Arco dei Gavi

Welcome to the Arco dei Gavi, one of the most significant testimonies to Imperial Roman Verona. We are standing just a few steps away from the Castelvecchio, but in terms of time, we have traveled back nearly two thousand years. …

In the Roman world, immortality was achieved through stone. The 'Gens Gavia' was one of the most prominent families in Roman Verona, and they wanted to ensure their name would be remembered for centuries. …

One of the most fascinating details of the Arco dei Gavi is something you have to look very closely to find. Hidden among the stones of the arch is the 'name of the architect.' His name was Lucio Vitruvio Cerdo, and he was so…

To truly understand the Arco dei Gavi, we must imagine it in its original context. It was not built here, but rather a short distance away, directly over the 'Via Postumia.' This road was the primary artery of Roman Northern…

The history of the Arco dei Gavi is also a story of loss and recovery. In 1805, during the Napoleonic occupation of Verona, the French military administration decided that the arch was an obstacle to traffic and a potential…

The arch we see today is the result of a monumental 'remounting' project completed in 1932. This reconstruction was part of a larger effort to celebrate Italy's Roman heritage. …

Let us take a moment to admire the purely aesthetic qualities of the Arco dei Gavi. The arch is a textbook example of the Corinthian order. …

As we conclude our visit to the Arco dei Gavi, take a final moment to walk around its base and perhaps touch the limestone that has survived two millennia. We have traveled through the 'glory' of the Gens Gavia, discovered the…