italy (VENETO)
The City of Love! Well, according to Shakespeare. Verona is in Northern Italy in the region of Veneto, with Bolzano to the north, Venice to the east, Bologna to the south, and Milan to the west.
Verona is much more than the home of the Montagues and Capulets, as mentioned in written masterpieces like Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare and Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri, although you can go to the fictitious Juliet’s balcony and see a statue of Dante in Piazza dei Signori.
We love Verona for the great vistas, the laid back atmosphere, and of course, the food. It’s a hidden gem to see while most others will flock to the capital of Veneto - Venice.
verona
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what to drink, what to try, what to see, where to stay, helpful resources
where to eat
Located in Borgo Trento, a residential neighborhood near the city center, Filia offers modern dishes via two tasting menus or a la carte. With only 5 tables, service is exceptional and extremely personal. The chef introduced many of the dishes to the table and made it a point to get to know us which was great! The menu is exciting and the taste matches the presentation. Reservations required.
Located in Borgo Trento, a residential neighborhood near the city center, Filia offers modern dishes via two tasting menus or a la carte. With only 5 tables, service is exceptional and extremely personal. The chef introduced many of the dishes to the table and made it a point to get to know us which was great! The menu is exciting and the taste matches the presentation. Reservations required.
Located in Borgo Trento, a residential neighborhood near the city center, Filia offers modern dishes via two tasting menus or a la carte. With only 5 tables, service is exceptional and extremely personal. The chef introduced many of the dishes to the table and made it a point to get to know us which was great! The menu is exciting and the taste matches the presentation. Reservations required.
Located in Borgo Trento, a residential neighborhood near the city center, Filia offers modern dishes via two tasting menus or a la carte. With only 5 tables, service is exceptional and extremely personal. The chef introduced many of the dishes to the table and made it a point to get to know us which was great! The menu is exciting and the taste matches the presentation. Reservations required.
Located in Borgo Trento, a residential neighborhood near the city center, Filia offers modern dishes via two tasting menus or a la carte. With only 5 tables, service is exceptional and extremely personal. The chef introduced many of the dishes to the table and made it a point to get to know us which was great! The menu is exciting and the taste matches the presentation. Reservations required.
Located in Borgo Trento, a residential neighborhood near the city center, Filia offers modern dishes via two tasting menus or a la carte. With only 5 tables, service is exceptional and extremely personal. The chef introduced many of the dishes to the table and made it a point to get to know us which was great! The menu is exciting and the taste matches the presentation. Reservations required.
Located in Borgo Trento, a residential neighborhood near the city center, Filia offers modern dishes via two tasting menus or a la carte. With only 5 tables, service is exceptional and extremely personal. The chef introduced many of the dishes to the table and made it a point to get to know us which was great! The menu is exciting and the taste matches the presentation. Reservations required.
Located in Borgo Trento, a residential neighborhood near the city center, Filia offers modern dishes via two tasting menus or a la carte. With only 5 tables, service is exceptional and extremely personal. The chef introduced many of the dishes to the table and made it a point to get to know us which was great! The menu is exciting and the taste matches the presentation. Reservations required.
Very close to Piazza delle Erbe, this combination wine bar and ristorante is great for food or drink. One of the first things you’ll notice when you sit down - the wine list is HUGE! We did New Year’s Eve here, ordered the Bottega Steak and a bottle of Amarone, and were in heaven. The fireworks after at the Arena at the end of the evening helped cap the evening! Reservations recommended.
Very close to Piazza delle Erbe, this combination wine bar and ristorante is great for food or drink. One of the first things you’ll notice when you sit down - the wine list is HUGE! We did New Year’s Eve here, ordered the Bottega Steak and a bottle of Amarone, and were in heaven. The fireworks after at the Arena at the end of the evening helped cap the evening! Reservations recommended.
In the heart of the city near the Arena, Locanda 4 Cuochi offers traditional cuisine with a modern twist. While there is a general rule to steer clear of restaurants that are on or near the public plazas (and with the vicinity of the Arena close by), this is a fabulous exception - food is terrific AND reasonably priced. Reservations recommended.
locanda 4 cuochi
In the heart of the city near the Arena, Locanda 4 Cuochi offers traditional cuisine with a modern twist. While there is a general rule to steer clear of restaurants that are on or near the public plazas (and with the vicinity of the Arena close by), this is a fabulous exception - food is terrific AND reasonably priced. Reservations recommended.
locanda 4 cuochi
In the heart of the city near the Arena, Locanda 4 Cuochi offers traditional cuisine with a modern twist. While there is a general rule to steer clear of restaurants that are on or near the public plazas (and with the vicinity of the Arena close by), this is a fabulous exception - food is terrific AND reasonably priced. Reservations recommended.
what to drink
what to drink
The regional favorite red wine from east of Verona is made in 5 levels. From the easy-drinking every day (Classico), to a reserved for special times (Amarone), to a dessert wine (Recioto), there’s one for every occasion. We tried a Recito at Osteria il Bertoldo. It was not too sweet and not overtly syrup-y like most dessert wines that we’ve tried previously - much more to our tasting.
Valpolicella
Did you know that Prosecco comes from a very specific area in Italy? The region is east of Verona, near Venice and spans east to Trieste. There’s a lot more to Prosecco than one option, so be adventurous and find something new!
prosecco
what to try
what to try
There are more famous coffees in Italy that blend in chocolate (see our Turin city guide about Bicerin), but this specialty served at Caffè Borsari is unforgettable and worth going into the store to try. It’s a small shop, so get there early or be patient to order. The store has a wonderful ambiance as well!
Caffè Marocchino con panna
I think we ate this dessert after almost every meal once we discovered it. We even made a day trip to Mantua to get it straight from the place it was invented! A crumbly almond concoction, almost like a cookie, with a hint of sweetness - can be served with multiple different types of sauces.
sbrisolona
Take two great things all on their own - Risotto and Amarone wine - and combine them, and you get a fabulous dish that you will love. A must try!
risotto all'amarone
what to see
what to see
The Verona Arena is famous, and rightfully so. It was built in 30 A.D. and is still in use today. It’s extremely impressive and really cool to have right in the middle of town. If you’re able, check out a live show that they have in the warmer months.
Verona arena
giusti gardens
A bit outside of the city center (but not too bad for those willing to get in a good walk!), this garden built in the Renaissance Era has the best vistas of Verona. It’s worth the climb up the terraces to get an incredible view of the city!
Sneak a peek at Juliet's Balcony early in the morning before anyone is there. A bit of a tourist’s delight, the balcony itself wasn’t even constructed until the 20th century. Admittedly, this is not something up our alley, but this is a main draw for the city. Go early in the morning to avoid the crowds. Check the times as the gate to the courtyard is locked during non-operating hours.
juliet's balcony
stroll along the adige river
Verona was built along a bend in the Adige River, and for much of its history has been used as defensive protection from her enemies as it surrounds two thirds of the historic city center. Today, it has picturesque views everywhere from its walking and biking trails that follows along the river banks.
The Arena is famous, and rightfully so. It was built in 30 A.D. and is still in use today. It’s extremely impressive and really cool to have right in the middle of town. If you’re able, check out a live show that they have in the warmer months of the year.
Sneak a peek at Juliet's Balcony early in the morning before anyone is there. A bit of a tourist’s delight, the balcony itself wasn’t even constructed until the 20th century. Admittedly, this is not something up our alley, but this is a main draw for the city. Go early in the morning to avoid the crowds. Check the times as the gate to the courtyard is locked during non-operating hours.
A bit outside of the city center (but not too bad for those willing to get in a good walk!), this garden built in the Renaissance Era has the best vistas of Verona. It’s worth the climb up the terraces to get an incredible view of the city!
the arena
name
name
So nice we ate there twice! Vicolo Battisti offers an entire menu dedicated to pizza and the other to Piemonte specialities. We opted to visit twice so that we could try both. The weather was delightful so we dined alfresco where they line the street with tables. The staff is young, hip, and helpful. The food was excellent. Reservations recommended.
So nice we ate there twice! Vicolo Battisti offers an entire menu dedicated to pizza and the other to Piemonte specialities. We opted to visit twice so that we could try both. The weather was delightful so we dined alfresco where they line the street with tables. The staff is young, hip, and helpful. The food was excellent. Reservations recommended.
hotel name
where to stay
where to stay
Located in an old palazzo, this spacious 1-bedroom rental is tucked away from the busier streets and main attractions, but within walking distance to everything, making it the perfect spot. The apartment is close to excellent restaurants, bars, shops, and has a fully-stocked kitchen if you want to dine in. The washer/dry combo was a huge plus and the apartment is beautifully decorated. Book ahead of time as it fills up in advance.
helpful resources
helpful
resources
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