Find what Romeo lost

You probably went to Paris or Venice for Valentine's Day. But if you are still looking for a romantic place to go to later — somewhere which is not too overrun — why not try Verona?

An hour's drive from Milan and 30 minutes from Venice, Verona is one of Italy's most ancient and historic cities — and the hometown of the hapless lovers Romeo and Juliet.

Yes, the bard based his play on a true love story that took place in Verona in the 1500s.

Ancient importance

But Verona is not just Romeo and Juliet's hometown. The city has been inhabited since 89BC and has been an important centre for trade since.

The best thing about Verona is that almost all its old monuments, buildings and piazzas are located at short distances from each other in the historic centre, which is snuggled inside a loop of the Adige River.

Amble through history

Although Verona has a set number of must-sees, the best way to enjoy the city is to walk through the narrow streets, looking at shops that range from antique stores and designer outlets to small individual boutiques, and pay a visit to the daily market on the Piazza delle Erbe, which offers all those souvenir knickknacks you want.

And talking about the Piazza delle Erbe, it is one of the best points to start your tour as well as one of the best places to sip a cappuccino and indulge in a spot of people-watching.

Take in the beauty of Torre dei Lamberti — the bell-and-clock tower of the 1100s — and head down the Via Cappello to Juliet's house.

There, you can touch Juliet's statue for luck and have your photo taken on the famous balcony. A little further on stands Romeo's house while around the corner, you will find Juliet's tomb.

Roman remains

Next, head towards the arena, the Roman amphitheatre that marks the historic backdrop of the Piazza Bra.

Still in use once a year for the famous opera festival in July and August, the arena is a marvel of architecture dating back to the 1st century AD — and quite in contrast to its bloodthirsty past, it is surrounded by restaurants and cafés.

The river's bridges, especially beautiful at night, the Duomo, the cathedral dating back to AD1120, and the various portas, the impressive gates that lead into the old city, also feature on the list of the major attractions in Verona.

Pizza perfect

Apart from visiting museums and churches, concentrate on enjoying the general feeling of old Verona.

The city has history lingering in every corner. By simply being there, you soak it up whether you want to or not.

And before you leave, you must try out the pizza at Pizzeria San Matteo Church near Porta Borsari.

Hidden in a tiny alley and built into a restored old church dating back to AD1105, this is the restaurant where all the locals come to enjoy cheap meals and good refreshments in a spectacular setting.

There are nearly 100 pizzas to choose from and decision-making takes a while, but the staff is more than happy to both suggest their speciality and answer your questions in broken but lovely accented English.

Beautiful surroundings, history, culture, shopping, and excellent food and drink — just bring the right partner and you could not ask for a better break than Verona.

— Ulrike Lemmin-Woolfrey is a UAE-based freelance writer

Go there ... Verona ... From the UAE

From Dubai The closest airport to Verona is Milan.

Alitalia flies daily.
Fare from Dh3,530

British Airways flies daily via London.
Fare from Dh3,440

Emirates flies daily.
Fare from Dh3,400

Air France flies daily via Paris.
Fare from Dh3,020

— Information courtesy: The Holiday Lounge by Dnata. Ph: 04-3166160

Did you know?

The actual date of Shakespeare's birth is not known, but, traditionally, April 23, St George's Day, has been Shakespeare's accepted birthday.

It may not be his actual birth date but it has proved appealing because Shakespeare died on the same day, 52 years later.