Verona

Verona is one of the most iconic cities of northern Italy, the provincial capital of the eponymous province in Veneto, situated on the banks of the Adige River at the foot of the Lessini Mountains. With approximately 260,000 inhabitants, it is the second city of Veneto and the eighth in Italy. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000, the city preserves an exceptional monumental ensemble including the Arena di Verona—a first-century Roman amphitheatre capable of accommodating 15,000 spectators and venue for the world-famous summer opera festival—Scaligero city walls, the medieval historic centre, and the bridges over the Adige. The legend of Romeo and Juliet, immortalised by Shakespeare, draws millions of visitors annually.

In the sporting sphere, Verona is home to Hellas Verona FC, a club with a long tradition in Italian football and a league title to its name (1985). The city boasts a solid network of sports facilities and associations active in disciplines as varied as athletics, rugby, rowing, cycling, and mountain sports, favoured by proximity to Lake Garda and the Lessini Mountains. In 2023, Verona hosted the final evaluation of Veneto's candidacy as European Region of Sport 2024, underscoring the city's importance in regional sports policy.