Verona

Verona is a great place for a couple of days. You may want to check on whether you can rent a kayak or boat to row down the river. Terrific art museum inside the Castelvecchio, and the castle itself is an attraction. The arena is in the middle of the city, lots of historic sites.

Verona is beautiful and definitely worth a stop (IMO). However August will be Opera season so be sure to get hotel bookings ASAP. Among the performances this year (held in the large Amphitheatre) are Carmen, Aida, Turandot, Madame Butterfly and Romeo & Juliet (appropriate since the R&J balcony is in Verona).

You will LOVE the Dolomites...one of our favorite places to hike in the whole world!
Verona is definitely worth a couple of days. The old city is well-preserved and very beautiful.
I highly recommend going to the opera. Even if you are not an opera fan THIS is the place to see opera. They hold the concerts in the old Roman coliseum and they are spectacular affairs! Cast of thousands (not literally but it sure seems like it). The Italians take their opera very seriously and the atmosphere is just charged with enthusiasm. I saw La Boheme there and won't see that opera again because it was perfectly done and I want that to be my memory of that opera. And I'm not even a big opera fan!
The previous poster was correct though...make your reservations now because places fill up during the season.

I must agree. Verona is lovely - but it will be crowded in August. If you can't get lodgings in the historic center, check the train schedules. Perhaps you can get an early morning train into Verona, check your luggage at the Verona station, sightsee for the day and get an evening train onward. Google "Verona Card" to get an idea of all the sights to see.

Verona is wonderful. Here are some photos I took during our two visits there, both in May, in case you're interested:
Verona

As for what to do, see any guidebook.

Don't miss Verona. One of my favorite cities. If you can get a room at that time, try to get one close to Piazza Erbe or Bra. Lots to see and do. Good walking city. The Adige River runs through town. The Roman ampitheatre is wonderful but while walking around town don't forget to look down...there are many Roman ruins under foot covered by glass or surrounded by posts and chains for you to look down into. Good museum and church. The market on piazza Erbe is wonderful and there are many great places to eat. Verona serves horse meat (cavallo) on most menus, so if you don't want to eat Flicka, check the menu closely.

Verona is a must. One full day is adequate to see everything. If you plan to attend the Opera at the Arena, you need to spend at least one night in Verona, because the opera ends after 1:00 am. If you spend 2 nights then you have a full day from dawn to late night.

We spent 2 nights at the b&b Residenza Carducci inSeptember and loved it! Two apartments, clean and quiet, lovely owners. Building has been in her family for ever, has a lovely old remnant of a fresco in the stairwell. The bus from the train station stops right in front, it's a two minute walk over the bridge into the area with most of the sights, so we'll located. Of course you pass a great gelato stand too...Shop right next door for great pastas, and a small grocery down the street with very good take out. Large breakfast, and we were able to use the laundry too. See Tripadvisor for reviews, and their website. (Also be sure to have small change for the bus, or it was a cheap taxi when we left on a Sunday with fewer buses running and a fairly early train to catch)