Clustered around the Adige River with beautiful mountains in the background, Verona is situated in a gorgeous location in the Veneto region. This might explain why there are so many stunning public parks and historic gardens throughout the city.
While there are plenty of amazing grass historic landmarks, museums, and cultural offerings to enjoy, you should spend at least a full afternoon enjoying the green spaces of Verona. Some of them are even integrated into historical landmarks, like the Giardino Giusti or the Arsenale Gardens. There are also a few day trips you can take out to the countryside to enjoy the bucolic charms of one of Italy’s most beautiful regions.
As you explore the city and surrounding area’s green spaces, plan ahead for any unneeded bags. Visit a Verona Porta Nuova luggage storage location before you head out, and you can truly soak up the serenity in these lovely places.
Here are the best gardens and parks near Verona Porta Nuova:
Giardino Giusti
One of Italy’s most revered gardens, the Giardino Giusti tops the list of Verona’s best attractions. It’s situated near the beautiful Roman Theater of Verona. Made in the 16th century, the Giusti Garden is the oldest of its kind in Verona, featuring a mix of manicured and natural flora that showcase the Italianate and Renaissance influences.
Throughout the gardens, there are lanes of cypress trees and rows of colorful my flowers that complement the many fountains and statues that give the gardens their opulent charm. The garden’s hedge maze, though updated throughout the centuries, is one of the oldest in the world and isn’t too daunting a task to navigate.
There are nooks and crannies throughout the garden that allow for tranquil moments, and even a cave. These certainly help balance out the crowds of travelers and locals who wander around. Crowning the whole garden is the belvedere lookout that offers panoramic views of Verona. The Giardino Giusti is situated across the river from the city center and is a short walk from Porta Nuova train station.
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Parco delle Mura e dei Forti
This expansive park is situated a few miles outside of Verona and can be accessed through a few routes. There are the medieval Bastioni walls which surround the city between Ponte Catena and Ponte San Francesco. There’s also an entrance near the walls on the hilly terrain called the Torricelle. These lead to walking paths through heavily wooded parks that provide a tranquil oasis from the bustling Verona city center. These are perfect if you need a bit of zen or are heading in or out of Verona on a day trip. The Parco delle Mura is also a popular destination for cyclists and can be reached directly from Verona on two wheels.
Parco delle Colombare
Perched atop a wonderful terraced Torricelle hill overlooking Verona, Parco delle Colombare is a lovely public park frequented by local families. It’s a fairly simple park with walking paths, a playground, and a dog park, but the views of the city are worth the trek up the hill.
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The Giardini Pubblici Arsenale
If you’re sightseeing through the city center, you’ll want to head to the Arsenale Franz Josef I, which is one of the more notable landmarks near Porta Nuova. It’s a little over a 20-minute walk through the city center and across the beautiful Ponte Scaligero bridge. Part of this historic complex is the Alessandro Canestrari Gardens, or simply the Giardini Arsenale, which overlooks the river and is lined with cypress trees and flower beds.
Take a day trip to Lake Garda to see the Giardino Heller
Being less than an hour from Porta Nuova train station and the city center, Lake Garda is a common day trip destination from Verona. You could spend a whole week exploring the charming lakeside towns and bucolic countryside, but one of the best things to do in a single afternoon is to visit the Giardino Heller overlooking the Gardone Riviera.
Officially called the Giardino Botanico Fondazione André Heller, this wonderful garden melds nature and nurture with rows of indigenous and exotic plants along with ponds and art installations. André Heller’s sculptures are one of the main attractions and a huge draw for art history enthusiasts. There’s a wide range of artwork on display, most notably works by Roy Lichtenstein and Keith Haring. The expansive grounds are dissected into distinctive climate zones, with themes like the African Savannah or groves of bamboo.
Parco Cesare Lombroso
Situated in the residential Borgo Milano neighborhood that isn’t typically frequented by tourists, the Parco Cesare Lombroso is the best way to enjoy the outdoors while avoiding the hordes of tourists in the city center. It may feel out of the way, but it’s a short walk from Porta Nuova on Viale Piave. Parco Cesare Lombroso will make most people jealous of Italians, not because it’s the most wonderful park in the world, but because Verona’s version of a “run of the mill” park is so picturesque and perfect. With views of the river and surrounding hills and an understated just elegance, this puts “ordinary” parks back home to shame.
There are paths for jogging and cycling along with fields where pickup soccer games are known to happen. It’s the perfect place for a picnic, and the uncrowded playground makes it a favorite for families. If you’re looking to “live like a local,” this is one of the best places to start.
At The End
If you’re just getting into town at Verona Porta Nuova and want to stretch your legs at a park, you won’t want to have to carry your bags around all day. Instead of wasting time by heading to the hotel just to drop the bags off at the front desk, you can store the bags in one of the many Bounce luggage storage locations in Verona. There are even a few near Verona’s parks, gardens, and best attractions because Bounce partners with local businesses to ensure the best locations.
