Piazza delle Erbe

Step into the vibrant heart of Verona: Piazza delle Erbe. As a scholar of urban evolution, I find this square to be one of the most fascinating sites in Italy. …

In the very center of the square stands the Fountain of Madonna Verona, the symbolic soul of the city. Commissioned in 1368 by Cansignorio della Scala, the fountain was designed to celebrate the completion of an aqueduct that…

Look up toward the northern side of the square to see the Case Mazzanti, one of the most beautiful examples of a Renaissance 'painted house.' During the 15th and 16th centuries, Verona was known as the 'urbs picta,' or the…

Dominating the skyline of the square is the Torre dei Lamberti, a 84-meter-tall medieval tower that has served as a watchtower and a bell tower for nearly nine centuries. Started in 1172 by the Lamberti family, the tower was…

Near the northern end of the square, you will find a peculiar stone podium known as the 'Berlina.' This structure, dating from the 16th century but likely replacing an older medieval one, served as the place where new city…

At the far end of the square stands the Colonna di San Marco, a tall marble column topped with a winged lion. This is the Lion of Saint Mark, the symbol of the Republic of Venice. …

As you transition from Piazza delle Erbe toward the neighboring Piazza dei Signori, you will pass under the Arco della Costa, or the Arch of the Rib. Hanging from the center of this 15th-century arch is a large, weathered bone. …

As we conclude our journey through Piazza delle Erbe, take a final look around this extraordinary space. We have traced the history of Verona from its Roman foundations as a forum to its medieval rebirth under the Scaligeri, and…

As we conclude our journey through Piazza delle Erbe, take a final look around this extraordinary space. We have traced the history of Verona from its Roman foundations as a forum to its medieval rebirth under the Scaligeri, and…