The Northern Italian destination that literary great William Shakespeare made famous with the characters of Romeo and Juliet also is well known for its remarkable medieval Romanesque architecture, which is why the entire city was designated a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site. Located along the Adige River, Verona's origins date back 300,000 years and it became part of the Roman Empire in 300 BC. There's always been contention on whether "Romeo & Juliet" was based on real people and tourists can form their own theories with visits to Verona houses claimed to be where the legendary lovers each lived. Other points of interest are Verona Arena, Basilica of San Zeno, Basilica of San Lorenzo, Sant'Anastasia church, Roman Theatre of Verona, Gavi Arch, Castelvecchio and the Dante Alighieri statue. Show All
