Verona scavenger hunt: Roman stones, Shakespeare's lovers and the Scaliger bridges
The Verona scavenger hunt is a self-guided city game you play on your phone: you walk from the Roman Arena through the old town to the river Adige, solve a riddle at each of 10 landmarks by looking closely at what is in front of you, and unlock the stories and legends behind them. From the Arena to the Scaliger bridge it comes to about 3 hours in all, of which only some 45 minutes are spent walking over 3.6 km, while the rest belongs to riddles, legends and a pause by the Adige whenever you want one.
Highlights include the Arena, the Roman gate of Porta Borsari, Juliet's House, the market square of Piazza delle Erbe, Piazza dei Signori with its statue of Dante, the Roman Ponte Pietra and the fortified Castelvecchio Bridge. Verona's old town lies in a bend of the Adige, so the walk mixes narrow streets and squares with views of the river and its bridges.
- Durationabout 3 hours
- Walkingabout 45 min · 3.6 km
- Stops10
- LanguagesEnglish, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch
From a Roman gate to Scaliger battlements: the riddles
A hat over an arch, griffins under a porch
Every stop hides its riddle in plain sight: the Cappello hat carved above the courtyard arch at Juliet's House, the griffins carrying the cathedral porch, the inscription on Porta Borsari. You solve it by looking and thinking, with no Italian and no homework required.
Emperors, exiles and a lord's escape route
Each answer opens a story: the earthquake of 1117 that brought down the Arena's outer ring, why Cangrande della Scala gave shelter to the exiled Dante, and the bridge said to have been built so a Scaliger lord could flee his own castle. Listen to the audio narration or read the text as you go.
3.6 km around a bend of the Adige
Google Maps leads you for about 45 minutes in total, through the lanes of the old town to Ponte Pietra and then west along the river embankment. The streets are flat, apart from the odd ramp up onto a bridge.
Spritz on Piazza delle Erbe, gelato by the river
No clock is running, so sit down for a spritz under the Torre dei Lamberti or a gelato near Ponte Pietra whenever you feel like it. The game waits on your phone and picks up exactly where you left it, later that day or tomorrow.
See the route and attractions →
How it works
- Book online Choose the number of players. Your booking reference arrives by email straight away.
- Get the app Download the World City Trail app from the App Store or Google Play and enter your booking reference.
- Play when you like Start whenever you are ready, walk at your own pace and pause any time. No guide, no fixed schedule.
Who gets the most out of a riddle walk in Verona
Day-trippers from Lake Garda or Venice
In about 3 hours the game strings together the Arena, Juliet's balcony, the market square and three bridges, so a day trip still leaves time for lunch and the train back. The riddles keep the pace lively without rushing anyone.
Young fans of gladiators and griffins
A Roman arena where gladiators once fought, a bronze Juliet, griffins holding up a church porch and a bridge built for a secret escape give young players plenty to look for, with an adult always playing in their team.
Couples, friends and colleagues
Up to 5 people play as a team, each on their own phone, so a larger group can split into several teams and race from Piazza Bra to the Castelvecchio Bridge. The finish beside the castle makes an easy place to meet up afterwards.
Good to know
- Bring a charged smartphone with mobile data; a power bank helps.
- No entry tickets needed: everything happens outside the buildings. Going inside is optional and paid separately.
- Family friendly; children must be accompanied by an adult.
- Not suitable for wheelchair users and difficult with strollers.
- Teams of up to 5 work best; bigger groups split into several teams, one ticket per player.
- Every purchase helps support stray cats and dogs in Greece.
The route: from the Arena on Piazza Bra through the old town to Ponte Scaligero
10 stops · about 45 min walking · start: Verona Arena · finish: Castelvecchio Bridge (Ponte Scaligero)
The hunt starts at the Arena on Piazza Bra and heads through Porta Borsari to Juliet's House, Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza dei Signori. You continue to the Basilica of Sant'Anastasia, the Roman Ponte Pietra and Verona Cathedral, then follow the Adige west to Ponte della Vittoria and finish on the Castelvecchio Bridge. The Arena, the churches and the bridges are all explored from the outside, so nobody asks for an entry ticket, and if you are staying across the river near Ponte Pietra, the app will open the game there and put the other stops in a new order.
Open the route map ↗
1Verona ArenaStart
The Arena is a Roman amphitheatre built around 30 AD that once held about 30,000 spectators. An earthquake in 1117 destroyed almost all of its outer ring, and since 1913, when Verdi's Aida was staged here, it has been famous for its opera festival.
2Porta Borsari
Porta Borsari is a Roman city gate from the 1st century AD, built on the road that led into Verona. Its white stone façade carries an inscription recording a rebuilding in 265 AD under Emperor Gallienus, and its name comes from the bursarii, the guards who collected tolls here.
3Juliet's House
Juliet's House is a 13th-century house of the Cappello family, whose name was linked to the Capulets of Romeo and Juliet; their hat emblem is carved above the courtyard arch. The famous balcony was only added in the 20th century, and the bronze Juliet in the courtyard is a copy of Nereo Costantini's statue from 1969.
4Piazza delle Erbe
Piazza delle Erbe stands on the site of the Roman forum of Verona and has been the city's market square for centuries. In the middle is the Madonna Verona fountain, set up in 1368 under Cansignorio della Scala around a Roman statue, and the Torre dei Lamberti rises above the square.
Read the full story →
5Piazza dei Signori
Piazza dei Signori was the seat of power in Verona, lined by the Palazzo della Ragione, the palaces of the Scaliger lords and the Loggia del Consiglio, begun in 1476. In the middle stands Ugo Zannoni's statue of Dante from 1865, a reminder that Cangrande I della Scala sheltered the exiled poet in Verona.
Read the full story →
6Basilica of Sant'Anastasia
Sant'Anastasia is the largest church in Verona, a Gothic basilica that the Dominicans began building around 1290. Near the entrance, two holy water stoups rest on the backs of crouching hunchback figures, and inside is Pisanello's fresco of St George and the Princess.
7Ponte Pietra
Ponte Pietra is a Roman bridge over the Adige, completed around 100 BC, and the oldest bridge in Verona. Retreating German troops blew up four of its five arches in April 1945, and it was rebuilt in the late 1950s with original materials, so Roman, medieval and modern stonework now stand side by side.
Read the full story →
8Verona Cathedral (Santa Maria Matricolare)
Verona Cathedral is a Romanesque church consecrated in 1187, after the earthquake of 1117 had destroyed the earlier buildings. Its main porch, by the sculptor Nicholaus, rests on two griffins and is flanked by Roland and Oliver, the paladins of Charlemagne, and inside hangs Titian's Assumption.
9Ponte della Vittoria
Ponte della Vittoria was built to celebrate Italy's victory in the First World War and was inaugurated on 4 November 1929. Blown up by retreating German troops in 1945, it was rebuilt and reopened in 1953, and bronze sculpture groups by Mario Salazzari and Angelo Biancini stand at its ends.
10Castelvecchio Bridge (Ponte Scaligero)Finish
The fortified Castelvecchio Bridge was built in 1354–1356 for Cangrande II della Scala, reportedly as an escape route from the castle in case of revolt. Its main arch spans 48.7 metres, at the time the largest span in the world, and after German troops destroyed it in 1945 it was rebuilt from 1949 to 1951.
Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.
James R. (verified owner) –
Great way to tour the city – our 7yo and 9yo loved it!
Anonymous (verified owner) –
Die Rätsel waren gut und haben Spaß gemacht aber leider waren es bis auf zwei die gleichen Rätsel wie im Escape Game. Es ist etwas unverschämt die gleichen Rätsel unter zwei verschiedenen Kategorien zu verkaufen. Schade!!!
Anonymous (verified owner) –
It was a very fun activity! Recommended!
Marianne– Canada –
Collected on GetYourGuide
Austria –
Collected on GetYourGuide
Gute Reiseführung!
Vincent– France –
Collected on GetYourGuide
France –
Collected on GetYourGuide
Moin e merci
Italy –
Collected on GetYourGuide