Verona in one day from Valeggio: from the Arena to Ponte Pietra
The first time in Verona, it is worth starting in Piazza BraFrom the Liston you can see the Arena in full and you can choose from where to start looking at it. Then, crossing the streets of the center, the city changes scale. Stone bridge the path opens again, with the river in front and the hill of St. Peter on the other bank.
If you are staying at the Agriturismo Al Tralcio, in Valeggio sul Mincio, you can spend a day in Verona without changing accommodation. The proposal is to arrive by car, leave the car outside the ZTL and visit the center on foot. The morning is dedicated to the Arena and the squares. After lunch you reach the river, with the possibility to climb to Castel San Pietro or return to Valeggio after a shorter walk.
Where to leave the car and where to leave
To start with Piazza Bra you can evaluate a parking space in the area of Piazza Cittadella. Alternatively, the Parking Center of Via Campo Marzo is a reference for those arriving by car and wants to continue on foot towards the center. Before leaving, consult the parks in the structure of Verona to verify addresses and rates. Once parked, you can do the entire visit without taking the car between one stop and the other.
The route arrives to Ponte Pietra and, for those who want it, climbs up the hill. Also consider the return to the parking space when you decide what time to stop for the last visit. If you have a booked entrance in the morning, you will see a margin for the stop and the first stretch on foot, especially on weekends or on show days at the Arena.
Morning in Verona, from the Arena to the squares of the center
Piazza Bra and the Arena, the starting point
Start with a walk on the Liston, the wide sidewalk that accompanies the side of the square overlooking the Arena. From here you can observe the amphitheatre together with the other buildings of Bra, from the Gran Guardia to Palazzo Barbieri. Before approaching the entrances, look for theAla dell’Arena, the surviving portion of the outer ring.
If you choose to enter, spend time at the cave. Given the steps, the shape of the amphitheatre is better read than from the square and you understand how much the building is wider than it seems from the street. Check times and methods of visit, especially near events and fittings. To get to know the story of the amphitheatre before arriving, read the in depth on the Arena of Verona.
You can take via Mazzini to reach the area of Piazza delle Erbe. Those who want to add the courtyard of the Casa di Giulietta can make a detour in via Cappello, leaving it optional if time or turnout make it more convenient to continue towards the squares.
Piazza delle Erbe, from the market to Torre dei Lamberti
In Piazza delle Erbe, it slows down before crossing it. In the middle there is the fountain of Madonna Verona. Around alternating facades of different eras, including those painted by the Mazzanti Houses. The square occupies the space of the ancient Roman hole and preserves the elongated shape that is well recognized by looking at it from one of the ends.
From here you can choose to go up to the Torre dei Lamberti or take the view to Castel San Pietro. From the tower you can see the roofs and squares of the center. From the hill, instead, the view includes the Adige bend and allows you to recognize the steps just walked. If you want to keep a comfortable pace, choose one of the two panoramic points and use the remaining time to walk.
Piazza dei Signori and Arche Scaligere
Crossing theArch of the Coast The statue of Dante marks the center of a more collected space of Piazza delle Erbe. Stop to look at how the palaces are located around the square. This was one of the places of power and the proximity to the market square makes evident how the public spaces of medieval Verona were concentrated.
Continue towards the Arche Scaligere, next to the church of Santa Maria Antica. Also from the street you can observe the funeral monuments of the family that ruled Verona in the Middle Ages. Look up to distinguish spires, sculptures and canopy, then look at the era that delimites the complex. From here you can go back to the squares for lunch or look for a table in the direction of Sant’Anastasia, already on the road to Adige.
Afternoon, from the streets of the center to Ponte Pietra
Sant’Anastasia or the Duomo, a stop before the river
After lunch, head towards Sant’Anastasia. If you want to visit a church along the way, the basilica is a convenient stop before reaching Ponte Pietra. Inside you can look for the fresco of Pisanello with San Giorgio and the princess, above the entrance of the Pellegrini chapel. Dedicate to visiting the time you want and check the times if you are building the day around the entrances.
If you want to see the Duomo, you can put it in place of Sant’Anastasia or add it as a deviation. With one day, the simplest choice is to make a stop at the place where you get more curious and leave the rest of the afternoon at the river. If you are traveling with children or prefer to stay outdoors, you can go directly to the bridge and stop longer on the river.
Ponte Pietra, the passage to the other shore
Before crossing Ponte Pietra, look at it from the bank of the old town. The stone and the brick parts tell the different stages of its history, from Roman origin to successive reconstructions. On the bridge changes the view. On the bridge you can see the houses along the river and, on the other hand, the slope under Castel San Pietro. To deepen the history of the passage and its reconstruction, read the guide to Ponte Pietra.
Once you arrive on the other side, turn towards the centre. It is a good point to recognize the path of the day, from the bell towers close to the houses overlooking the water. If you want to finish here the visit, you can cross the bridge and return quietly towards Piazza Bra. If you want to see Verona from above, continue to the square of Castel San Pietro.
Castel San Pietro, the panorama to close the day
To reach the Piazzale di Castel San Pietro you can walk or evaluate the funicular, verifying its opening. The walking climb includes steps and sloped stretches. If you walk with small children, with a stroller or after several hours in the center, evaluate the route according to the needs of the group. You can also stop at the shore and hold the viewpoint for a later visit.
From the square you can see how theAdige embraces the old town. Search for Ponte Pietra first, then follow the profile of the houses to the towers and bell towers. If you have already seen the city from the Lamberti Tower, here the point of view is different.
Three ways to organize your visit from Al Tralcio
- full day. Enter the Arena in the morning, then visit Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza dei Signori. After lunch choose a church and end with Ponte Pietra and the viewpoint of Castel San Pietro.
- Short course with return in the afternoon. Watch the Arena from the outside, cross the squares, stop for lunch and reach Ponte Pietra. From there go back to the parking lot with a stop along the river or for an ice cream.
- Day of rain. Keep your walks flexible and devote more time to a church or the Castelvecchio Museum. If in the afternoon the weather improves, take the route to Ponte Pietra.
If you stay for more days in Valeggio and want to alternate the art cities, you can spend another day in Mantova, from the squares of the Gonzaga to Palazzo Te. To organize your stay and return after the visit between the swimming pool and wellness centre, discover the apartments of the Agriturismo Al Tralcio.
