The Rough Guide to Venice and the Veneto

From the main train station (Verona Porta Nuova, not the small Porta
Vescovo on the eastern side of town) it’s a fifteen-minute walk to Piazza Brà,
site of the Arena and the hub of Verona. Turn right out of the station (keeping
to the right-hand side of the road – there are some busy junctions), then cross
the main road to the Porta Nuova, from where Corso Porta Nuova brings
you onto the south side of Piazza Brà. Otherwise, unless you’re staying in
the youth hostel, you’re only likely to need a bus if you don’t fancy the walk
from the train station to the centre. Local buses leave from the stands immediately
opposite the train station: for Piazza Brà take any of the buses from
bay A; buses for Castelvecchio leave from bay D; those for Piazza delle Erbe
from bay F. Tickets must be bought before boarding, either from the ticket
office and machines alongside bay A or from the tabacchi inside the train station
ticket hall. Tickets cost e1 and are valid for any number of journeys within
an hour; alternatively, you can get ten rides for e9 – or travel free with the
Verona Card (see box on p.343).
There are car parks signed off the Corso Porta Nuova just before Piazza
Brà, or there is free parking across the river through the city walls beyond
San Stefano.
The main tourist office is on the central Piazza Brà, within the old town
walls beside the Palazzo del Municipale (Mon–Sat 9am–7pm, Sun 9am–3pm;
t045.806.8680, wwww.tourism.verona.it). There is an additional office
at the train station (Mon–Sat 9am–7pm & Sun 9am–3pm; t045.800.0861)
and a room-finding service, Cooperativa Albergatori Veronesi (CAV), at
Via Patuzzi 5 (May to mid-Nov Mon–Sat 10am–7pm; rest of year Mon–Fri
10am–6pm, but closed mid-Dec to mid-Jan; t045.800.9844); Via Patuzzi
runs parallel to Via Leoncino off Piazza Gallieno in the southeast corner of
Piazza Brà.
Hotels
Antica Porta Leona Via Corticella Leoni 3
t045.595.499, wwww.anticaportaleona.com.
Large three-star with spacious a/c rooms,
some with balconies. Has plenty of single
rooms. 2–3
Aurora Piazzetta XIV Novembre 2
t045.594.717, wwww.hotelaurora.
biz. Upmarket two-star hotel with a welcoming
atmosphere and many rooms
overlooking the Piazza delle Erbe. The
staff are friendly and knowledgeable,
and speak good English. Excellent buffet
breakfast. 2
Catullo Via Valerio Catullo 1 t045.800.2786,
elocandacatullo@tiscali.it. The cheapest –
if not the friendliest – hotel in the centre,
just off the main shopping artery of Via
Mazzini. Rooms are rather shabby but are
large and have plenty of light, and some
have a private bathroom. 1
Ciopeta Vicolo Teatro Filarmonica 2
t045.800.6843, wwww.ciopeta.it. Very
friendly, family-run one-star located in an
alley parallel to Via Roma. Book ahead,
as there are only five rooms (all with
shared bathrooms). A major refurbishment
is imminent, which will increase the
capacity. 1
Colomba d’Oro Via C. Cattaneo 10
t045.595.300, wwww.colombahotel.
com. Luxuriously appointed four-star,
handily located for the Arena, with a
garage and a range of well-equipped
rooms. 2–4
Europa Via Roma 8 t045.594.744, wwww.
veronahoteleuropa.com. This reliable, if
somewhat dull, three-star hotel is one of
the city’s biggest central establishments,
so it’s always worth a call if other places
are full. 1–3
Torcolo Vicolo Listone 3 t045.800.7512,
wwww.hoteltorcolo.it. Nicely turned-out
two-star hotel within 100m of the Arena,
just off Piazza Brà. Extremely welcoming
owners – and a favourite with the opera
crowds, so book ahead. 1–2
Vicenza, Verona and around
| Verona
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