A Roman arena, Shakespeare's shadow and a riverside castle: the highlights of the city of love.
Verona's sights sit close together in a walkable loop. Start at the Arena di Verona, cross Piazza Bra, drift up through the market squares and end at Castelvecchio by the river.
A 1st-century Roman amphitheatre still in dramatic use, hosting the summer opera festival under the stars. Official site for tickets and the programme.
Tip: Come at dusk, when the pink marble glows - and book ahead if you want to see an opera.
Official site →The 13th-century house of the Cappello family - Shakespeare's Capulets - with the famous balcony added in the 20th century. Run by the civic museums.
Tip: Rub the right breast of the bronze Juliet in the courtyard - a tradition said to bring luck.
Official site →The della Scala lords' 14th-century castle on the Adige, now an art museum spanning the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, crossed by the crenellated Ponte Scaligero. Details.
Tip: The bridge is free and at its best in the late-afternoon light.
Official site →The 84-metre civic tower overlooking the squares; the climb rewards you with the finest panorama over red rooftops, the river and the hills. Part of the civic museums.
Tip: Go on a clear morning for views all the way to the Alps on the best days.
Official site →A 16th-century Italian garden of cypresses, grottoes and a belvedere over the city, laid out on the east bank of the Adige. Official site.
Tip: The hedge maze is smaller than it looks - and half the fun.
Official site →One of Italy's finest Romanesque churches, with early bronze doors, a serene cloister and Mantegna's great altarpiece.
Tip: Pair it with the market in the square outside on Saturday mornings.