On the fourth day of our trip, we visited Verona, which was our final day trip from Bologna before heading to Milan for our journey home. We opted for a regional train, which took about 1 hour and 25 minutes (compared to around 55 minutes on a high-speed train). I had left the train booking until the last minute, so I had limited options. However, if I had planned ahead, I would likely have chosen the high-speed train to take advantage of the FrecciaFAMILY Offer, which would have given us a discount, especially with my younger daughter being under 15.
The weather was fantastic (we were very fortunate!) but also very hot. Knowing that the old town was a bit of a distance from Verona Porta Nuova Station, we decided to take a bus to the nearest stop by Casa di Giulietta.
The bus station is easy to find. It’s located in front of the train station. There are several ticket machines around the bus station that accept both cash and credit card payments. We purchased a day ticket for €5 per person (as of July 2024). I was relieved we had a day ticket because we accidentally boarded the wrong bus and ended up going in the complete opposite direction! I realised our mistake after the first stop, so we got off at the next one, but it was very, very far from the bus station. It was quite funny, though the heat and the infrequent buses in that area made the situation a bit frustrating. A word of advice: always double-check your bus route before boarding! It was our first time using the bus system in Italy, so I was a bit confused, even with the Google Map app at hand! After returning to the station, we finally caught the right bus. There are several buses that go to the old town – we took the 130 and got off at San Fermo B2.
My first impression of Verona was how incredibly beautiful it is! It quickly became my favourite city of this trip. Verona is truly picturesque. We crossed Ponte delle Navi, pausing to take photos and admire the city’s charm. We strolled along Via Leoni and Via Cappello, enjoying gelato from Jurri, and had a great time window shopping at the many stores along the way.
I had booked our tickets for Casa di Giulietta (Juliet’s House) before our trip to Italy, so we didn’t need to queue. There was a long line at the entrance, but I’m not sure if people were queuing to enter the museum or if they were just there to take photos with Juliet’s statue. Although the entrance area was crowded, we had no trouble getting into the building. It was a hot day, and the inside of the museum was warm as well, despite the presence of some portable air conditioning units and fans. However, it was still enjoyable to explore. Inside there were Romeo & Juliet related objects, like postcards, statues, and artwork. There were even letter boxes where you could post letters to Juliet! We enjoyed making use of the good views from the museum windows to take lots of photos. Many visitors were eager to stand on the famous Juliet balcony, so there was a queue, though it wasn’t very long when we joined. As Verona is renowned for this attraction, I didn’t want to miss the chance. The queue had grown significantly longer by the time we were leaving the museum.
While we were there, a couple was having their wedding photos taken on the balcony. It looked incredibly romantic and picturesque. The crowd on the ground cheered them on, creating a lovely atmosphere. The experience left us all with a wonderful memory to treasure!
At the museum entrance, there was a toilet, and to my younger daughter’s surprise, it was a squat toilet. As she had never encountered one before, we had to explain how to use it.
After a busy morning, we wandered around and eventually found ourselves in Piazza Indipendenza which is a lovely little peaceful park. We decided to sit down and enjoy some food we had picked up on our way to the park. In the square, there’s a massive London Plane tree, which is quite well known – lots of people were taking pictures of it and with it. There were also a few other large trees, providing plenty of shade where we could rest and cool down.
While my husband and younger daughter relaxed in the park, my older daughter and I went for a walk. We strolled along the riverside, taking photos and spotting a few nearby restaurants. The area had a delightful atmosphere – it was charming and picturesque. It was a lovely, quiet afternoon for a leisurely stroll, and I couldn’t help but wonder what it might be like to live there. Despite being only a few minutes away from Casa di Giulietta, the area was surprisingly peaceful, with far fewer tourists.
Next, we headed to Piazza dei Signori, and then walked along Via Giuseppe Mazzini towards the Arena di Verona. Along the way, we were occasionally distracted by the beautiful alleys we discovered. We decided not to tour the Arena di Verona this time as it’s an outdoor theatre, and it would have been too hot for a visit. Although I wanted to watch an opera there, we hadn’t planned for it in advance. When we checked the available seats, they were quite expensive and the performance was set to finish after midnight. The idea of returning to Bologna at that time seemed a bit too daunting, especially since I hadn’t even checked if there was a train back after midnight. Also, with one of my daughters being young, it wouldn’t had been very realistic. But now, I have the perfect excuse to return one day and enjoy an opera or two at this historic venue!
After admiring the Verona Arena and the surrounding square, we continued our exploration of this beautiful city. We wandered through the charming streets and eventually arrived at the Adige River by Piazza Castelvecchio. Here, we were welcomed by the historic Arco dei Gavi, located right next to the Museo di Castelvecchio. We stopped to take in the stunning views of the river, including the impressive Ponte Scaligero, which provided a picturesque backdrop to our day.
Before heading back to the train station, we popped into a lovely café very close to Piazza Castelvecchio called JIXIN, which serves Chinese food and boba tea. The staff were friendly and welcoming, which made our visit even more enjoyable. My younger daughter loved their cute cat-faced chairs. The seating area at the back, with air conditioning, gave us a cool and relaxing place to unwind while enjoying our refreshing boba. Having a toilet available was an added bonus, especially when you’re out exploring.
After our relaxing break at JIXIN, we caught a bus from the Castelvecchio B1 stop, conveniently located in front of the Arco dei Gavi, to the train station. I felt like we finally got the hang of using the bus!
Verona has truly captured my heart, becoming my favourite city of this holiday in Italy. I’d love to return in the spring to see this beautiful city in full bloom, and again in the summer to experience an opera at the famous Verona Arena. A visit to Castel San Pietro is also on my list, as I’d love to take in the panoramic views of Verona from above. This historic city has so much more to offer, from its stunning architecture to its rich cultural heritage, and I can’t wait to come back and explore it further.
