Verona Off the Beaten Path: Secret Spots & Hidden Gems (+ Riddle Tour)
Photo by Fabio Tura, www.unsplash.com
When people think of Verona, they picture Juliet’s balcony and the Arena. Fair enough—but the city hides plenty of hidden gems that rarely appear in travel guides. This is the side of secret Verona: unusual shops, old legends, and places where the crowds don’t go. If you’re looking for unusual things to do in Verona, here are four ideas to explore the city differently.
The Chapter Library—Verona’s brain through the centuries
@ www.visitverona.it
If you were wondering whether Verona hides a world record, the answer is yes! The Chapter Library is considered the oldest library in the world still in operation today. Built in the 5th century as a Scriptorium, it was a place where priests recopied religious texts and trained new churchmen.
Among its treasures you’ll find some of the oldest codices in history, such as St. Augustine’s De Civitate Dei and Gaius’ Institutiones. Today, the collection includes more than 1,200 manuscript codices, 11,000 parchments, and 268 incunabula—an extraordinary heritage preserved for over 15 centuries.
Visiting the library is like touching the voice of the past: every page tells a story that survived floods, wars, and centuries. It’s not just a cultural stop—it’s a truly off the beaten path experience in Verona. You can reach it directly through the Cathedral complex, but keep in mind that a ticket is required. 👉 More info on the official website.
A monument to Pandoro—Verona’s golden bread
@ www.calapergola.com
Verona is famous for many culinary specialties, but one in particular is loved all over Italy: the Pandoro. This Christmas sweet is so iconic that you can even spot a “monument” dedicated to it at number 21 on Corso Borsari. Look up, and on top of the 19th-century building that once housed the Melegatti pastry shop—the birthplace of Pandoro in 1894—you’ll notice two small white stone pandori watching over the street.
But how did Pandoro come to life? Domenico Melegatti, son of pastry chef Pietro, patented the name, shape and recipe on October 14, 1894. Inspired by a traditional Christmas Eve cake called levà, he modified the recipe and created a lighter, softer cake thanks to a 36-hour leavening process.
Legend has it that one worker, seeing the golden cake in the sunlight, exclaimed: “L’è proprio un pan de oro!” (“It’s really a golden bread!”). And so the name Pandoro was born. Its success was so immediate that imitators soon appeared, prompting Melegatti to launch the famous “1,000 lire challenge”: a prize to anyone who could reveal the real recipe. Nobody ever dared.
Giusti Gardens—Renaissance calm with a view
Created in the 16th century as part of a noble palace, the Giusti Gardens are among Verona’s most surprising escapes. Designed in Renaissance style, they feature symmetrical hedges, statues, fountains, and the famous cypress labyrinth. Local tradition says Mozart once wandered these very paths and got lost in the maze—a charming anecdote, even if not strictly proven.
The highlight is the belvedere terrace: climb up and you’ll see Verona spread beneath you, with the Adige curving like a ribbon through red rooftops. Unlike the Arena or Piazza Erbe, here you can hear your footsteps on gravel and the rustle of trees. Calm, authentic, and definitely one of Verona’s hidden gems. 👉 Check opening hours and tickets on the official website.
The world’s smallest jewellery shop (and a hidden surprise)
@ www.cittdiverona.it
After admiring the Arena—often called the world’s largest open-air opera house—here comes another Guinness World Record: the smallest jewellery store in the world. Just a few steps from the Melegatti palace, at Vicolo S. Giovanni in Foro 1, you’ll find Gioielleria Porta Borsari. With only 3.78 square meters, you have to enter one at a time, but inside are handcrafted jewels perfect for a unique gift from Verona.
Even if you don’t buy anything, the tiny and carefully designed shopfront alone is worth a look. And here’s a bonus tip: continue down the alley and on the left you’ll discover access to a small hidden garden, with another unusual jewellery store waiting for you. A quirky detail, and definitely one of Verona’s hidden gems.
Explore Verona with puzzles
You can walk from record to record, from hidden gardens to monuments of sweetness—but what if the whole city became the puzzle? That’s the idea behind ClueGo’s self-guided tour.
Armed with clues on your phone, you solve riddles that lead you from one corner to the next—sometimes a library, sometimes a garden, sometimes a story you wouldn’t expect. Every step mixes curiosity with play, turning sightseeing into a living game.
It’s sightseeing with a twist: playful, curious, and completely at your pace. Perfect for travellers searching for unusual things to do in Verona or simply craving alternative things to do in Verona beyond the usual tourist script.
✨ Ready to explore Verona beyond the postcards? Start your ClueGo adventure
🔗 Keep exploring
Loved Verona’s curiosities? Don’t miss our article Modena you don’t expect: 5 fun facts and hidden gems for another Italian city full of secrets.