A DAY IN VERONA: THE WALKING ITINERARY TO DISCOVER THE HISTORIC CENTRE

A DAY IN VERONA: THE WALKING ITINERARY TO DISCOVER THE HISTORIC CENTRE

Why visit Verona in a day

Verona is one of the most charming cities in northern Italy, with a historic centre that's almost entirely pedestrian, compact and easy to explore on foot, without needing public transport. It's a perfect destination for a day trip from the campsite, whether by car or by train. In this article you'll find a loop itinerary that guides you through the city stop by stop, bringing you back to your starting point. We've included links to the official websites for tickets and updated opening hours, so you can plan everything on your own.

How to get to Verona from the campsite

If you have a car, it takes about 50 minutes from the campsite to reach Verona, and you can park in a guarded car park near Piazza Bra, for example on Via Città di Nimes or at the Arena car park.
If you'd rather take the train, you can reach Desenzano del Garda station and catch a direct train to Verona Porta Nuova. The official Trenitalia website has all the updated timetables. For the way back, trains to Desenzano generally run every hour, but we recommend checking the official website before heading back. Once you arrive at Verona Porta Nuova, the historic centre is about a 20 minute walk away, or you can catch a city bus and get there in just a few minutes.

The itinerary

Verona Arena and Piazza Bra

The ideal starting point is Piazza Bra, the city's largest square, with gardens, benches and plenty of open space. At its centre stands the Verona Arena, the Roman amphitheatre dating back to the first century AD and the symbol of the city. You can admire it from the outside or go in and climb the ancient tiers. Tickets can be bought online on the official Verona Civic Museums website.

Piazza delle Erbe

From Piazza Bra, follow Via Mazzini, the fully pedestrian shopping street that leads straight to Piazza delle Erbe. This is the heart of the city, once a Roman marketplace and still today full of stalls, bars and restaurants with outdoor seating. The colourful facades of the buildings surrounding it and the fountain at its centre make it one of the most photographed spots in Verona. It's a great place to stop for a souvenir or an ice cream.

Torre dei Lamberti

Right from Piazza delle Erbe you can access the Torre dei Lamberti, the city's tallest tower at 84 metres. You can go up by lift or on foot, and from the terrace at the top you'll enjoy a view stretching over all of Verona's rooftops and bell towers. All the information on hours and tickets is available on the official website torredeilamberti.it.

Juliet's House

Just a few steps from Piazza delle Erbe, along Via Cappello, you'll find Juliet's House, with the famous balcony tied to the story of Romeo and Juliet. Walk through the entrance arch and you'll reach the inner courtyard, home to the balcony and Juliet's statue. According to tradition, touching the statue brings luck in love, and it's common to see visitors queuing for a photo beside her or leaving a note on the courtyard wall, just as thousands of lovers from all over the world have done for years. Anyone wanting to visit inside the house can buy a ticket on museiverona.com.

Piazza dei Signori and the Scaliger Tombs

Heading back towards Piazza delle Erbe and passing under the Arco della Costa, you'll reach Piazza dei Signori, a more intimate and elegant square surrounded by historic palaces, with a statue of Dante Alighieri at its centre. From here you can reach the Scaliger Tombs, a group of Gothic funerary monuments belonging to the della Scala family, visible as you walk along the railing surrounding them. From here to Ponte Pietra, the next stop, it's about a 10 minute walk.

Ponte Pietra and the Lungadige

Continuing towards the river Adige, you'll reach Ponte Pietra, the only Roman bridge still standing in Verona, rebuilt after the Second World War using the original stones recovered from the river. Crossing it, you'll find the Lungadige on your right, the riverside promenade that follows the Adige and leads, in about 20 minutes on foot, to Castelvecchio, the next stop.

Castelvecchio and its bridge

The Lungadige leads straight to Castelvecchio, the della Scala family's medieval castle, which today houses a museum. Next to the castle stands the Ponte Scaligero, the fortified bridge crossing the Adige with its distinctive battlements. It's one of the most striking sights in Verona, and the wide open spaces around the castle are perfect for a photo stop before moving on. Information and tickets are available on museiverona.com.

Castel San Pietro and the funicular

To close the day with one last panoramic viewpoint, head back towards Ponte Pietra, about a 20 minute walk from Castelvecchio along the Lungadige, and from there take the funicular up to Castel San Pietro, which departs right next to the bridge. In about ninety seconds, the funicular takes you up to the panoramic terrace on the hill, with views over all of Verona and the course of the river Adige. Alternatively, you can walk up the staircase that starts from the same spot. Hours and tickets are available on the official website funicolarediverona.it.

Conclusion

Verona is a wonderful city to visit in a day, and we hope this itinerary helps you plan your trip independently, with room for a few extra stops along the way.

If you fancy exploring other corners of Lake Garda, take a look at our guide to the five most loved villages in the area. And if you need anything during the day, feel free to stop by reception: we're always happy to help.

See you soon on Lake Garda! From your #campingwithlove