Alternative to a side trip visit Verona

I would want to attend an Opera in Verona!
Have you looked at accommodations, opera tix?
You would want to book early

To get an idea look at booking.com to see what availability and rates are like
Can’t really go by comments on forums til you research it yourself

I’ve stayed a couple of times at Hotel Bologna which is very close to the arena. I attended an opera one time and a concert the second time. Yes, it’s definitely a great place to attend an event!

I would check on actual lodging before writing off Verona completely. The first time I ever visited Verona there was a 3 night stand of some Italian singer I had never heard of and it clearly made lodging tight, but there were places to be found. I strongly recommend staying in the bend in the river of the old Roman era town.

Verona is a great walking town - the center is nearly traffic free and buildings with faded murals and painted details lurk in unlikely corners. There are cafes with outdoor seating everywhere in Verona whenever you decide to want to sit and/or spritz. I have a very low interest in opera but I would look into seeing an opera in an actual Roman arena just for the experience.

The an intact Roman Arena and Theater which are still used for events with music and opera being a big part of the city's summer schedule including concerts and opera. The Theater includes the Archeological Museum which is small but also gives you access to the rambling remains of old religious sites there. If you like modern art check out the small Palazzo Maffei Casa Museo which mixes ancient and modern art, a palazzo and rooftop tour all into one place overlooking piazza Erbe and is underadvertised. I think Piazza Erbe (looking past the market stands) is one of the prettiest piazzas in Italy. Verona has the 'elegant decay' feeling with faded murals on medieval buildings that the Veneto does so well.

Al Grottino - Osteria e Sbecoleria is a great hole in the wall place off Piazza Erbe for a drink and cicchetti. Cafe Monte Baldo nearby also has great cicchetti and more serious food if you want that. Right near the cafe there is Arcivio a super small, super hip cocktail bar. There is no lack of good restaurants in Verona but read the menu carefully at the older places because the cuisine can be very "traditional".

That being said there are alternatives - Venice is always amazing, Bologna and Florence for bigger cities and a ton of smaller towns like Modena, Mantova, Ferrara for smaller picturesque towns or the lakes are also an option. I really enjoyed Brescia - great Roman ruins, a castle and several interesting piazzas and no tourists.

If you want alternatives to Verona let everyone know what your main interests are to get better reccomendations.

Sounds like a great trip,
=Tod

Another vote for Verona.

But if that doesn't work for you, How about Lake Garda. I'm guessing you are on the train, so Peschiera or Dezenzano and then use the lake steamers earch day to visit other towns on the lake. Heaven.

Friends told me that although they aren't opera fans, seeing one in Verona was the highlight of their visit.