Verona is one of the most famous cities in northern Italy worldwide. Its name evokes the tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet, opera performances and concerts in its magnificent arena, and the Gothic, Romanesque, and Renaissance architecture of Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza dei Signori. Fully recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage city of art, it is undoubtedly one of the Italian cities to visit at least once in a lifetime.
However, if we move away from its historic center and venture into the surroundings, we discover that its magnificence extends all around. Villages, mountains, hills, lakes, gardens, and vineyards: there’s only the embarrassment of choice! Discover our itinerary where to go for a day trip near Verona!
Lake Garda and Its Villages
Anyone looking for places to go for a day trip near Verona cannot miss visiting Lake Garda. The largest of the Italian lakes offers many activities and attractions, from Gardaland, the amusement park beloved by children and adults alike, to historic and charming villages that overlook its waters. Each of these towns deserves a visit, and it’s hard to choose the most beautiful, but we have selected a few for you.
Sirmione
Sirmione is one of the most famous towns on Lake Garda and for good reason. The enormous and perfectly preserved Scaligero Castle, with its tall towers and swallowtail battlements, seems to rise directly from the turquoise waters of the lake and alone is worth the entire visit. The village is not located in the province of Verona, but in Brescia, yet it can be easily reached within half an hour by car.
Strolling through the village streets means taking a dive into the past and moving from the Middle Ages to the Roman era. The Grottoes of Catullus are in fact one of the most visited archaeological sites in Italy, a large Roman villa attributed to Catullus because in his poems he claimed to own property right here.
Sirmione is also the perfect place to find well-being in its fantastic natural thermal baths, an experience that involves not only the body but especially the mind.
Lazise
Lazise is one of the most characteristic lakeside villages located on the Venetian shore of Lake Garda, blending past and modernity. Within its territory are the Caneva World and Gardaland amusement parks. Its historic center starts right from the 16th-century customs house of the small port, from where Venice once administered and controlled its commercial traffic on the lake.
Lazise also boasts its imposing Scaligero Castle, still surrounded by the city walls that for centuries defended the village from foreign invasions. The large garden of the fortress competes with the charm of the structure and is enriched by beautiful specimens of trees from all over the world.
Torri del Benaco
Torri del Benaco is another splendid village to visit for a day trip near Verona. Here too, the medieval architecture of the buildings blends perfectly with the natural landscape, between water and woods. The church!