Even if you’ve never set foot in Rome, you can still clock the Eternal City’s landmarks in like half a second just from the pics.
Whether it’s the Colosseum doing its whole ancient-glory, the Instagram circus that is Trevi Fountain turned full-on, or the Vatican City and its soaring dome, Rome feels like that film you’ve replayed a gazillion times… even if you’ve never actually been cast in it.
What if we told you there's a mini Rome, not in some off-the-path country in Europe you can't be arsed going to, but right there in Italy, only a 3-hour high-speed train ride away?
And yeah, it's even got its own baby Colosseum, far better-preserved, at that.
Welcome To Verona, Italy's Mini Rome
A not-so-hidden-anymore gem of Northern Italy, Verona is seeing unprecedented levels of tourism right now, with over 20 million guests registered last year alone. Out of those, a whopping 80% are foreigners.
Safe to say, it’s never been hotter with Italy-bound tourists than it is right now, and if you’re wondering why the name’s ringing a bell, congrats, you probably didn’t fully zone out through all those painfully tedious English Lit classes back in school after all.
Well, yeah, this is that historic city that set the scene for Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. And no, it’s not actually based on real people, but if you’re trying to catch some feelings and fall hopelessly in love, this is the spot right here.
For starters, it is much smaller than Rome.
Though it's certainly no small town—it has a population of over 255,000—it feels a lot more compact, with many of the landmarks within short walking distance of each other, and less crowded. No switching from metro to bus, back to metro again, with Rome's subpar public transport system:
You can see it all on foot, and trust us when we say, there's as much historic charm to be found here as in the Italian capital. Did we mention Verona has a whole Colosseum?
Italy and Europe are changing its Entry Requirements for American tourists in 2025, from mandatory fingerprinting to new visa rules.
Heading to Europe this summer? Be sure to check the latest Entry Requirements for your destination before you head to the airport.
One Of Italy's Coolest Ancient Wonders
Ok, ok, there's only one Colosseum, we mean a Roman arena, but be that as it may, it's in fact older, and in a far better state of preservation than the grandest of them all. Dating back to the year 30 AD, which makes it literally over 2,000 years old, it is an ancient wonder most tourists headed for Italy miss.
The coolest thing about it? It's not only a museum, but a whole entertainment venue, all these centuries later.
Remember The Lizzie McGuire Movie, and how a black-wigged Hilary Duff just casually steps onto the Colosseum floor to perform for a whole crowd? Yeah… not sure if you’ve ever actually seen pics of the inside, with its all torn-up, half-gone flooring, but that’s not exactly gonna happen in real life.
The Arena di Verona, on the other hand, is still used for concerts, and if you happen to be coming in summer, you might catch a couple of live performances from renowned Italian artists. Your grandma's favorite tenor Andrea Bocelli is a regular feature.
This is what dreams are made of.
By the way, this is what travelers have been reporting on safety in Italy as of late:
Is This Italy's Prettiest Historic Center?
As you get lost in Verona’s maze-like historic center (think stone-paved streets, cozy trattorie, and little boutique shops everywhere), there are a few more spots worth popping into.
Juliet's House is an obvious highlight, and before you roll your eyes, no, it's not Juliet's actual house as she was never an actual living person—it's another one of Italy's marketing gimmicks—however comma… it is a gorgeous medieval house dating back to the 13th century.
If not for the Romeo and Juliet lore, then definitely visit for the Old World vibes.
Only a few steps away from it, Palazzo della Ragione is a Gothic city hall built back in the 1100s, with pointed arches, a soaring tower you can climb for panoramic views of Verona, and a super-photogenic 15th-century staircase that's the main attraction in the inner court.
For an equally-epic panorama of Verona, climb up (or cheat with the lift) Lamberti Tower, or then just chill by Piazza delle Erbe, arguably the prettiest square in town, flanked by colorful buildings and inviting cafés.
Insider tip? Caffè Filippini, right on the square, is a gorgey old school spot that's been dishing out light bites and that classic, smooth cappucino since the early 1990s.
It's basically prime people-watching territory.
Tiber Who?
Rome may have the powerful Tiber, but Verona is traversed by the Adige River, the second-longest in Italy, cutting right through the heart of the Historic Center.
By the water, you'll stumble upon two must-see bridges that stand out for two very distinct reasons:
The first one, Ponte Pietra, is a Roman-era pedestrian crossing with unreal views, especially at sunset. Straight-up postcard material. The second, and undoubtedly the most impressive, is Ponte Scaligero. Pretty much a castle in bridge form, with towers, battlements, and red-brick ramparts spanning the water.
The side opposite the Historic Center is actually Verona's most peaceful, and not one bit less interesting:
Discover Verona
There is a Roman Theater carved into the hillside, still used for performances in summer, and if you've been desperately looking for that viewpoint overlooking Verona and its plethora of church towers, that would be San Pietro Castle Hill.
We definitely recommend you take the slow, winding path up there, as you'll be passing picture-perfect pastel houses with the quintessentially Italian green shutters, and some of the cutest back alleys. If you're feeling knackered after the whole sightseeing workout, though, feel free to take the funicular up.
Explore Other Italy Hidden Gems This Summer
Flying to Italy this summer?
Verona is just the pinnacle of a much larger (monumental, actually) iceberg. Check out these other lesser-known, incredible destinations we've covered on Travel Off Path recently:
- Brixen: a fairytale medieval treasure in the heart of the Alps where you're more likely to hear German being spoken on the streets than Italian (for real)
- Cividalne del Friuli: a small town in the northeastern region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia best known for its Devil's Bridge and Roman heritage
- Rimini: one of the liveliest coastal cities on the Italian Adriatic, famous for having wide, sandy beaches and a developed entertainment scene
- Taranto: an offbeat coastal hub in Puglia with a picturesque island for Historic Center, and a number of ancient monuments to its name
- Matera: a rock-hewn inland town in Basilicata with houses literally carved into the mountain massif, as well as the 3rd oldest city in the entire world
