Things to Do in Italy

With a history dating back more than 2,000 years, the Ponte Pietra (Stone Bridge) is deserving of its status as one of Verona’s most memorable landmarks. The striking stone-brick footbridge is the city’s oldest Roman bridge, originally a wooden bridge erected in 89BC and rebuilt in stone in the 1st century BC. 

Today, the arched bridge is a mélange of construction from different eras, with parts of the original Roman bridge augmented by medieval pillars and at least two of its arches reconstructed after damage in WWII. Crossing the Adige River, the monumental bridge is set against a romantic backdrop of the riverfront and historic center, with the Roman theater perched on the east bank, and the eponymous Ponte Pietra Restaurant overlooking its west bank.

Visitors flock to Pisa’s famous leaning tower, which is part of a magnificent cathedral complex centered around the 17th-century Duomo and adjacent baptistery. A splendid example of Pisan Romanesque architecture, the Duomo’s original and renovated elements include a splendid apse mosaic, ornate pulpit, golden coffered ceiling, and more.

The Piazza del Duomo, more commonly known as the Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles), houses Pisa’s Duomo complex, one of Italy’s many UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The original church was built in the 11th century, but a fire in 1595 destroyed most of the medieval art and architecture—though the rendering of St. John’s face by Cimabue in the apse mosaic and the ornately carved pulpit by Giovanni Pisano survived. A series of renovations over the subsequent centuries added the Latin-cross floor plan, galleried exterior topped with a small dome, bronze doors from the Giambologna school, rounded apse, and five interior naves with a forest of massive pillars rising to the gilded ceiling.

The walled Piazza dei Miracoli is one of the most popular destinations in Tuscany and can be very crowded during the summer months. Booking a skip-the-line Pisa tour ahead of time is essential to avoid a long wait at the ticket office and ensure a time slot to visit the cathedral of Pisa along with the campanile and battistero (baptistry) before closing time. Consider a small-group tour of this stunning complex, or a Leaning Tower family tour if traveling with kids. If you have time for a full-day tour, you can easily combine a Pisa visit with nearby Lucca, Siena, San Gimignano, or other towns in Tuscany’s Chianti region.

The Piazza dei Miracoli is about one mile (1.5 kilometers) north of the Pisa train station across the River Arno. Trains run daily from Rome, Florence, and Venice. It is about a 20-minute walk through the historic center of Pisa to the Duomo, or you can take the No. 4 or No. 21 bus from the station.

The Duomo is most crowded from late morning through the afternoon, so try to arrive in the early morning to enjoy the square and its sights before the throngs of daily visitors arrive.

In addition to the Duomo, visitors can tour the Camposanto Monumentale (Monumental Cemetery) and Sinopie Museum, which displays preparatory sketches for the cathedral’s frescoes. The Museo dell’Opera del Duomo (Duomo Opera Museum), founded in 1891, houses treasured works of art removed from the Duomo and baptistery for various reasons over the centuries.

This island, sandwiched between Rome and Naples off Italy’s western coast, was long considered one of the Tyrrhenian Sea’s best-kept secrets. These days, however, the secret’s out: Visitors can’t stay away from Ponza’s dramatic coastal cliffs, crystal-clear water, and sea grottoes.

Part of of the Pontine Islands Archipelago, Ponza is famous for its blue grottoes, as well as its swimming- and snorkeling-friendly beaches (Chiaia di Luna, Cala Feola, and Frontone) and Piscine Naturali (saltwater pools formed by ancient volcanic activity). Cobblestone roads wind through a pretty town center that’s filled with charming shops and excellent restaurants, and colorful homes and villas dot the hills overlooking the sea.  

The best way to see Ponza is from the Mediterranean; daylong boat tours usually include a cruise along the coastline to admire jagged cliffs, the Arco Naturale stone arch, and sea grottoes, plus free time to explore on land. Your excursion may also stop at Palmarola, a picturesque island nearby.

Ponza is located in the Tyrrhenian Sea, 21 miles (34 kilometers) off the Italian coast. Ferries bound for the island leave from Naples, Terracina, Formia, and Anzio; you can also book a private boat tour.

Due to choppy seas and inclement weather, ferry and boat crossings are often suspended in winter. The best time to visit Ponza is between April and October.

Ponza is fabled to be the island home of the sorceress Circe, who makes an appearance in Homer’s The Odyssey. 

The Porta Nuova neighborhood in Milan was named after an historic monument in the area, the "new gate" built between 1810 and 1813. When compared to the ancient Roman gates that were once the entry points to the city of Milan, the Porta Nuova is considered quite new.

Located to the north of the city center, the Porta Nuova district underwent a revitalization after 2009 and today is used mainly for business. The skyline features several modern buildings and a large public park.

This marble pedestrian bridge spanning the Tiber river between Castel Sant'Angelo and the historic center of Rome is lined with 10 monumental angel statues based on designs by Bernini. The most beautiful bridge in the city, Ponte Sant’Angelo dates from AD 134 and provides an unforgettable approach to St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City.

Ponte Sant'Angelo, or the Sant'Angelo Bridge, was built by Roman emperor Hadrian to access his mausoleum and was originally named Pons Aelius, or the Bridge of Hadrian. Legend holds that the archangel Michael appeared on top of the mausoleum in 590, ending an outbreak of the plague; to mark that miracle, Hadrian's tomb and adjacent bridge were renamed Sant'Angelo.

This ancient Roman bridge is one of the most popular spots in Rome for its scenic views, and a must-see during any walking, bike, or Vespa scooter tour of the Eternal City. Especially beautiful at night, Ponte Sant'Angelo is an unforgettably romantic stop during a Rome-by-night private excursion. 

The 64 bus runs from the Termini train station to Castel Sant'Angelo, or you can walk from the Vatican.

The bridge is known for its great views, so visit in the early morning or late afternoon for the best light if you are interested in taking photos.

Ponte Sant'Angelo is just a short walk from St. Peter's Basilica, and has been used by religious pilgrims on their final stretch to the Vatican for centuries. If you are planning on visiting the Vatican and Sistine Chapel, consider taking the scenic walk across this bridge for an unforgettable approach.

Italy is home to some of the most beautiful cemeteries in the world, including the Monumental Cemetery of Pisa (Camposanto Monumentale). Part of the UNESCO-listed cathedral complex, this Gothic cloister features intricate marble arches encircling a central courtyard, 14th-century frescoes, chapels, and rows of Roman sarcophagi.

 

The Monumental Cemetery of Pisa (Camposanto Monumentale) is one of the most beautiful sights on the Field of Miracles (Piazza dei Miracoli), famous for being home to the Leaning Tower. The cemetery was built on sacred soil brought back to Pisa after the Third Crusade in the 12th century, and legend holds that this holy earth can reduce bodies to skeletons within a day of burial. In addition to its Pisan Romanesque architecture, the cemetery is worth visiting for what remains of its fresco cycle and Roman sarcophagi.

 

Piazza dei Miracoli is one of Tuscany’s most popular destinations and is often very crowded, so book a skip-the-line tour in advance to avoid a long wait at the ticket office. You can also combine a Pisa tour with day trips to Lucca, Siena, San Gimignano, or other towns in nearby Chianti.

 

 

The Piazza dei Miracoli is about 1 mile (1.5 kilometers) north of the Pisa train station, with trains connecting daily to Rome, Florence, and Venice. From the station, walk through the historic center of Pisa or take a bus to the Piazza dei Miracoli.  

 

The Piazza dei Miracoli is most crowded from late morning through the afternoon, so visit in the early morning to enjoy the Leaning Tower, cemetery, and other buildings before most other visitors arrive.

 

In addition to the Camposanto Monumentale, Piazza dei Miracoli is home to the Pisa Cathedral (Duomo di Pisa) and baptistery, Leaning Tower, Sinopie Museum, and Duomo Opera Museum (Museo dell’Opera del Duomo), which houses a collection of artworks removed from the duomo and baptistery over the centuries.

Portico of Octavia was a large courtyard with many columns originally built in the 2nd century BC. It was rebuilt about 100 years later by Emperor Augustus and dedicated to his sister, Octavia. It once covered an area of almost 445 feet long and almost 380 feet wide, larger than a football field, and it had 

more than 300 Corinthian columns. The Temple of Juno Regina and the Temple of Jupiter Stator stood in the middle. Today not much remains of the structure compared to what it once was. Visitors can still see five columns and the ruins of the entrance gate. 

In the Middle Ages, the ruins of the Portico of Octavia became the site of a fish market. A stone to the right of the portico's great arch still marks the location. Nearby you can find the Teatro Marcello, the Tiber River and Tiber Island, the Temple of Apollo Sosiano, and it's not far from the Roman Forum.

The impressive Porta Maggiore is one of the gates in the Aurelian Walls that circled the ancient city of Rome.

Historic city walls often have well-preserved gates, which were once the only entry and exit points to the city. Porta Maggiore is a particularly good example of an ancient gate, as it’s not just an old doorway but also an aqueduct.

There are two large arches through which two ancient roads once ran, connecting Rome with the outside world. It was built into the existing Aurelian Walls in 52 AD, and the upper part of the gate contained channels for two aqueducts bringing water into Rome.

Tours don’t tend to make the Porta Maggiore a highlight, but it’s sometimes on itineraries as a drive-by - it’s on a large intersection with quite a bit of traffic.

Pitti Palace (Palazzo Pitti) was built by Luca Pitti in the 1400s. A century later, Duchess of Florence Eleonora di Toledo purchased the Renaissance palazzo for her husband, Cosimo I de' Medici, and it remained the official residence of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany until the early 20th century. Today, Pitti Palace is Florence's largest museum complex.

This massive stone palace was once home to the ruling Medici family, then to the Austrian House of Lorraine, and finally to the House of Savoy—until Victor Emmanuel III donated the palazzo and its contents to the nation of Italy in 1919. A full 140 rooms, housing a number of important museums and galleries, are open to the public. The Palatine Gallery, which holds an impressive collection of Renaissance masterpieces, including works by artists Raphael, Titian and Rubens, is the most famous. Visitors can also tour the sumptuous Royal Apartments, Silver Museum, Porcelain Museum, Carriage Museum, and Costume Gallery. The palazzo even houses a Modern Art Gallery, highlighting Italian painters from the 18th to early-20th centuries. 

An array of private and group tours, often including skip-the-line access to Pitti Palace and other nearby attractions, are available. Consider joining a walking tour of Florence that visits a number of Renaissance monuments built during the reign of the Medici family.

Pitti Palace is on the southern bank of the Arno River in the Oltrarno neighborhood, reached via the Ponte Vecchio bridge near the Uffizi Gallery. Take the No. 11 bus to Piazza San Felice or the C3 or D buses to the Pitti stop.

The palazzo can be very crowded between May and October, and at midday. Consider an early-morning or late-afternoon tour to avoid the peak visiting hours. The museums are closed on Mondays and holidays. 

After visiting Pitti Palace, take a stroll around the adjacent Boboli Gardens, dotted with Renaissance statues, fountains, and grottoes.

Portovenere’s brightly painted buildings, lively harbor, and clifftop castle make it a quintessential Italian Riviera town, perched on the rocky shores of the Gulf of Poets (Golfo dei Poeti). An easy detour from the wildly popular Cinque Terre National Park, this comparatively tranquil seaside town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a rich history, delicious seafood, and stunning backdrop of cliffs, caves, and coves—making it ideal for hiking, mountain biking, or just relaxing.

 

Portovenere is most often visited on a day trip from La Spezia, San Gimignano, Siena, Milan, or, most commonly, Florence. Most tours combine free time in this oceanside town with stops in the coastal villages of Cinque Terre for hiking, dining, and exploring. It’s also possible to admire the picturesque waterfront aboard a sailing cruise around the Golfo dei Poeti.

 

Located at the southern tip of Cinque Terre National Park along the Italian Riviera, Portovenere is reachable by car (year-round) and ferry boat (mid-April through October only) from nearby villages such as La Spezia, Levanto, and Vernazza. It is set 102 miles (164 kilometers) west of Florence and just nine miles (15 kilometers) from La Spezia.

The most atmospheric, albeit crowded, time to visit Portovenere is during the summer season (May to August). The town is a popular destination any time of year, but be aware that many hotels, restaurants, and attractions close down in low season.

La Spezia Bay is better known as the Golfo dei Poeti, or the Gulf of Poets, and its natural beauty has been inspiring poets since Roman times. Poets Persio, George Sand, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and Eugenio Montale have all mentioned the bay in their verses, while one of the coastal caves is named after former resident Lord Byron.

Spanning the southern end of the Grand Canal between the Galleria dell’Accademia in Dorsoduro and Campo San Vidal in San Marco, the Ponte dell’Accademia is one of only four bridges crossing the canal. It’s the perfect vantage point to view the church of Santa Maria della Salute and the canal or observe the city’s Carnival festivities.  

The Accademia Bridge has had several incarnations since the original steel structure was constructed in 1854. This was replaced by a wooden bridge designed by Eugenio Miozzi in 1933, later deemed unsafe and removed. Today’s version, erected in 1985, was crafted out of wood in a single arched span and is identical in construction to Miozzi’s but has additional steel supports. 

The bridge is a highlight of skip-the-line walking tours that cover the Accademia Gallery and Dorsoduro district. For a unique view of the bridge, consider a Venice gondola ride or cruise by luxury motorboat along the Grand Canal.

The Ponte dell’Accademia crosses the Grand Canal between the San Marco and Dorsoduro districts. To get there, take vaporetto water bus line 1 or 2 to the Accademia stop. 

Venice is crowded with tourists during the popular summer months, and it can be frustrating to navigate the crowds on the bridge. Between April and October, the best option is to take an early morning or late evening stroll over the bridge, or opt for a private gondola ride or boat tour along the Grand Canal. During the two weeks of Carnival, which ends 40 days before Easter, the bridge offers excellent views of costumed revelers in colorfully draped gondolas.

The Accademia Bridge is one of four bridges that span the Grand Canal. The other three are the iconic Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto), the modern Constitution Bridge (Ponte della Costituzione), and the marble Bridge of the Barefoot (Ponte degli Scalzi).

The longest river in Italy, the Po flows down from the Alps near the French border for more than 400 miles (644 kilometers), winding its way east through Turin, Piacenza, and Ferrara and connecting to Milan via a network of canals before emptying into the Adriatic Sea. The Po Valley is one of Italy’s most fertile and lush regions.

 

The Po River has been an important waterway for thousands of years. The vast Po Valley lining the river has rich soil due to the Po’s frequent flooding, making the valley one of the most fertile agricultural regions in Italy. In addition, the river powers a number of hydroelectric plants, so the valley is a critical industrial hub.

 

The most beautiful stretch of the Po is its final delta, just south of Venice and straddling the Veneto and Emilia-Romagna regional border. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and regional park, the Po Delta covers wetlands and wooded areas, and is home to a wide variety of plants and wildlife. You can visit the Po River as part of a walking tour of Turin or another city along the river’s path, or by joining a guided nature tour of the Po Delta Park on the Adriatic coast.

 

 

The Po runs through several cities in northern Italy, and can be visited via scenic bridges and river walks along the water’s edge in Turin, Piacenza, and Ferrara. Po Delta Regional Park is located on Highway 309 on the Adriatic Coast, along the border between Emilia-Romagna and Veneto; there is no public transportation to the park, so the best way to visit is to join a guided tour that includes transport.

 

The Po is particularly beautiful and enjoyable in the mild months of spring and fall. During the hottest summer months, it’s best to visit the Po Delta park in the early morning or late evening to avoid the midday sun.

 

One of the main agricultural crops grown in the Po Valley is rice, thanks to the river's frequent flooding into the surrounding plains. Dams and dykes help control the overflow, but the plains are still at risk for floods during heavy rains that bring both damage and rich sediment to the area.

The Porta Napoli in Lecce is a triumphal arch that once served as one of three entrances into the historic city center. These gates were built into the city walls, and though the walls no longer exist the Porta Napoli still stands.

The gate was built in 1548 after a commission by the Habsburg Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Charles V, to fortify the city. Because of this funding, Lecce thanked the Emperor by decorating the Porta Napoli with the Habsburg family emblem.

Porta Napoli is a stop on many tours through Lecce. Because it doesn’t have open hours or an entry fee, it’s easy to admire at any time of day. For more explanation of the symbolism on the arch or the history behind it, however, a tour guide is useful.

Ponte Sisto is a stone pedestrian bridge that crosses the Tiber River in Rome. It connects the historic center of Rome on one side of the river with the Trastevere neighborhood on the other side. The bridge dates back to the late 1400s and uses the foundations of an older Roman bridge that was destroyed in 

the early Middle Ages. Today the bridge is one of the few bridges crossing the Tiber River that does not allow vehicles. This makes it a pleasant crossing point for visitors exploring the city by foot. 

The bridge also provides nice views of the city. From here, you can see the dome of St. Peter's Basilica, Ponte Garibaldi, Ponte Mazzini, Tiber Island, and Gianicolo Hill. The bridge connects Via dei Pettinari and Piazza Trilussa. Several boutique hotels, restaurants, and cafes can be found in this area on both sides of the bridge, some offering views of the river and the bridge itself.

The imposing Politeama Garibaldi Theater overlooks Palermo’s Piazza Ruggero Settimo with its triumphal arch entrance. It was built in the late 19th century, and today is home to the Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana.

The word “politeama” comes from Greek and refers to the theater being built for multiple purposes, since Palermo already had a grand opera house in the Teatro Massimo. It’s primarily known for the Orchestra, however, and looks every bit inside like the classic Italian theater it is.

The theater itself is all red velvet and gold, with two levels of theater boxes lining the semi-circular main seating area. Two rows of columns ring the outside of the circular building, meeting at the triumphal arch at the entrance. Even the theater’s curtain at the front of the stage is a work of art, depicting a scene from Greek mythology painted in 1891.

Some Palermo tours include visits inside the Politeama Garibaldi Theater, and hop-on hop-off bus tours through the city stop nearby if you want to visit on your own.

Built in the 1550s, Porta Palio is a monumental city gate in Verona. It stands on the site of a former gate in the Medieval walled city. While the gate is now closed to traffic—whether horse, car, or pedestrian—it stands a reminder of 16th-century Verona.

Porta Palio was designed by the Venetian architect Michele Sanmicheli to celebrate the ancient Roman road Via Postumia, which once crossed much of northern Italy.  With Doric columns and regularly spaced arches, the design was influenced by Roman architecture. A horse race (palio in Italian) used to be held at the former Medieval gate, hence the monument’s name. The gateway has been closed to traffic for much of its life, which has led to it being nicknamed “Porta Stupa” or “closed gate” by locals. 

Things to Know Before You Go 

Porta Palio is located at the edge of the Centro Storico (historic center), linked to Castelvecchio by Stradone Porta Palio. It’s approximately a 20-minute walk from the city center and is also accessible by bus or taxi. Hop-on-hop-off tour buses pass by the gate for those who want to see the monument without the walk. 

A public monument, Porta Palio can be seen all year round. As only the outside of the gate is accessible to visitors, many people stop here while on a larger walking tour of the city.

Walk the City Wall

From Porta Palio, you can see a length of the Medieval city wall built in the 1200s. These walls were built upon the foundations of pre-existing Roman structures. Like many European cities, Verona was once encircled by defensive walls—and large sections of them remain. In fact, some sections were in use as late as the 19th century, when the city was occupied by Austrian forces. Walk down to nearby Castelvecchio to see the fortified bridge across the river. 

The historic Ponte Vecchio, or Old Bridge, is perhaps the most recognized symbol of Florence after Brunelleschi’s soaring red dome topping the Duomo. The three lower arches of this 14th-century bridge span the Arno River at its narrowest point between the Palazzo Vecchio and the Pitti Palace, and a stretch of the famous Vasari Corridor runs along its top. Situated on street level, the Ponte Vecchio is lined with pocket-sized jewelry shops and packed with locals and tourists taking a stroll or snapping photos of the colorful palazzi lining the river bank.

The Ponte Vecchio is one of the most famous bridges in Italy and a popular, crowded sight in Florence. A visit to the bridge is often included in city sightseeing tours and small-group walking tours through the historic center of Tuscany's capital city, along with other Florentine highlights like the nearby Pitti Palace, Boboli Gardens, Uffizi Gallery, and Michelangelo's David (housed in the Accademia Gallery a short walk away).

The Ponte Vecchio crosses the River Arno just a block from the Uffizi Gallery, linking the historic center to the Oltrarno neighborhood.

The center of Florence can be uncomfortably crowded during the popular summer months, and it can be a challenge to navigate the crowds on the bridge. Take an early morning or late evening stroll if visiting between April and October to savor the sunrise or sunset over the RIver Arno without the crowds.

Located on the opposite banks of the Arno River, the 16th-century Vasari Corridor (Corridoio Vasariano) is an elevated passageway running between Palazzo Vecchio and Palazzo Pitti. Commissioned by Duke Cosimo I de' Medici in 1565 and designed by Giorgio Vasari, the walkway was once a secret route used by the Medici family to travel unnoticed through the city. Today, the corridor is used as an art gallery, and visitors can admire views over the Arno River from large windows added to the section of the corridor running over the Ponte Vecchio.

Built in the 16th century by Bartolomeo Ammannati with advice from Michelangelo, Ponte Santa Trinita, or Saint Trinity Bridge, connects the two banks of Florence’s Arno River and offers unobstructed views of the Ponte Vecchio. The bridge was rebuilt with its original materials in 1958 after its destruction during World War II.

As one of Florence’s top architectural highlights, Ponte Santa Trinita is often included on architecture and photography tours, which also typically make stops at the Ponte Vecchio, Duomo Cathedral, and Pitti Palace. While walking tours are the best way to get a feel for the city, a traditional barchetto river ride offers a perspective of Ponte Santa Trinita often missed by visitors. Private tours of Florence ensure the full attention of a guide and allow visitors to tack a walk across the bridge onto the day’s fully customized itinerary.

Centrally located within a 20-minute radius of most top Florence destinations, Ponte Santa Trinita is easily accessible on foot. If walking from the historic city center, take Via de Tornabuoni south to Lungarno Corsini. If walking from the Oltrarno (the Arno’s south bank), take Via Maggio north to Lungarno Guicciardini.

While the bridge is busiest during the summer months, its distance from the Ponte Vecchio means that it never feels overly crowded. For unobstructed photos or a quieter experience, go in the early morning or late evening.

On August 3, 1944, the German Command destroyed all but one bridge in the city of Florence. Smashed to rubble, the remnants of the Ponte Santa Trinita remained submerged under the Arno for 10 years until 1955, when enough money was raised to salvage the pieces and rebuild anew with stone from the same quarry used by the original architect.

One of the grandest Renaissance buildings in Florence, the 15th-century Pitti Palace houses the Palatine Gallery, a collection of over 500 paintings dating from the 15th to the 17th century. The collection features works by Italian masters like Titian, Raphael, Caravaggio, and Pietro da Cortona, and other European painters like Rubens and Velazquez. 

Palazzo Pitti was home to Florence’s Medici family for centuries, and today the palace’s rooms and halls form a sumptuous backdrop for the Renaissance and baroque paintings and frescoes in the Palatine Gallery (Galleria Palatina), formerly the private collection of the Grand Duke. Laid out according to the Grand Duke’s personal tastes rather than by painting school or chronological order, the gallery was opened to visitors in 1828 by Leopold I of Lorraine. 

Though less well-known than Florence’s Uffizi Gallery (Galleria degli Uffizi) or Accademia Gallery (Galleria dell'Accademia), the Palatine Gallery matches both in importance and beauty, and is best visited with an expert tour guide who can concentrate on the most significant works from the hundreds on display. Most guided tours of Pitti Palace include a visit to the gallery along with the Royal Apartments, the Gallery of Modern Art, and the Boboli Gardens.

The Palatine Gallery is located in the Oltrarno neighborhood on Piazza Pitti, about a 15-minute walk from the Firenze Santa Maria Novella train station across the famous Ponte Vecchio.

The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday 8:15am to 6:50pm. Florence, the capital of Tuscany, is one of the most popular destinations in Italy, so its sights and museums can be very crowded in the summer. Schedule a visit to the Palatine Gallery in spring or fall, if possible, and avoid the first Sunday of the month, when the museum is free and particularly packed. 

Art aficionados visiting Florence must also plan on visiting Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia Gallery and the masterpieces in the Uffizi Gallery.

Porta Borsari is a white limestone gate that once marked an entrance point into the Italian city of Verona. With two arched entrances and two sets of windows above, it’s a lasting example of the impressive scale of Roman monumental architecture. 

In Roman times, this city gate was part of a larger structure with fortified towers, one known as Porta Jovia in reference to a temple to the god Jupiter that stood nearby. The name changed to Porta Borsari when the gate became the main tax-collection point for goods heading in and out of Verona. Built in the first century AD by Emperor Gallieno, the gate stands at the top of Corso Porta Borsari, one of Verona’s best shopping streets. It’s a popular stop on guided walking tours and hop-on-hop-off bus tours of the city.  

Porto Borsari is located at 59 Corso Porta Borsari in downtown Verona. It’s easy to access on foot from other points in the city center, and hop-on-hop-off tour buses stop nearby. 

Porta Borsari is a public monument accessible 24 hours a day year-round. Located on a busy shopping street, if you’re planning to take photographs of the gate, try to visit early in the day when there are fewer people. 

William Shakespeare set one of his most famous works in Verona—that’s right, Romeo and Juliet. Down a narrow street in the city center, you’ll find the Casa di Giulietta (Juliet’s house) and its romantic balcony that’s believed to be the inspiration behind the play’s most famous scene. Although Shakespeare never visited Verona, and the balcony was added in the last century, the house did once belong to the Capellos, a precursor of the Capulet family that’s immortalized in the tragic love story.