Verona. It’s a gorgeous, ancient city with a stunning Roman arena, beautiful piazzas, and a river that wraps around it like a blue ribbon. It’s also eternally defined by the two teenagers who ruined their lives because they couldn’t communicate properly (Romeo and Juliet). The city is lovely, but you can’t escape the manufactured drama of its most famous, and fictional, residents.
The Vibe: Ancient Beauty, Tourist Hilarity, and Gelato Breaks
Verona is a polished, highly walkable, and genuinely charming Italian city that would be a top-tier hotspot even without Shakespeare’s help. It’s less crowded than Venice and less intense than Rome. But thanks to that famously dysfunctional couple, a lot of the city is dedicated to manufactured romance. You’ll witness public declarations of love and some truly odd tourist rituals, which are perfect for awkward people-watching.
Must-Do Awkward Adventures
- Juliet’s Balcony: The Emotional Spectacle: Head to the Casa di Giulietta (Juliet’s House). It’s crowded. The famous balcony is almost certainly a fake. People are busy writing their names on the wall and touching the statue of Juliet for good luck.
- Your Mission: Go. You have to see it. Stand in the courtyard and look up at the tiny, ridiculously famous balcony. Watch the couples below proposing or taking aggressively romantic selfies. The Awkward Part? Stand near the bronze statue of Juliet and quietly judge the tourists who are rubbing her bosom for luck. Refuse to participate, but also feel compelled to whisper “Get a room” at the nearest overly dramatic PDA, while simultaneously trying to avoid accidentally getting roped into a stranger’s photo shoot.
- The Arena di Verona vs. The Arena Snack: The Arena di Verona is a massive, beautifully preserved Roman amphitheater that is still used for world-class opera performances today. It’s genuinely impressive history.
- Your Mission: Climb to the highest seats and look down. Try to imagine the gladiators or the massive opera stage. Feel the weight of history. Then realize that what you’re really doing is enjoying the free view of the entire modern city. The Awkward Moment: Buy a pre-packaged tourist snack just outside the Arena—a sandwich or a bag of chips—and then try to eat it without getting breadcrumbs on the priceless Roman marble seating. You’ll also spend twenty minutes trying to figure out which entrance is for tourists and which is for performers.
- The Scenic Elevator Confession: The Torre dei Lamberti is the tallest medieval tower in the city, offering unbeatable panoramic views across the tiled roofs and the Adige River.
- Your Mission: You have to get to the top. You can take the stairs (heroic, but sweaty) or pay a little extra for the tiny, slow elevator (awkward, but sensible). Choose the elevator. Stand shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers for the entire, silent, upward journey, focusing intently on the door numbers. When you finally reach the observation deck, wait for everyone to be suitably distracted, then sheepishly admit to your travel partner, “Yeah, I took the elevator.”
Final Awkward Wisdom: Verona is a truly elegant Italian gem that is currently moonlighting as a Shakespearean theme park. Just ignore the star-crossed lovers, focus on the Roman history, and reward your good behavior with a giant scoop of artisanal gelato—and try not to drop it in the courtyard.