verona, veneto

a gloomy, cold, perfect winter morning
exploring the streets of Verona and meeting Giulietta

Verona is one of the many cities in Italy that you don’t need too much of an agenda for to enjoy. Super easy to experience with kids when compared to many other historic towns. Full of ZTL streets, it is very pedestrian friendly and delivers on every dreamy detail you’d expect from a place with such a romantic reputation.

Getting There

Depending on where you are coming from, this is one of the easier destinations to hit within Italy. Conveniently located near a main train station, Verona Porta Nuova, connection destinations all over the country. If driving into the city, there are several easy parking garages (parcheggio in italiano). We find the APCOA parcheggio to be the best for us. Always remember in Europe to keep your ticket with you, as you pay on the ground level before exiting the garage.

Toddler Needs

Again, Verona is one of my favorites here because it has plenty of places for my almost-two-year-old to run around. Plenty of parks, piazza, and pedestrian safe streets to walk. It is stroller friendly, however it’s ancient, which means cobblestones but no hills or excessive steps like Bassano del Grappa or Coastal towns like Riomaggiore. Just like many Italian cities, don’t be surprised if the bathrooms don’t have changing tables. So be prepared to be creative in safe little corners if your little one isn’t ready for la toilette da soli.

What to see

What I love about Verona is it’s so accessible and full of rich history and sights to take in especially from the Roman era (Verona is affectionally called “Little Rome”) While there be sure to make time to see La Casa di Giulietta, the Verona Arena (built in 30 A.D.), Piazza delle Erbe, Piazza Bra (great park and fountain near the arena), Via Giuseppe Mazzini (pedestrian only street, full of the best shopping and designers). Every ponte and chiesa.

Best advice: Just wander and get lost! Even the little alley ways in Verona are worth capturing. It’s just pure love.

What to buy

On Monday through Saturday, located through the entire length of Piazza delle Erbe, you will find an ongoing market full of souvenirs, clothing, leather goods and produce from local farms. This would be the best quick place to get a Romeo and Juliet trinkey or a piccolo Pinoccio wooden toy. Other vendors offer full cashmere or misto, a blend of Italian wool and cashmere. Scarves, wraps and berets all anywhere from €10 - €100 each.

If you’re more in the market for designer goods, stroll down Via Giuseppe Mazzini to browse every International and Italian luxury designer you could dream of…

A presto a Verona!

Writing letters to Juliet of unrequited, tortured or star crossed love is real. Although most are shipped via post directly to Club di Giulietta, a real group of “secretaries” in Verona.

There are two ways to experience La Casa di Giulietta in Verona. To simply experience seeing it and her statue, it is free with limited groups moving through at a time. For €6 you can explore within the house and stand on her balcony (and imagine your Romeo down below).

Immediately exited La Casa di Giulietta, do yourself a favor and turn right to immediately stop at Venchi for a cappuccino and Fragole cioccolato e panna. Venchi is a world famous Italian chocolatier that began in 1878 in Turin, Italy by Silviano Venchi. Prego!