Tour Details
Duration
6 hours
Product Type
Tour
Venues
- Arena di Verona
- Piazza Bra
- Piazza delle Erbe
- Arche Scaligere
- Roman Bridge
Photos & Highlights
- Connect architecture, commerce, and culture to the rhythms of modern life
- Explore Verona’s history in an immersive experience tailored to your interests
Select a date
Tour Description
Over the course of a full day, you move beyond the first impressions of Verona and begin to understand the deeper rhythms of the city. How did centuries of emperors, merchants, and poets shape the Verona we experience today? Locals still gather in spaces established over two millennia ago and celebrated by poets and playwrights like Shakespeare. The ancient Roman grid and bridges like Ponte Pietra continue to guide how Veronese move through the city. The Arena, built under Emperor Tiberius, once hosted gladiator fights and now draws crowds for opera and concerts, while the market at Piazza delle Erbe continues a tradition of commerce begun in the Roman forum.
Throughout the day your guide, who knows the city through both study and lived experience, will help you connect architecture to politics, food to trade, and literature to place. Along the way, you will pause for local tastings and lunch, using the table as another lens to understand how history continues through everyday life.
Choose this tour if…
- You want to explore Verona in depth, tracing the streets looking for Roman clues and Shakespeare’s inspirations.
- You hope to gain historical insight and a mental map of the city without worrying about navigation, guidebooks, or missing key details.
- You want to see the city through the eyes of a local expert.
- You’d like a tour that adapts to your interests, whether discovering Verona for the first time or seeing it anew.
Your day begins in Piazza Bra, where your guide will introduce Verona’s Roman foundations and the role of public spectacle in civic life. You’ll see the Arena from the outside, and if it’s open and of interest, step inside to explore its history as a gladiatorial amphitheater and its later transformation into a venue for opera and concerts.
From there, you will walk to Ponte Pietra, a bridge whose foundations date back to Roman times, offering views of the river and insight into how the city’s infrastructure shaped daily life. You will then continue through the historic center, visiting Porta Leoni, the Roman Theatre, and other corners that have sparked literary imagination, alongside Verona’s enduring historical layers.
You’ll pause in Piazza delle Erbe, a market space alive with commerce for over two thousand years, and explore the Arche Scaligere, the monumental tombs of Verona’s ruling family. The route can include Castelvecchio, the Scaliger Bridge, the Duomo complex, the Basilica of San Zeno.
Along the way, enjoy local tastings and lunch at selected establishments, where your guide uses food and wine as another lens to explore the city’s history and culture. The tour ends in the city center, with your guide happy to orient you for further exploration.
- Piazza Bra and Verona’s Arena – Exterior view of the Roman amphitheater; interior visit possible if open, exploring its history from gladiatorial games to modern opera.
- Ponte Pietra – A Roman bridge whose foundations still shape how Veronese move through the city.
- Porta Leoni – One of Verona’s Roman gates, illustrating the city’s ancient infrastructure and connection to the wider empire.
- Piazza delle Erbe – The historic market square where Roman, medieval, and Renaissance commerce intersect.
- Scaliger Tombs – Monumental tombs of Verona’s ruling family, offering insight into medieval power and public display.
- Castelvecchio and Scaliger Bridge – A medieval fortress and bridge demonstrating Verona’s military architecture and civic planning (optional, based on interest)
- Duomo Complex – Verona’s cathedral complex, showing religious architecture from multiple periods (optional, based on interest)
- Basilica of San Zeno – Exterior view of one of Verona’s most important Romanesque churches (optional, based on interest)
Tickets and tastings
You are pre-paid for the tour. Note there may be nominal site entrance costs or other fees that are not included in the price of the tour. It is a good idea to have some local currency on hand for these. Please note that the cost of lunch is not included. If you have a food allergy or other dietary requirements, please let us know in advance so that we can take this into account. We also suggest bringing along a bottle of water with you.
We understand that some of our valued guests may have mobility concerns, and we want to ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience throughout your tour. If there are any accessibility concerns that your tour guide will need to be aware of, please let our team know at the time of booking.
Wheelchair accessibility
Our guides have experience in giving tours to guests of all abilities, and Verona is generally accessible. Please mention any mobility concerns when booking, and your guide can adapt the route accordingly.
Can we bring our kids?Â
Yes, children are welcome. While the tour is not specifically designed for kids, guides can adapt the experience for younger guests. Alcohol-free options will also be provided during food tastings.
Will we go inside the Arena?Â
Yes, if the Arena is open to the public on the day of the tour. Please note that closures can occur unpredictably due to preparations for events, so entry cannot be guaranteed. If access is possible, tickets must be purchased on site and are not included in the tour price.
What if I have dietary restrictions?Â
Verona’s city center offers a wide range of options, and the experience can be adjusted to suit different preferences. If you have any dietary restrictions or specific needs, we kindly ask that you let us know as early as possible so we can plan accordingly and ensure a smooth experience on the day.
Can we visit Giardino Giusti?Â
Yes, this can be requested. We’re happy to inform the guide of your interest, and they will do their best to include it, depending on opening days and the tour schedule. Please note that entry tickets, if required, are not included in the tour price.
Can we see Juliet’s Balcony?Â
Juliet’s Balcony is not typically included in the itinerary, as the area is often very crowded and the site itself is not historically authentic. That said, we can let the guide know of your interest, and they will point it out while passing by. Entry to Juliet’s House is not included, but it can easily be visited independently after the tour.
Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.Â
Where You'll Start
