A 16th-century scholar once wrote that to know Verona is to love her. In fact, there are many reasons to fall in love with this city once you have got to know her. Her links with Shakespeare's timeless love story of Romeo and Juliet is the prime reason to admire her. As you walk through the streets or underneath the balconies of the houses of the two ill-fated lovers, you can't help feeling passionate emotions yourself. However, Verona is also the city of the Arena (one of the largest opera houses), nature parks and the Adige river that encircles it; not only that, but the city's gastronomic delights are world renowned.

The historic center of Verona is surrounded by walls (around 10 kilometers in length) which were erected on the orders of the Scaligeri. The city is divided into four different zones: the ancient city, with its Roman remains, the Cittadella zone which stretches southwards, San Zeno where you can see the splendid cathedral, and finally the Veronetta with origins in the Early Middle Ages.

Centro storico Every tourist winds up in Piazza Bra. Trains terminate here and cars tend to park around here. Piazza Bra is dominated by the Arena, where it is possible to enjoy opera productions during the summer. It is impossible not to be charmed by the majesty of the Arena, the third-largest remaining Roman amphitheatre. It is also worth noting that in Via Pallone (just outside Piazza Bra), you will find the Museo degli affreschi and Juliet's tomb. The piazza is also home to the Palazzo della Gran Guardia, and the Gran Guardia Nuova, from there you can head towards the embankment of the Adige and reach Corso Cavour. Two of the most important Veronese monuments are located here: Sanmichelis Palazzo Canossa, and the Romanesque church of San Lorenzo and the Palazzo Bevilacqua, (an unfinished masterpiece by Sanmicheliano). From here, you can cross the Porta Borsari, the main entrance to the Roman city and continue along the road of the same name until you reach Piazza delle Erbe. Via Cappello leads out from the piazza and at number 23 you will find Casa di Giulietta - the house of Juliet Capulet. A walk along the prestigious Via Mazzini is a must, it is home to the chicest shops: from the elegant Gucci to the leather goods of the magnificent Furla.

Cittadella The economic center of the city lies in Piazza delle Erbe. It is crowded with multi-colored stalls; this is also quite a prestigious area, with its famous shops that face the square ( Lacoste, Valextra and Swatch, to name but a few). The piazza is filled with buildings of historical interest, such as Palazzo Maffei and the Case Mazzanti. Piazza dei Signori is the political and administrative heart of Verona, the Palazzo del Comune, the Capitanio, the Prefettura and also the Loggia del Consiglio. The Arche Scaligere, in the Sotto Riva alley, these face the magnificent church of Sant'Anastasia and further on you will see the citys, Duomo or Cathedral. The main road Arcidiacono Pacifico leads to the late neoclassical Palazzo Miniscalchi, headquarters of the foundation of the same name.

San Zeno This area is home to the world famous church of San Zeno, you definitely need to visit this quartiere, if only to see the church with its famous porch and triptych by Andrea Mantegna. Returning towards the center, following the Adige river, the Ponte Scaligero, faces Castelvecchio, the headquarters of the city's art museum.

Veronetta This zone faces the left bank of the river; it is here that you will see the Ponte Pietra (stone bridge) and the Teatro romano where you can enjoy the summer season of prose. Finding yourself once again along the city's embankments, you can drink in the sights of San Giorgio in Braida built for the Benedictines and finished by Sanmicheli. Or if you follow the road that leads to Porta Vescovo, you'll behold the splendid Giardini Giusti. Verona is definitely a city of beauty and culture.