Verona holidays

About Verona

Famed for Shakespeare's legendary lovers Romeo and Juliet, and home to the well-preserved Roman amphitheatre, Verona is perfect for a cultural short break. During the summer many visitors flock here for the world-famous opera festival.

Food and drink

Inspired very much by the climate in the north east of Italy, the cuisine of Verona tends to be quite hearty. The bigoli (thick spaghetti) and paparadelle (ribbon pasta), often served with duck or liver-based sauces, are good to try, and Verona's beloved pastizada de caval (braised horse meat) is often found on menus. The windows of the many pasticcerie of Verona are crammed with tempting sweet cakes and desserts.

Verona and the surrounding region's importance as a wine-producing area is in evidence throughout the city: the cobbled streets house many authentic wine bars and shops devoted to selling wine. The Bottega del Vino is one of the city's oldest wine cellars, and also serves food typical of the area to accompany the vast wine selection on offer. As you might expect, the local digestif, grappa, is also on the menu.

Shopping

The Via Mazzini is the main shopping street in Verona, lined with shops for all interests, including glamorous Italian shoe shops, old and interesting book shops, perfumeries and glitzy boutiques. The Piazza delle Erbe is home to the fruit and flower market and offers a colourful insight into local life, while the quieter cobbled streets of Verona contain many smaller and authentic shops with some unusual find.

Traditional goods include shoes and other leather items such as belts and handbags. The many local food stores scattered around the city have wonderful displays of hams and cheeses, and offer an excellent opportunity to stock up on some more uncommon and local brands that you may not find back home.