Verona, the most romantic city in Italy, by bike

Verona by bike. On the background the Duomo in Verona
Verona by bike. On the background the Duomo in Verona
A guided bike tour is the ideal way to enjoy the city of Verona without stress, discovering new perspectives and entertaining even the little ones.

Verona is a city on a human scale and almost all the main sites of historical and artistic interest are located within a few meters from each other. That’s why visiting Verona by bike, perhaps accompanied by a local guide who will tell you unpublished details about monuments and buildings, reveal curiosities and anecdotes and help you to immerse yourself in the spirit of the city, can be really interesting. Cycling is a great way to get around quickly, discover even the most distant monuments and can be an original experience for the whole family, perfect even for those traveling with children. So why not set off?

An ideal bike tour starts from Piazza Bra, to admire from the outside the Arena, one of the most famous Roman amphitheaters in Italy, where world-famous artists still perform, in an absolutely magical atmosphere. Continue towards Via Cappello and the unmissable Juliet’s house, to take a look at the famous bronze statue and the iconic balcony, and then head towards the adjacent Piazza dei Signori and the Arche Scaligere, a monumental funerary complex in Gothic style. So, why not stop in the charming Piazza delle Erbe, where you can admire the Renaissance buildings, do a little shopping among the souvenir stalls and maybe treat yourself to a cappuccino or a spritz, depending on the time of day? From here, through the narrow streets of the historic center, you can head towards the Adige River, to stop in Piazzetta Bra’ dei Molinari and enjoy the spectacular view of the river and the hills, and take the picturesque street of Ponte Pietra, with its delightful little stores, bars and typical restaurants. After taking a look at Ponte Pietra, the oldest bridge in Verona, the only one left from the Roman era, you will reach the Duomo, the main place of Catholic worship in the city, whose official name is the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta. After passing Castelvecchio, a medieval fortress that houses an important art collection, you can head towards one of the oldest quarters of the city, to admire the splendid Romanesque basilica of San Zeno Maggiore, which houses a masterpiece by Mantegna, the Dead Christ.

But the wonders of Verona are not yet finished: crossing the medieval bridge of Castelvecchio, with its battlements and towers, we pass on the left bank of the Adige, where two other unmissable sites await us: the Roman Theater and Castel San Pietro. The first is an amphitheater dating back to the first century B.C., perched on the side of San Pietro hill, where theatrical performances and events are still held today. At the time of its greatest splendor, the theater included a series of spectacular terraces on different levels, which ended right in the esplanade that today houses Castel San Pietro, the last stop on this ideal tour of the city. You can get there directly by climbing the staircase that unravels next to the remains of the theater, but eventually, also with a comfortable funicular or with the normal road.  Once you get to the top, besides admiring the massive fortress, built for military purposes between 1852 and 1858, on the ruins of a pre-existing 14th-century castle, you can’t help but be enchanted by the splendid panoramic view of the entire city in front of you. If you can, plan your itinerary so that you are here at sunset: it will be easy for you to understand why Verona is considered the most romantic city in Italy.