I'm thinking about stopping over at Verona on my way to Venice from Milan (actually from Varenna). My current schedule shows that I can get into Verona at 1:30pm. Do you think that it's worthwhile to do a quick blitz of the city in about 4 hours or less (considering the time spent getting from/to train station in Verona)? Ideally I would like to get into Venice in time for dinner.
Posted by
Shawnee, OK, USA
396 posts
I am NOT impartial as I LOVE Verona. Take a taxi to Piazza Bra...view the Roman colesseum ..walk to Piazza del Erbe(down Via Mazzini..I think that is the street).....been a marketplace for 2,000+ years...many fresoced walls...a wonderful place to sit and have tea/coffee and soak in Verona. Can climb the bell/clock tower for a great view/photo op of Verona. The Adige River runs through the city...many lovely views and bridges to cross. You won't have time to see Castelvecchio or the church....they are worth 1/2 day each of exploring.
Forget the Romeo/Juliet stuff....not real and not worth your time.
Posted by
Atlanta
3267 posts
I think it's doable - Verona isn't a large city and you can take a bus from just outside the train station (#11, 12, or 13) to get to the city center right across from the arena. The bus trip is about 10 minutes. If you have a copy of Rick Steves' Italy guidebook pick out parts of his walking tour that you want to do. The covers the main sites. We were there 2 weeks ago - it's a beautiful smaller city! Edit: One more thought...many of the shops will be closed between 1:30 - 3 or 4 in the afternoon but if you're just there to see the main sites as described above, it shouldn't be a problem!
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
2785 posts
We essentially did this on a RS tour of Italy (leaving from Varenna). We spent about 4 hours total I think in Verona, as a stop over on the way to the Dolomites. It is a pretty city to walk through (if it's not pouring rain, our main issue on that stop). Me personally, I'd head straight to Venice because it was my favorite, but you can't go wrong if you decide to stop.
Posted by
Centennial, CO, USA
1898 posts
I agree with the other posters. it's possible. We took a day trip from Bologna to Verona. We arrived by train and walked to the city center (about 15 min) It was a fun adventure to find our way, and not that hard. While there we got stuck in a terrible downpour! Kind of put the kabash on getting to see much of the city. We did get a discounted entry ticket to the colosseum, as no was going in due to the rain. The town is charming. Go do it!
Posted by
OP
Singapore, Singapore
46 posts
Thanks for the feedback. Guess I'll be doing Verona. I will likely do the RS walking tour of Verona - not there to shop but mainly to see the sites. The RS walking tour ends at the duomo. Is there a bus that takes me straight from the duomo back to the train station? I know that Juliet's house is a fake but I also know that I'll probably end up regretting not popping by to take a quick look and take a snapshot or two.
Posted by
Atlanta
3267 posts
I'm not sure about the bus from the Duomo to the train station but if there isn't one, it's not so far to walk to the stop near Piazza Bra where you will arrive. When you arrive, you can either purchase your bus ticket at a Tobacco Shop (there is one in the train station) or on the bus. It's less than 2 Euro. Enjoy Verona!!