Best known to English-speakers as the setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, fair Verona has come a long way since the days of the Montague-Capulet feud. (OK, maybe the Bard embellished the story a bit, but a real-life Capello family did live here long ago.) Verona’s impressively preserved historic buildings and significant medieval architecture have earned it a coveted UNESCO World Heritage Site status, but the city is hardly stuck in the past. The city is home to a thriving population of over 260,000 and is one of the most important economic centers of northern Italy. Forget star-crossed lovers—Verona will capture your heart the old-fashioned way, with charm and fine wine.