Well, I do know where it is, and I have gone on the Verona website to see what the city has to offer, but I haven't seen an abundance of comments about the city on this website. It looks like an interesting place, but as my old girlfriend once said about me, "Looks CAN be deceiving." Since you are all an incredibly knowledgable bunch (sure I'm sucking up, but it's sincere) could you give me the pros and cons of a two night stay in Verona at the end of September? I've been to Florence a number of times, so I thought my wife (not that former girlfriend) and I could stop on the way from Venice to my beloved Cinque Terre. Thanks in advance. I'll be sipping my Mai Tai anxiously awaiting your astute replies.

You could easily spend two days in Verona. Get a good guide book and hit the pavement!(Fodors or Cadogan) Also, I'd suggest you stay right in the town.<BR>Don't know what your budget is, but if it's large there's a Baglioni hotel in town -

I spent a few nights in Verona last year and enjoyed it. It's much smaller than Florence but big enough to have some nice things to see &amp; do. It's a wealthy city so there are a lot of nice cafes &amp; restaurants, and it's well kept up.<BR><BR>The Roman amphitheater is worth viewing inside and out. If it's opera season do what you can to get a ticket for a show.<BR><BR>People-watching in Piazza Bra is relaxing and interesting. We watched a political rally one day and other days sat in the park or cafes.<BR><BR>Walking along Via Mazzini there are some high-end clothing shops. This takes you to Piazza delle Erbe, which has a nice market in the day and is ringed by cafes and great old buildings. I found myself going back to this Piazza over &amp; over. Veneto has some great wines and there are some good wine bars to try the local specialties, including Amarone.<BR><BR>The Piazza dei Signori is another nice place to hang out in or just walk around.<BR><BR>Take a short trip into the countryside to Serego Alighieri Vineyards http://www.seregoalighieri.it/) to taste their wines and those of Masi. It's a beautiful vineyard run by a direct decendent of Dante.<BR><BR>Back in Verona, you can walk along the Adige river. There is the remains of a Roman theater and archeology museum. The Ponte Pietra bridge is a great vista point. <BR><BR>The Castlevecchio is worth seeing, both as a museum and as an architectural and historic site. <BR><BR>I can't recall all the cafes, restaurants, and wine bars I was at but if I can find some notes I'll post them. This is a city I'll return to. Not as laid-back as a Tuscan hill town, but a nice in-between size that less daunting than Florence or Rome.

There's a good museum in the CastelVecchio, the bridges across the Alto Adage River (that may be spelled wrong please don't hold it against me) are great spots to get good pictures. The Arena still (unlike the Coliseum in Rome) has its exquisite marble, and you can tour it by day or if it is Opera season, see an opera at night. Many many good restaurants, lovely shops, the Centro city is historic and lovely. Piazza Bra (just outside the Arena) is a fabulous place to sit and have prosecco and watch people.

I like the bridges in Verona. I was there in October and the leaves had started to turn and the river was misty. Absolutely gorgeous! <BR> <BR>Climb to the top of Torre dei Lamberti for great views.<BR> <BR>Cheap eats at Brek - a cafeteria-type place. cheap and tasty for a quick lunch. <BR> <BR>

For an excellent virtual tour of Verona, check out:<BR>http://www.virtourist.com/europe/verona

alan64said: &quot;Walking along Via Mazzini there are some high-end clothing shops.&quot; I'll be sure to delete this part when I show my wife (Just kidding. While she shops, I sit at an outdoor cafe and drink wine. Seems like a fair tradeoff). Thanks for everyone's input. It is now penciled into my itinerary which will change 1,000 times before I leave, but I believe Verona sounds like a keeper.

Hi maitaitom<BR><BR>I got back from 3 days in Verona on Sunday. The town is great, I enjoyed it a great deal, very good atmosphere, lots of good things to do. My highlights were the Arena, Castelvecchio Museum and bridge, Piazza Bra, just walking around the old town and seeing the wonderful buildings, Basilica San Zeno, the Torre dei Lamberti, the Piazzas delle Erbe and Signori (construction work at the delle Erbe meaning no market, the buildings were just as lovely but the sitting and drinking coffee outside aspect reduced in pleasure) and as said the people watching in Piazza Bra. We stayed at the Hotel De' Capuleti<BR>Address : Via del Pontiere 26<BR> 37122 Verona<BR>Email : [email protected]<BR>Fax n. : +39-045-8032970<BR>Phone n. : +39-045-8000154<BR>Which was good, small rooms but good bathroom with a tub which I like but only a handheld shower with no curtain which shower people might not like. About a 7 minute stroll to Piazza Bra. Good breakfast and not too expensive, 113? per night. We ate mostly at pizza places (I was with my teenage son) but had a good meal with great service at the Ristorante Greppia in Vicolo Samaritana, again not too expensive with good local dishes. We ate outside almost all the time too which was great. Fab shopping, my son got some new glasses from the Grand Optical there and they had the biggest range of great frames, prescription sunnies and ordinary glasses including an eye test with a difficult prescription in 2 hours.

Beautiful city. I would definitely recommend that you go there and explore!

Cant add much to what has already been said. I visited Verona for a week and was never board. A great town with a wonderful atomosphere. As regards a hotel, I can highly recommend The Accademia (4 star) - its right in the centre of Verona in a side street. 5 minutes walk from the Arena and main square. Do go to the opera if its still on in September - we sat in the cheapest seats (stone bench) with our sandwiches and wine (great experience). Also, there is some lovely peaceful gardens (I think they are called Gusti Gardens) (14th century) .<BR>With regard to the fastfood joint in the main square called Brek someone said it was cheap and nasty. It certainly is cheap but I would defend them - its not nasty. Its still freshly made food - salads, pasta, fish etc. Great for lunch.<BR>I am sure you will enjoy Verona. Have a great time. I hope to be back some day and to stay in the Accademia.

A message to MyBelle. Didn't I read where you recently went to Verona. How did you like it?

Verona is a very classy, sophistocated place with one of the most beauftiful shopping areas I have seen anywhere. One of the true jewels not overrun as yet with commercial tourism. If I could spend a couple of months in Italy, this would be my choice!

&gt;Walking along Via Mazzini there are &gt;some high-end clothing shops<BR><BR>That's novel! When I was there the shops didn't move at all.<BR><BR>I know, I'm a pedantic old fart. To add to my POFartishness, &quot;wherefore&quot; means &quot;why&quot; not &quot;where&quot;.

ttt

&quot;To add to my POFartishness, &quot;wherefore&quot; means 'why' not 'where'.&quot;<BR><BR>Poetic license.

Walk to the top steps of the arena to get a great view of the city and countryside. I know this one is touristy, but I enjoyed visiting &quot;Juliet's house&quot;, not sure of the name, but it is sure to be in the guidebook. I thought the interior was interesting.