Are you heading to north-east Italy for the vacations? Between Lake Garda and Venice, discover Verona and its sleeping quarters!
Located in western Veneto on the Po plain, Verona is a historic city – founded by the Romans in the 1st century BC – considered the world’s most famous Romantic city, not least thanks to W. Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet. Verona has a population of 263,964 and boasts countless ancient and medieval remains, as well as historic Renaissance buildings. Benefiting from the influences of Venice and its ideal location, its historical, architectural and cultural heritage is enormous: it’s the richest collection of Roman remains in the whole of Northern Italy. But, alas, booking accommodation in Verona is likely to be expensive, especially in summer.
As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Verona is a veritable open-air museum. Here, too, modern meets ancient, bounded by the banks of the Adige. Here’s our overview of the best places to stay in Verona.
The ancient city
Photo credit: Flickr – A.Currell
Set on a ledge between the banks of the Adige river, the Città Antica(Ancient City) is the heart of the town, with a number of buildings dating back to Roman times. Supposedly of Etruscan origin and populated by Cisalpine Gauls, the city was founded by the Romans in the 1st century BC. The Roman amphitheatre and arena – which held 30,000 spectators and was a major venue for gladiatorial combat, and is now an important opera house – the stone bridge – which remained intact until the Second World War, when it was rebuilt identically – the Roman theater and the Gavi arch are just some of the ancient remains to be seen in the area. The Cathedral of Santa Maria Matricolare, the Basilica of San Zeno, the Basilica of Santa Anastasia, the Church of St. Peter of Verona and Castelvecchio are feudal buildings in a breathtaking state of preservation. The district is home to the majority of bars and restaurants, but hotels are expensive if you want to stay in the ancient city.
Borgo Milano
Photo credit: Flickr – Erin Johnson
Located to the west of the city, Borgo Milano is, as its name suggests, a district built in the direction of Milan. It is the city’s most popular district, close to the stadium. It can therefore be noisy, especially on match days: in Italy, soccer is sacred. It’s a very popular area for Veronese, and the best place to stay in Verona if you want to enjoy the city’s bustle at any time of day and be in contact with the locals. Sleeping in Borgo Milano has the double advantage of offering inexpensive accommodation and being on the right axis for discovering Lake Garda, just a few kilometers away.
Borgo Venezia
Photo credit: Flickr – Kimmo Räisänen
Located in the hills above Verona, Borgo Venezia offers a breathtaking view of the ancient city. It’s a quiet, peaceful neighborhood close to the city center. The lively student quarter is adjacent. Sleeping in Borgo Venezia will appeal to young people and budget travelers of all ages.
Main photo credit: Flickr – Alan Bloom