Verona Tours & Itineraries -Verona with Kids
Verona
Many people know of, love and want to experience the great country of Italy. So often parents feel they need to wait until the “kids” are older or all together grown up to appreciate the history, culture and experience. You might be surprised however that Italy actually has great hidden treasures and fun especially for kids to enjoy and parents too.
Verona is said to be a City you’ll fall in love with at first sight. The cobblestone streets and majestic castle are picturesque and surreal. As a matter of fact, the balcony of Romeo and Juliet rests here, with the grand gold statue of Juliet herself. Although this City will always be known and remembered for the star-crossed lovers of Romeo and Juliet, it’s truly so much more as well. Verona actually rests up against the Adige River, which swirls in and out of the City, and is known for being the “Gateway to Italy”. The background of mountains and the decadent stone streets creates a fairy tale of sort’s experience. The beauty is grand and priceless. Verona has emerged as the cultural and art capital of Italy.
VERONA WITH KIDS DAY 1
Piazza Bra
The Piazza Bra is a great way to either start off the day and/or end it. Perfect for the entire family, the picturesque square is said to be one of the most delightful in all of Italy. The Portoni della Bra is the gigantic double archway built by Gian Galeazzo Visconti at the end of the 14th Century. This is quite grand in size and interesting to see; the kids just love it. The other grand stature on one side of the gateway is Torre Pentagona, erected around the same time.
Piazza Bra also has a stretch of great cafés offering cappuccinos, dinners, gelatos or treats. Of course, the kids greatly
Merry go round on the streets of Florence, Italy . Urban scene in an Italian city
enjoy this as well. The center of this famous square is the public gardens and the Vittorio Emanuele II statue. There’s also a great fountain in the middle for the children to play in and a pathway to run, bike or skate along. There’s also an ancitent Roman arena used for concerts and theater that provides a great way for the children to both enjoy and experience the culture of the City. The Palazzo della Gran Guardina and the Neoclassical Palazzo Barbieri, are the other two structures that seem to dominate the Piazza Bra. These structrues were built in 1610 and currently house the municipial offices.
Of course, the Pizza Bra wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the Listone, which is the sweep and stretch of pavement surround the Square used for locals and others to take their evening stroll, people watch or just enjoy the great sights, sounds and smells of the Piazza.
Arena/Amphitheater
There is a great arena associated with Piazza Bra that is known to be the Veronese crowning glory. These structure is
Empty kids carousel in a fair in Florence, Italy
said to have been erected possibly in the 1st Century and continues grand productions until today. The historic significance however behind this amphitheater was not always so glamorous. As a matter of fact, it was used to house the gladiator games and public executions. There is certainly a fine way to present the history to your children without necessarily all the details. However, this amphitheater is truly a grand place to see and experience how far it’s come. This amphitheatre is elliptical and mesmerizing by the great steps and setting of the stage. The kids love the actors, often time Renaissance reenactments, and the parent enjoy the great music and history of the arena. This is definitely a must see if you’re in Piazza Bra.
Piazza Delle Erbe
The Piazza Delle is a bustling and busy market place that was built over the Forum of ancient Roman days. There are unique statues in the center that demonstrate ancient Roman baths, along with the decadent marble basins they used. This Piazza is always a big hit with the kids because it’s like a maze of treats, fruits and multiple and diverse stands. The architecture in the Piazza Delle Erbe is stunning. The Domus Mercatorum is a Roman building designed in 1301 that is beautiful to see, along with the Palazzo Maffei that was built in 1681. This Palazzo consists of the six statues of the gods. The spectacular spiral staircase is also thoroughly enjoyable to both children and parents. Some of the grand sights in this areas are the Casa Mazzanti, Domus Nova, Palazzo del Commune, Torre del Gardello and the Torre dei Lamberti, just to name a few. As you can see, it’s full of great sights and experiences for the kids too.
VERONA WITH KIDS DAY 2
Piazza Dei Signori
The Piazza Dei Signori is referred to by the locals as Piazza Dante. This Piazza is said to be the essence of tranquility.
The Piazza Dei Signori is referred to by the locals as Piazza Dante.
The cozy atmosphere of this square is truly unique to itself and greatly enjoyable for children. One main reason that visiting children love this Piazza is because many local children can be found here. This is truly a great time to allow your children to interact with the local kids, experience the culture and hear a different language. You will be close enough to enjoy the scenery and culture yourself. There are beautiful buildings and cafes as well to see and visit. The stonework and bricks of these areas truly showcase the art and history of Verona.
The Palazzo del Capitano is the dramatic entranceway built in the 16th Century that leads into the archway of stone pillars, also known as Porta Bombardiera. Again, this is interesting and almost fascinating for the children to see and experience, as they’ve never seen anything like it outside Verona and maybe the movies. The children of Verona congregate at the historic Renaissance well, which holds great architectural charm to this square. The Loggia del Consiglio stands proudly tall, which was built in the 15 Century. The square seems to be dominating by essence, sculptures, history and reminders of Dante himself. Ugo Zannoni scuttled quite a bit of what you’ll see in 1865.
This is really one place you could visit all day to experience history, culture and the art of today by the Veronese people and children. The children will enjoy this day’s adventure as well.
You can have a ball in Verona with your kids. The possibilities are endless! If you would like to read more please visit Verona with Children II!
