Verona is one of the main tourist destinations in north-eastern Italy, thanks to its artistic heritage, several annual fairs, shows and operas, such as the lyrical season in the Arena, the ancient amphitheatre built by the Romans.

In 2009, there are 264,191 people residing in Verona, located in the province of Verona, [intlink id="783" type="page"]Veneto[/intlink], of whom 47.6% were male and 52.4% were female. Minors (children ages 18 and younger) totalled 16.05 percent of the population compared to pensioners who number 22.36 percent. This compares with the Italian average of 18.06 percent (minors) and 19.94 percent (pensioners). The average age of Verona residents is 43 compared to the Italian average of 42. In the five years between 2002 and 2007, the population of Verona grew by 3.05 percent, while Italy as a whole grew by 3.85 percent. The current birth rate of Verona is 9.24 births per 1,000 inhabitants compared to the Italian average of 9.45 births.

As of 2006, 90.11% of the population was Italian. The largest immigrant group comes from other European nations (the largest coming from Romania): 3.60%, South Asia: 2.03%, and sub-saharan Africa1.50%. Currently 1 in 5 babies born in Verona has a foreign parent. The city is predominantly Roman Catholic, but due to immigration now has some Orthodox Christian, Muslim and Hindu followers.

What to see

• The Arena – An enormous, spectacular Roman amphitheatre, crumbling on the outside but still functioning today. It was erected in the 1st Century AD in an elliptical shape, and is the world’s third-largest amphitheatre to survive from antiquity. Much of the outer ring was damaged during the earthquake of 1117 but the inner part is still intact. If you can, plan your trip during the Opera season and see a performance in the Arena. Ouside the opera season you can visit it during the day - www.arena.it

• {slide=Juliet’s House} (Casa di Giulietta), Via Cappello, just off the Piazza delle Erbe. Supposedly the location of the famous balcony love scene from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The house is a major destination for tourist pilgrimage, as the tiny courtyard is normally packed with lovestruck teenagers photographing each other on the famous balcony. In fact, the house has no connection with Shakespeare’s fictional characters – although the house is old, the balcony was added in 1936 and declared to be “Juliet’s house” to attract tourists. You can visit the house itself  - it contains a sparse collection of Renaissance frescos rescued from other demolished palaces, and the bed from Zeffirelli’s 1968 movie, but not a lot more. The balcony overlooks a tiny courtyard containing a statue of Juliet. There is an unbelievable amount of graffiti and general scrawling on the walls, floor, seats, anything that will hold ink – there is a tradition of writing love messages to Juliet, and visitors leave notes, trinkets and bits of chewing gum fashioned into love hearts. Juliet’s house is a popular romantic shrine, but its popularity belies its value; compared to some of the treasures around Verona, Juliet’s house has very little to offer. {/slide}

• {slide=Piazza delle Erbe} Home of the Forum in Roman times this is still a focal point of the city. Contains the ‘Madonna Verona’ fountain, 14th century ‘Gardello Tower’, and a market that, while picturesque, seems to have become another tourist cliche during its recent refurbishment. {/slide}

• Roman amphitheatre (Teatro Romano), across the river on the hill, in the north-east of the city.

• {slide=Castelvecchio} A 14th-century, red brick, fortified castle on the banks of the river Aldige. The main castle buildings house the city art museum which is packed with a rich collection of medieval sculpture and Renaissance paintings. As well as the museum, the extensive castle ramparts are great for exploring – ideal for families with children who enjoy running around castle fortifications. The Castelvecchio has an adjoining bridge over the river which is open all the time – walk over the bridge for some fantastic views of the castle on the river. {/slide}

• {slide=Lamberti Tower} (Torre Lamberti) – completed in 1463, this is the tallest of Verona’s towers. The unmistakable clock tower looms over the Piazza delle Erbe, and you enter via the palace courtyard. Although there are 238 steps to the top, there is a lift! Views from the top are breathtaking. {/slide}

• Porta Borsari. The remains of a Roman gate, dates to at least the 2nd Century AD, but is almost certainly older.

• Giardino Giusti. One of Italy’s most important renaissance/mannerist gardens, with grottos, fire-breathing masks carved into the hillside etc.

• {slide=Verona Cathedral} (Duomo) was built to replace an 8th-century church which was destroyed in the earthquake of 1117. Consecrated in 1187, the church features an ornate marble Romanesque façade by the Veronese architect Nicolò; its pillars are supported by two griffins. Stone reliefs around the door include Biblical scenes. The smaller side door is also worth a look – medieval carvings include Jonah being swallowed by a whale. Inside, the nave has many Gothic alterations, and oil paintings arond the side chapels include an Assumption by Titan. The Romanesque baptistery adjoining the chapel of Sant’Elena is preserved, with its exquisite marble font and collection of medieval paintings. {/slide}

• {slide=Basilica of St Zeno} (San Zeno Maggiore), located slightly outside the centre. A 10-15 minute walk from the Castellvecchio, but well worth the walk, as it is possibly the richest in devotional artwork and historical preservation in Verona. The church is dedicated to Verona’s patron saint, Zeno, a 4th-century North African and a keen fisherman who was ordained Bishop of Verona in 363. Zeno’s tomb lies in an atmospheric shrine in the church undercroft, and he is also commemorated with a grinning medieval statue of Zeno in full episcopal robes, dangling a golden fish on the end of a fishing rod. The entrance to the church is graced with a ornate Romanesque façade by Nicolò; like the cathedral, this church was erected after the earthquake of 1117. The church itself was a centre of European pilgrimage for centuries; pilgrims were greeted by huge 10-metre frescoes of St Peter, patron saint of pilgrims. Visitors across the centuries have left their mark – pilgrims happily inscribed graffiti in the frescos, and signatures dating from 1390 survive to this day. There is also graffiti left by the invading Austrians in 1865. {/slide}

• {slide=Castell San Pietro} (St Peter’s Castle), across the Ponte Pietra (Peter Bridge). Climb the steps up the hill above the Roman Amphitheatre to the Castell San Pietro. This former Austrian barracks dates back to the Austrian occupation of the left bank, and while the building is not open to the public, the views from the hill over Verona are spectacular. Go up in the early evening and enjoy a romantic sunset for free! {/slide}

• Roman Theatre. Where theatre performances still take place. It is also the seat of the Archeological Museum.