Verona is the city of Romeo and Juliet

After Bologna, our route continued further north. The next stop was Verona, a city that I had imagined before the trip primarily as a place of the story of Romeo and Juliet. But it turned out that this famous story hides a very beautiful and cozy old town, which is pleasant to just walk around without haste.

Arrival in Verona

We arrived in Verona in early February 2026. After Bologna, the city seemed a little different - there was more of a feeling of medieval Italy, and the narrow streets of the historical center gradually led us to large squares.

From the train station, we headed towards the center, left our things and almost immediately went for a walk. The weather was cool but dry, so the end of January and the beginning of February turned out to be quite comfortable for a walk.

Bra Square and Arena

The first big stop was Bra Square. It is here that the famous Verona Arena is located - a huge Roman amphitheater, which immediately reminds you of how ancient the history of this city is.

Arena di Verona

After the Colosseum in Rome, it was difficult to surprise me with such a structure, but the Arena in Verona has a completely different environment. It stands right in the center of modern urban life - surrounded by cafes, restaurants, shops and ordinary streets, so the ancient monument here is perceived not as a separate archaeological zone, but as part of the city itself.

Streets of the old town

We continued walking from Bra Square. After a while, we came to the Erbe Square, one of the most famous squares in Verona. I just wanted to stop here, look at the old facades and sit in a cafe for a while.

Then we went to the Piazza della Signoria, and from there to the river Adige. On the way, they deliberately turned off the main streets several times. That's exactly how, in my opinion, Verona is worth exploring: without a clear route, allowing the city to tell you where to go next.

Erbe Square

Juliet's Balcony

Of course, we couldn't avoid Juliet's courtyard. The place is quite touristy, and there were noticeably more people here than on the neighboring streets. The balcony has long been one of the symbols of Verona, although the story of Romeo and Juliet itself is literary.

Juliet's House

We didn't stay here for a long time and went for a walk around the center again. By evening, Verona had become especially pleasant - the lights turned on, the squares became quieter, and the old buildings took on a completely different look.

Verona turned out to be exactly the stop I need between big cities. I didn't want to make a list of dozens of attractions here. I just wanted to walk, look around and enjoy the atmosphere of old Italy.

But our trip was coming to the main goal. After Verona, the last section of the route was Venice. That's where we were heading for the main event of the trip - the Carnival of Venice.