Verona

Verona can be seen in 2 days: the Roman Arena (still used for summer opera) and the historic center on one, and Juliet's House on the other. April-June brings mild weather ahead of Veneto's summer heat. It's cheaper than Venice or Milan, with less tourist traffic despite comparable heritage. It's the setting Shakespeare chose for Romeo and Juliet, and although the story is fiction, its famous balcony draws millions of visitors every year who leave love letters on its walls.