juliet.
Price: 3 euro
Address: Via Shakespeare
Tel. +39 045 8000361
www.comune.verona.it/Cultura/index.htm
Palazzo della Ragione e Torre dei Lamberti
This XII century palace has a magnificent romanesque courtyard. The view from the top of the Torre dei Lamberti is stunning!
Price: 3 euro (4 euro included Arche scaligere)
Address: Piazza dei Signori
Tel. +39 045 8032726
www.cittadiverona.it

Teatro romano
This theatre was built at the end of the 1st century B.C. and restored in the first half of the 19th century.
Price: 3 euro
Address: Regaste Redentore, 2
Tel. +39 0458000360
www.comune.verona.it

Piazza delle Erbe (Erbe square)
The Forum, centre of city life during Roman times, was situated here. The Piazza delle Erbe has continued to fill this same role for centuries, as a meeting place, as the site of a market, and as the political centre of the city.
Teatro Filarmonico
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

EVENT highlights
Verona tourism: www.tourism.verona.it

FEBRUARY
Gardaland
Discover Verona’s number one theme park. Spectacular shows, 3D movies and much more!
www.gardaland.it

Verona in Love
10 – 14 Feb
Love is in the air and what better place to celebrate Valentine’s Day (14 Feb) in Verona, the home town of Romeo and Juliet. Send a postcard from Juliet’s house.
www.veronainlove.com

MARCH
Guided tour Badia Calavena to Pergari
A guided walking tour from Badia Calavena to Pergari. Meet at the church square at about 6pm.
info@ctgproverona.it

APRIL
Tour of Verona and the Valpolicella Wine region
4 April – 31 Oct
This tour combines a guided walking tour of Verona with an afternoon in the Valpolicella wine region. Tour is 9 hrs and held every Mon, Wed and Sat from 9am.
www.tours-italy.com
Bottega del Vino
EatingVeronese cuisine is extremely tasty. Many dishes are meat-based and you should at very least try the pastissada de caval, a horse-meat stew cooked in red wine with polenta (a sort of thick porridge made with maize flour) and boiled meat. There are many different kinds of risotto available, such as risi e bisi - with peas, or coi bruscandoli - with herbs, and rich homemade pasta, especially gnocchi. Don’t miss the soppressa all’aglio (salami with garlic).

Ristorante Il Desco
This place is famous all over Italy and has two stars in the Michelin guide. Recommended dishes include maltagliati (homemade pasta) with tomatoes and aubergines, goose fois gras and fillet of S.Peter with porcini mushrooms, artichokes, lemon sauce and thyme.
Address: Vicolo S. Sebastiano, 3/5
Tel: +39 045 595358


Antica bottega del vino
This is a historic and attractive osteria which serves typical veronese cuisine. The risotto all’amarone (a typical red wine of the region) is highly recommended. There is a very good wine list. You can also get a simple glass of wine with canapés here. During the opera season, this place is frequented by singers.
Address: Vicolo Scudo di Francia, 3
Tel: +39 045 8004535
www.bottegadelvinonyc.com

Locanda Castelvecchio
Located right opposite the Castelvecchio, this place has been called kitsch with its old furniture and big mirrors, although many customers find it extremely charming. It serves typical cuisine with roasted and boiled meats served with many kinds of sauces (try the pearà made of bread, pepper and marrow, green sauce and horse-radish sauce).
Address: Corso Castelvecchio 21
Tel: +39 045 8030097


Trattoria Il pompiere
One of the oldest trattoria in Verona where you can sample typical local cooking. The salted pork meats and cheeses are highly recommended.
Address: vicolo Regina d’Ungheria 5
Tel: +39 045 8030537

Osteria Duomo
Another good place to try local cuisine, or just for a glass of wine accompanied by salami.
Address: via Duomo, 7A
Tel: +39 045 8007333

Pizzeria da Salvatore
Here you can try the best pizza in Verona, which is small, round and crisp as befits the local style. The place boasts famous people’s photos on its walls.
Address: piazza S. Tommaso, 6
Tel: +39 045 8030366

Pizzeria al Redentore
A charming place located in an old church, very close to the Teatro romano, serving tasty pizza.
Address: via Redentore, 15/17
Tel: +39 045 8005932

Café
Caffé Coloniale
This bar offers a range of drinking chocolates and cakes, and people visit for breakfast, afternoon snack and the early-evening apéritivo.
Address: piazza Viviani Francesco, 14/c

Caffé Mattei
A famous old café specialising in 5 o’clock tea. The cakes are delicious, in particular the pastries with raspberries. A recent restoration unfortunately led to the loss of much of its Mittel-European charm.
Address: vicolo Crocioni, 6

La Casa di Giulietta
A nice place located right in the courtyard of Juliet’s house.
Address: via Cappello, 21

Pasticceria Flego
Recommended for its excellent pastries and cakes which seem to be created by architects.
Address: porta Borsari, 9

Bars and nightlife
People in Verona - and in the north-East of Italy in general – like to meet in osteria (canteen) during the day and drink wine (white from midday till late afternoon and red in the evening). Hence the (false) myth that people in this area are often drunk – in fact they usually limit themselves to just a glass or two all day and always combine their wine with canapés, salami and other snacks.

Osteria Mondodoro
Here there is a great wine list and very tasty canapés with cheese, salami and vegetables.
Address: via Mondo d’oro, 4

Osteria Le vecete
Another typical place with canapès and good wine.
Address: via Pellicciai, 32/a

Osteria sottoriva
A well-known osteria which is always packed with young people. The old owner was well-known in Verona thanks to his rudeness. Today the place is a more refined but less interesting.
Address: via Sottoriva, 9

Caffè Brasserie Filippini
In Verona the apéritivo bars are in piazza Erbe. The most famous of these is Filippini, but close to it there are other good places such as the Osteria Verona and Bloom.
Address: piazza Erbe, 26
www.caffefilippini.it

Osteria del bugiardo
Another fashionable place for an apéritivo and snacks.
Address: Corso Porta Borsari, 17

In the winter and spring Verona’s night life is quite quiet, and if you want to meet people you will need to visit an osteria (see above) or try the clubs and discos. In summer things liven up as many people choose to sit outside or walk through the streets of the city centre.

Discoteca Berfi’s club
A well-known local disco, this place doubles up as a restaurant and there is often live music or cabaret.
Address: via Lussemburgo, 1
www.berfis.com

Rivamancina
This cocktail and music bar is well-known for its funky interior which displays works of modern art that change from month to month. Packed at weekends!
Address: Vicolo Quadrelli, 1

Square
One of the most successful meeting points in Verona, it has Japanese-style furnishings. Music: lounge, jazz, ambient and nu grooves
Address: via Sottoriva, 15
www.squareverona.it

AlterEgo
Another well-known disco. Mostly frequented by twenty-somethings.
Address: via torricelle, 9
www.alteregoclub.it

SHOPPING
Shopping in Italy is a must! If you want to buy fashionable clothing, bags, shoes and accessories you should try via Mazzini, via Cappello and corso Portoni Corsari. Here you will find Max Mara, Cartier and many other well-known labels. People fond of antiques or paintings should visit corso Sant’Anastasia and the area next to it where there are a number of antique shops; Antichità Due Torri, Antichità Sottoriva, and art galleries (Boxart, Arts Noveaux). On the third Saturday of every month there is also an antique market in piazza San Zeno with furniture, jewellery, stamps and even old cars and motorcycles.

If you want to learn cooking the Italian way, there is also a market in piazza Erbe where you can buy food-products. Around the city centre there are many wine shops, such as the Istituto enologico italiano (via Sottoriva, 7) which has a rich selection of international and Italian wines and is located in a lovely old basement with arches.
Essential informationAirport
Verona’s International Airport “Valerio Catullo” is around 12 km from the city centre. A local city bus (Aptv bus “Aerobus”) gets you into the city (close to the railway station) for 4,50 euro (from 6.35 a.m. to 11.35 p.m., every 20 minutes). Taxis cost around 20-25 euro (call Radiotaxi 24h a day - Tel. +39 045 532666 or Taxi & Autoblu, tel: +39 045 914047).
Further information: Tel. +39 0458095666 or www.aeroportoverona.it
Ryanair budget flights use both Brescia Airport (from London Stansted), also known as Montichiari or Gabriele D’Annunzio Airport, and Valerio Catullo (from Frankfurt Hahn). Brescia Airport is located 20km from Brescia (and 52km from Verona). There are a couple of different bus shuttle services to Brescia bus station. One coincides with Ryanair flights, and costs €15.49 return. The other runs 3-4 times a day and costs €7.23 return. +39 030 9656599 - 511

Local traffic
Verona is a small city, and the best way to see it is on foot. The company which operates Verona’s local transport system is Amt (tel: +39 045 8871111, www.amt.it). One ticket costs 1 euro (valid for 60 minutes), but you can get a one-day travel card for 3,50 euro.

Taxi
Verona’s main taxi company is Radiotaxi 24h a day (tel: +39 045 532666). You can also find cabs close to places such as the rail station (Piazza di Porta Nuova, tel: +39 0458004528) or Piazza Bra (close to the Arena, tel: +39 045 8030565).

Post
Verona’s main post office is in piazza Francesco Viviani, 7, tel: +39 045 8059384. Opening hours: 8.30-18.30 (Mondays-Fridays), 8.30-13.00 (Saturdays).

Pharmacy
Verona’s chemists are usually open from Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 12.30 and from 15.30 to 19.30. They have different open hours at evenings and on the weekend (Information: Tel. +39 0458011148). Addresses are posted on the pharmacies. Some chemists in the city centre are open 24 hours a day.

Dentists
For emergencies go to the Pronto soccorso of the Policlinico (Piazzale L.A. Scuro, 10, Tel: +39 045 8071111) or to the Pronto soccorso of the Ospedale Civile Maggiore (Piazzale A. Stefani 1 – Tel: +39 045 8071111).

Telephone and Electricity
Country code: +39
Area code: 045 (do not omit the zero when dialling internationally)
220/240V