Verona in a full day -- itinerary
Jun 7th, 2012, 06:22 AM
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Verona in a full day -- itinerary
Am drawing up an itinerary which will allow seeing most of the major sites in Verona in a full sightseeing day, beginning at 8:30 am and ending at 6 pm. I'm thinking this is a full but do-able ordering. Timings are approximate but show the thinking here:
8:30am: Basilica San Zeno Maggiore
9:15am: Museo Castelvecchio
11am: Arena di Verona
11:45am: Juliet’s House
12:30pm: Lunch? (my preference will be no)
1:30pm: poke around Piazza della Erbe, Piazza del Signori
2:30pm: Arche Scaligeri (walk-by and look)
3pm: Basilica di Sant’Anastasia
3:30pm: Duomo
4:15pm: Giusti Gardens
4:45pm: Roman Theater and Archaeological Museum
6pm: Dinner (non-negotiable time, not far from the Roman Theater)
Most of the attractions here seem to be something one can experience in ca. half an hour to 45 minutes, and many of the attractions seem to be close by each other. The only likely exception to the 30-45 minute experience might be the Museo Castelvecchio -- how large is this attraction? I've budgeted more time for this place.
Yes, I do like very full sightseeing days -- not interested in "stop and smell the roses" advice, but want to know if I'm misjudging approximate timing on an attraction here. If I have to jettison something, am thinking it will be the Giusti Gardens.
Many thanks for any constructive advice to offer given my approach.
8:30am: Basilica San Zeno Maggiore
9:15am: Museo Castelvecchio
11am: Arena di Verona
11:45am: Juliet’s House
12:30pm: Lunch? (my preference will be no)
1:30pm: poke around Piazza della Erbe, Piazza del Signori
2:30pm: Arche Scaligeri (walk-by and look)
3pm: Basilica di Sant’Anastasia
3:30pm: Duomo
4:15pm: Giusti Gardens
4:45pm: Roman Theater and Archaeological Museum
6pm: Dinner (non-negotiable time, not far from the Roman Theater)
Most of the attractions here seem to be something one can experience in ca. half an hour to 45 minutes, and many of the attractions seem to be close by each other. The only likely exception to the 30-45 minute experience might be the Museo Castelvecchio -- how large is this attraction? I've budgeted more time for this place.
Yes, I do like very full sightseeing days -- not interested in "stop and smell the roses" advice, but want to know if I'm misjudging approximate timing on an attraction here. If I have to jettison something, am thinking it will be the Giusti Gardens.
Many thanks for any constructive advice to offer given my approach.
Jun 7th, 2012, 06:24 AM
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Also, got no reply to my earlier question about the Verona Card. I'll repeat below:
"Quick question about the Verona Card. Does it still cover using the local bus as well as get you into various of the cities attractions? I've seen reports that it does, but nothing at the card's website currently about that. Anybody know? Thanks."
Anybody?
"Quick question about the Verona Card. Does it still cover using the local bus as well as get you into various of the cities attractions? I've seen reports that it does, but nothing at the card's website currently about that. Anybody know? Thanks."
Anybody?
Jun 7th, 2012, 06:49 AM
#3
Here are some excerpts from my Verona TR. We were there for several days in mid-winter so skipped the gardens. Other than Juliet's tomb, everything is in easy walking distance so we never used the bus.
We bought the Verona card and used it over the next few days to see: The Arena; Torre dei Lamberti; Casa di Giulietta; Tomba di Giulietta; Teatro Romano; Museo Lapidario; Museo di Castelvecchio; and, various Chiesi [we found it a good value].
Verona is a wonderful walking town. We took the first of what were many walks down the upscale Via Mazzini to the Piazza Erbe. Piazza Erbe appears to be the heart of the city and is filled with stalls selling all sorts of things, from food stuffs to tacky things for tourists. We shared a cone of hot chestnuts as we walked. Adjacent to the Piazza Erbe is the Piazza dei Signori AKA Piazza Dante, for the statue of same located there.
As would become our pattern, we spent a lot of time just walking around and taking pictures of what is a very photogenic city.
About some of the sites we visited: We much enjoyed Castelvecchio [we spent most of the morning there - there is a lot to see]and the walk there. On the way we stopped at a little Chinese restaurant (G-d forgive us) and had a very decent and inexpensive lunch. The walk from Piazza Bra to Castelvecchio passes some interesting stalls along the street [you can grab a quick snack at the stalls on your way to the arena - the walk from Castelvecchio to the Arena is about 15 minutes if you do not stop - BUT be sure to look at the area around Castelvecchio- particularly the back part - we found it quite interesting]. Castelvecchio in addition to the structure itself, has a very interesting mixture of antiquities and paintings making for a most pleasant few hours. The bridge views [need to go around the back] make for some great photo ops as do the distant snow capped mountains.
The Teatro Romano is as would be expected, a Roman theater with wonderful city views. Attached is the archeological museum - a must see [we spent about 90 minutes at the museum].
The Museo Lapidario was also interesting and located at the city gates - Piazza Bra.
The Torre dei Lamberti is the tower at the Piazza Erbe and gives a commanding city view. Although the Verona card includes admission to the tower, use of the elevator is extra. Be advised though that the elevator only goes about 2/3 of the way up. Mi Chica was standing next to the bell when it was chimed. I think that she is still vibrating but her hearing has recovered.
What can you say about the Casa and Tomba di Giulietta other than they make good tourist attractions. The Casa of course has THE balcony where young ladies (and not so young) can reach out their arms to their Romeos taking photos below. We saw the museum since it was included in the card. It is nothing I would pay the full entrance fee for but had some items of interest [but you have to go through the museum to access the balcony]. The "Tomb" is a good walk across town and the attached museum is more of the archeological variety and has some interest. At the Tomb itself in a sufficiently spooky room one can watch would be Giuliettas climbing into the sarcophagus to be photographed in full tragic pose. This can be amusing if you arrive in the right frame of mind.
One restaurant that should be on your list...is the Pere D'Oro, a family run place not far from the Teatro Romano [just down the avenue, a fairly short walk]. They specialize in Pasta that Mom makes while Dad manages and the kids wait tables. You may need reservations since they were turning people away while we were there.
Hope this is useful
We bought the Verona card and used it over the next few days to see: The Arena; Torre dei Lamberti; Casa di Giulietta; Tomba di Giulietta; Teatro Romano; Museo Lapidario; Museo di Castelvecchio; and, various Chiesi [we found it a good value].
Verona is a wonderful walking town. We took the first of what were many walks down the upscale Via Mazzini to the Piazza Erbe. Piazza Erbe appears to be the heart of the city and is filled with stalls selling all sorts of things, from food stuffs to tacky things for tourists. We shared a cone of hot chestnuts as we walked. Adjacent to the Piazza Erbe is the Piazza dei Signori AKA Piazza Dante, for the statue of same located there.
As would become our pattern, we spent a lot of time just walking around and taking pictures of what is a very photogenic city.
About some of the sites we visited: We much enjoyed Castelvecchio [we spent most of the morning there - there is a lot to see]and the walk there. On the way we stopped at a little Chinese restaurant (G-d forgive us) and had a very decent and inexpensive lunch. The walk from Piazza Bra to Castelvecchio passes some interesting stalls along the street [you can grab a quick snack at the stalls on your way to the arena - the walk from Castelvecchio to the Arena is about 15 minutes if you do not stop - BUT be sure to look at the area around Castelvecchio- particularly the back part - we found it quite interesting]. Castelvecchio in addition to the structure itself, has a very interesting mixture of antiquities and paintings making for a most pleasant few hours. The bridge views [need to go around the back] make for some great photo ops as do the distant snow capped mountains.
The Teatro Romano is as would be expected, a Roman theater with wonderful city views. Attached is the archeological museum - a must see [we spent about 90 minutes at the museum].
The Museo Lapidario was also interesting and located at the city gates - Piazza Bra.
The Torre dei Lamberti is the tower at the Piazza Erbe and gives a commanding city view. Although the Verona card includes admission to the tower, use of the elevator is extra. Be advised though that the elevator only goes about 2/3 of the way up. Mi Chica was standing next to the bell when it was chimed. I think that she is still vibrating but her hearing has recovered.
What can you say about the Casa and Tomba di Giulietta other than they make good tourist attractions. The Casa of course has THE balcony where young ladies (and not so young) can reach out their arms to their Romeos taking photos below. We saw the museum since it was included in the card. It is nothing I would pay the full entrance fee for but had some items of interest [but you have to go through the museum to access the balcony]. The "Tomb" is a good walk across town and the attached museum is more of the archeological variety and has some interest. At the Tomb itself in a sufficiently spooky room one can watch would be Giuliettas climbing into the sarcophagus to be photographed in full tragic pose. This can be amusing if you arrive in the right frame of mind.
One restaurant that should be on your list...is the Pere D'Oro, a family run place not far from the Teatro Romano [just down the avenue, a fairly short walk]. They specialize in Pasta that Mom makes while Dad manages and the kids wait tables. You may need reservations since they were turning people away while we were there.
Hope this is useful
Jun 7th, 2012, 07:04 AM
#4
All I would add is that even as attractive as some of them appear to be, I would not eat meals at those restaurants directly across from the arena. In my years there I have found many of them to be serving mediocre food at best and some of it microwaved. You can do better I am certain.
Jun 7th, 2012, 07:14 AM
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Yes, definitely avoid the arena area for lunch, but do eat lunch. You will need a break anyway.
The Giardino Giusti won't take very long but is worth seeing if only for the view over the river and Verona. It is not crowded so a nice respite from the teeming "Giulietta's balcony" area.
The Giardino Giusti won't take very long but is worth seeing if only for the view over the river and Verona. It is not crowded so a nice respite from the teeming "Giulietta's balcony" area.
Jun 7th, 2012, 08:20 AM
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I would skip the house and the tomb and spend more time at San Zeno. It is a very active parish church, so you need to make sure there is no Mass conflicting with that time.
The next priority is the Museo del Castelvecchio. It is a really fantastic adaptive reuse in addition to its collection, which is very good.
If you walk along the river from San Zeno to the Castevecchio, you will see the plaque when you cross the bridge that notes it is a reconstruction. The Nazis blew it up during the war.
The arena is nice but not nicer than the one in Arles or Pula, so if you lingered at the museum, you can give it a miss if you have seen either of those. There are many opportunities to substitute gelato for lunch as you walk to the Piazzi.
We spent so much time in the garden (my wife is a nut about gardens -- or a keen gardener, have it your way) that we never made it to the Roman theater.
The last trip we ate at what might have been a tourist restaurant behind the Piazza delle Signori called something like "Romeo et Giuletta." Only it wasn't a tourist restaurant, at least that night. It was filled with locals eating the local cuisine. I had the braised donkey, and the woman next to me was eating horsemeat brescaola. My wife is not adventurous and had something boring like duck.
It's probably the only city in Italy where I could imagine living.
The next priority is the Museo del Castelvecchio. It is a really fantastic adaptive reuse in addition to its collection, which is very good.
If you walk along the river from San Zeno to the Castevecchio, you will see the plaque when you cross the bridge that notes it is a reconstruction. The Nazis blew it up during the war.
The arena is nice but not nicer than the one in Arles or Pula, so if you lingered at the museum, you can give it a miss if you have seen either of those. There are many opportunities to substitute gelato for lunch as you walk to the Piazzi.
We spent so much time in the garden (my wife is a nut about gardens -- or a keen gardener, have it your way) that we never made it to the Roman theater.
The last trip we ate at what might have been a tourist restaurant behind the Piazza delle Signori called something like "Romeo et Giuletta." Only it wasn't a tourist restaurant, at least that night. It was filled with locals eating the local cuisine. I had the braised donkey, and the woman next to me was eating horsemeat brescaola. My wife is not adventurous and had something boring like duck.
It's probably the only city in Italy where I could imagine living.
Jun 8th, 2012, 05:57 AM
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Thanks all, this is very helpful.
One more question -- I'm planning to walk from the train station to San Zeno Maggiore rather than take a bus (it's about a mile, no biggie). Guidebook descriptions suggest that the area between the two is drab, which is no problem. I assume it's not unsafe? Please let me know if there are such issues.
Lunch will definitely happen, as it turns out, as the dinner spot opens much later then was suggested. Looks like there will be time to linger over lunch and push the timing for subsequent attractions a little later (though I'll make sure the Duomo is seen before it closes at 5pm). Given this, will switch the Giusti Gardens and Roman Theater, as that's where they would easily follow after the Duomo.
Much appreciated.
One more question -- I'm planning to walk from the train station to San Zeno Maggiore rather than take a bus (it's about a mile, no biggie). Guidebook descriptions suggest that the area between the two is drab, which is no problem. I assume it's not unsafe? Please let me know if there are such issues.
Lunch will definitely happen, as it turns out, as the dinner spot opens much later then was suggested. Looks like there will be time to linger over lunch and push the timing for subsequent attractions a little later (though I'll make sure the Duomo is seen before it closes at 5pm). Given this, will switch the Giusti Gardens and Roman Theater, as that's where they would easily follow after the Duomo.
Much appreciated.
Jun 8th, 2012, 07:15 AM
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The area sort of reminds me of the area around Northeastern or Brigham Circle in Boston, if that helps. We actually stayed in a guest house in the area, broadly defined, and never had any worries.
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