* Because there are so many churches in Verona, an admission charge has been imposed to cover custodian charges and offer longer hours. The churches have banded together and admission to any one of them is 2 Euros - or you can buy a cumulative ticket for 5 Euros. A better buy though, is the Verona card. It costs 8 Euros for 1 day and it allows you to enter all the main sights, as well as use the local buses. It costs 6 Euros to go into Juliet's house and the same for the Arena, so even if you just visit these 2 attractions, the Verona card is value for money.
* For a wonderful view of the city, climb to the top of the Lamberti Tower (or take the lift most of the way up). You get stunning views of Verona and the hills surrounding it.
* Verona's famous opera festival is held in July and August. Productions are staged in the glorious Roman Arena. Verona is never overrun with tourists in the way Florence and Venice are, but during the opera season it does get fairly busy.
* The weather in August is hot and muggy with average temperatures in the day 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Break your sightseeing with stops for drinks and ice cream as the heat can be oppressive.
* Lots of the sights are closed on Mondays, so check this before you plan your itinerary.
* You would be unlucky to have a bad meal in Verona. It has high quality and atmospheric restaurants. Bollito Mistro (boiled meats) is a Veronese speciality. Crisp Soave white wine is a great local drink - we enjoyed that! The Veronese are keen eaters of horse meat (cavallo) which is a local speciality - didn't try it though! Be sure to eat ice-cream - it is delicious. Pizzas are not a local speciality.
* Service charges are usually included in your bill, so you are not always expected to tip in restaurants. It is common practise though to leave any small change as a tip. Prices in Italian bars and cafes double (sometimes even triple) if you sit down.
* Avoid most of the tourists in Piazza Bra and head to Piazza delle Erbe where there are lots of good bars to enjoy a coffee in the morning or a drink in the evening. There is lots to watch - people coming and going.
* Look out for architectural details related to the della Scala family - their family emblem is a ladder and appears in many places around the city.