Verona Walking Tour Itinerary – An Amble Around Romantic Verona

Our Verona walking tour itinerary takes in Verona’s most romantic spots. Verona is romantic whichever way you look at it. It’s a city made for unhurried ambles hand-in-hand. And you don’t need to have read Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet nor visit the balcony where the fictional characters declared their love to appreciate the romance of Verona.

Our Verona walking tour itinerary is an easygoing stroll that will take you along the most atmospheric streets to see Verona’s must-visit sights, such as the monumental Roman Arena and commanding citadel Castelvecchio. You’ll also get to savour truly sublime views, such as those from hilltop Castel San Pietro, a perfect picnic spot.

This Verona walk is do-able in two hours with brief stops for a taste of Verona or you can stretch out this Verona walking itinerary to a full day if you plan on slipping into churches and cathedrals, visiting museums, and punctuating the walk with coffee breaks, ice cream and lunch on the way.

This Verona walking itinerary is a part of a series of posts on Europe, starting with Italy, a country where we spent a lot of time over the years, for pleasure and work, researching, writing and photographing Italy travel guidebooks. Verona was one of our favourite cities and our walking tour takes in all the must-do sights.

Verona Walking Tour Itinerary – An Amble Around Romantic Verona

This Verona walking tour starts and ends in Piazza Bra.

Start: Piazza Bra

Begin our Verona walking tour on Piazza Bra, Verona’s vast semi-circular square that is home to the ancient Roman Arena, which dominates the piazza.

The curved row of alfresco cafés and wide polished marble footpath is known as the Listone. While the apricot, lemon and tangerine-coloured buildings make for an attractive photo op, the over-priced cafés cater mainly to tourists.

Do a lap of the piazza’s perimeter in a clockwise direction around the Arena to appreciate its immensity.

Note the four three-storey-high limestone arches – this is the only part of the Arena’s outer wall to survive two 12th-century earthquakes; the rest of the structure is actually the internal tiered seating, restored in the 15th-century.

Appreciate the imposing 19th century Neo-classical Palazzo Barbieri, with its enormous Corinthian columns, now Verona’s House of Representatives.

Stroll the few minutes across Piazza Bra to admire the regal Palazzo Gran Guardia with gracious arcades, which serves as the city’s civic centre and auditorium.

Around the corner is the restored double-arched Portoni della Bra (Bra’s ‘little door’), boasting a gold-faced clock at its centre.

Directly ahead of you is Verona’s main opera house, the 18th century Teatro Filamonico which hosts the winter opera season, while the Arena provides a spectacular setting for summer performances.

Via Roma to Corso Cavour

When you’re ready to properly commence our Verona walking tour, follow Via Roma for the few minutes’ walk to to the crenellated red brick Castelvecchio Museum (Old Castle Museum), a striking sight with its stout towers and ramparts.

Take a right on Corso Cavour to the lovely white limestone 1st-century AD Arco dei Gavi, which crossed Via Postumia until the French destroyed it in 1805, and it was rebuilt here in 1932.

Ponte Scaligero to Arsenale Franz Josef

Backtrack to Ponte Scaligero (Scaligero Bridge) and stroll across the bridge from where there’s an impressive view back to the castle and city from the other side of the splendid brick bridge, which spans the fast-flowing Fiume Adige (River Adige).

While you’re there take a quick look at the august Austrian-built Arsenale Franz Josef, which has a dignified quadrangle garden dotted with trees. Take time to sit on a park bench and take it all in.

Lungadige Campagnola to Ponte Vittorio and Via Armando Diaz

When you’re ready to continue our Verona walking tour, wander along Lungadige Campagnola to Ponte Vittorio and linger on the bridge for a brilliant view of Castelvecchio and Ponte Scaligero.

Once across the bridge, walk a block to Via Armando Diaz and turn left to the wonderful limestone Porta dei Borsari (Door of the Bursars) with its rows of arches and windows.

Dating to the 1st century AD, it was the entrance to the Roman city; an inscription on the architrave commemorating Emperor Gallieno’s restoration of the city walls in 265 AD.

Corso Porta Borsari to Corso Sant Anastasia and Piazza Sant Anastasia

Amble under the arches and along Corso Porta Borsari, the Roman cardus decumanus (main east-west road), which becomes Corso Sant Anastasia.

On the way you’ll pass Piazz delle Erbe and Palazzo Maffei Casa Museo. You could visit the museum now or continue our Verona walking tour and return later or another day.

When you reach Piazza Sant Anastasia and the Gothic 13th century Basilica di Santa Anastasia turn left into Via Duomo.

Via Duomo to the Duomo di Verona

Walk to the end of Via Duomo to visit the pink and white-striped Romanesque Duomo di Verona, Cattedrale di Santa Maria Matricolare.

From Piazza del Duomo, stroll around the cathedral along Piazza Vescovado then turn right into Vicolo Sabbionaia, which becomes Piazza Broilo, until you reach Torre di Ponte Pietra and the riverside.

Ponte Pietra to Parco Scalone Castel San Pietro

Cross the river over the tri-arched Ponte Pietra and Via Ponte Pietra then cross the road and hike up the stairs snaking up to Parco Scalone Castel San Pietro, the gardens of Castel San Pietro.

Linger here for gobsmacking vistas of Verona, all spires and towers prettily framed by trees from this vantage point. Could there be a more romantic spot for a picnic? The brick wall serves adequately as both table and chairs.

Return to the riverside via the same path and cross Ponte Pietra.

Via Ponte Pietra to Basilica di Santa Anastasia

Once over the bridge, swing left onto Via Ponte Pietra and walk the six minutes or so to Basilica di Santa Anastasia.

Dating to 1290, the splendid church boasts a 14th-century portal, black, white and red marble columns, and a fresco-covered chapel.

Via San Pietro Martire to Via Santa Maria in Chiavica

When you’re ready to continue our Verona walking tour, turn left onto Via San Pietro Martire, then right onto Via Santa Maria in Chiavica which becomes Via Santa Maria Antica.

Visit the exquisite Arche and Piazza dei Signori, home to so many handsome historical buildings, including the medieval bell-tower and more views.

Join Dante at the piazza’s centre to admire the stunning surroundings and perhaps visit the Galleria d’Arte Moderna Achille Forti, before slipping beneath the arch of Arco della Costa to beautiful Piazza Erbe.