A Day-Long Walking Tour of Verona, Italy

Via Mazzini Shopping

Heading away from the spectacular arena, and only a six minute walk, awaits Via Mazzini. It is one of the most stunning streets I have ever seen — and also one of the busiest. With so many boutiques lining the road, which is all marble of course (the Italians just love their marble!), you could literally shop until you drop here.

Villa Mazzini

Via Mazzini was lined with warehouses and barracks until the 19^th century. The ground would turn into a mud field when it rained. That was when the city government paved it with marble, and the street rose to such fortune. Modern stores popped up and now on your left you had Burberry and to your right Gucci. Not bad. Nowadays, all the major Italian fashion brands are represented. If you’re looking for the latest in Italian fashion, you’ll find it here.

The shops on Via Mazzini are on the pricier side, but even if you don’t feel like blowing $20k on a new dress, it’s still a great place to window shop. Walking into one of the stores dedicated to baby’s clothes, wondering what I should buy for my cousins, I headed upstairs and found a sofa with Audrey Hepburn’s face on it. It was a great touch to such a chic store. Each shop presented something unique.

Casa di Giulietta

Juliet’s statue

Admit it. After watching ‘Letters to Juliet’ starring Amanda Seyfried you couldn’t wait to go on your own adventure in Verona to find your soulmate. If not, watch the movie. It’s an incredibly cute chick-flick that will have you booking your ticket to Verona immediately.

After having yourself a mini shopping spree take a three minute walk towards Casa di Giulietta. Enter through the archway to visit Juliet’s house, which was owned by the family dell Capello and dates back to the 13^th century. You will see the original family coat of arms on the wall, however, the balcony was added in the 20^th century. Inside the house is a museum, but it’s the bronze sculpture of Juliet in the courtyard that all tourists want to see. Oddly, it’s become ‘a thing’ to rub her right breast for luck. Seriously.

Love locks at Casa di Giulietta

Make sure to check out the little mailbox by the Casa Di Giulietta merchandise store, where you can write your own letter and (hopefully) receive a reply. If you’ve visited with a loved one, you can purchase a lock and key to place on the gates to the house — a sweet and superstitious gesture. Interestingly, the store allows you to stitch your name into almost anything you purchase, which makes for a super thoughtful and unique gift to bring home with you, which is what I did.