Piazza delle Erbe. Piazza delle Erbe You can visit the Lamberti Tower and take the elevator to its top, from where you can enjoy wonderful panoramas of Verona
Piazza delle Erbe means "Piazza of Herbs". IN ancient times the Roman forum was located here, and in the 15th century. in its place a market arose, thanks to which the square got its name.
The centerpiece of Piazza del Erbe is the fountain of the Verona Madonna with a 4th-century Roman statue. During times Ancient Rome the heart of Verona beat here, and today we can say with confidence that all roads in the city lead here.
Historical monuments and buildings of the square
The architecture of this place is literally mesmerizing. Along the perimeter of the square there are buildings that have long become tourist attractions. For example, the aedicule of Berlin, built in the 13th century. And famous for that, that for centuries the ceremonial inauguration of the mayors of Verona took place there. Or the House of Merchants (Domus Mercatorum), notable for the fact that the shape of the Gibbelin battlements along the top of the facade resembles similar projections on the Moscow Kremlin. Once upon a time, professional societies were located within its walls, but today the People's Bank of Verona operates in the house. The City Hall building rises directly opposite, and such proximity symbolizes the confrontation between the economic and political elites.
Venetian Gothic and Baroque
Fans of the Baroque architectural style will certainly appreciate the luxurious medieval building of Palazzo Maffei with facades decorated with statues of ancient deities. And in front of the building rises the snow-white column of the Lion of St. Mark, indicating that Verona remained in the possession of the Venetian Republic for four centuries.
Among the others historical monuments adjacent to the square, it can be noted that it was built in the 14th century. Del Gardello Tower. Nearby is the Mazzanti House, whose façade dates from the 16th century. painted with frescoes by the famous master Cavalli; 83-meter Lamberti Tower with bells and Palazzo del Comune. The famous “Juliet's balcony” is also within walking distance.
Address: Piazza delle Erbe, 37121 Verona VR, Italy.
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Piazza delle Erbe, whose name in Italian means “Piazza of Herbs” (or “Piazza of Greengrocers”), because herbs and fruits were sold there, is the oldest square in Verona, located on the site of the ancient Roman forum. Where in In ancient Verona, two main streets intersected, today there is the Piazza dei Herbs. In the era of Ancient Rome it was the center of political and economic life cities.
Piazza delle Erbe in Verona is one of the most interesting places in the city.
Since the times of Ancient Rome, it was Piazza delle Erbe that was political and cultural center cities. Many years later, almost nothing has changed; people still flock here, only not to listen to someone speak, but to enjoy the local beauty.
The rectangular square is framed by buildings from different eras.
Along the long sides of the square are palaces and houses from the medieval and Renaissance periods. In the west there is a group of houses called Borgoletto and the Merchant's House, in the east - the Palace of the Commune) and the Mazzanti House.
Domus Mercatorum (Italian: Domus Mercatorum) - House of Merchants
A Gothic-style building that served as the residence of professional corporations in the Middle Ages. A loggia on arches was added to the building in 1301, at the direction of Alberto della Scala, and during the restoration of the building in the 19th century, Ghibelline battlements appeared on its roof.
The first building on this site was erected in 1210 and was intended for the guilds of merchants and artisans. The original structure was wooden, but already in 1301 the powerful Verona nobleman Alberto della Scala ordered the building to be rebuilt in stone and arches added to it on the ground floor, which can still be seen today
Later, the Domus Mercatorum was reconstructed several more times, and acquired its final form in the 19th century.
During the medieval commune, the merchant's house played a central role in the management of the city, and during the reign of the Scaligers it was entirely devoted to the needs of commerce and manufacturing. Craft and trade associations were located here.
The merchant's house was built in the Romanesque style and has a continuous facade overlooking the square and Via Pelicciai.
The second floor is decorated with beautiful double windows, each framed by an arch similar to the gallery of the first floor and containing two more semi-circular terminations supported by paired columns.
The ground floor is enclosed by a gallery of polychrome arches supported by graceful Doric stone columns and powerful piers.
The façade is crowned with powerful Ghibelline battlements.
Today it houses the People's Bank of Verona.
House Mazzanti (Italian: Case Mazzanti)
One of the oldest houses in Verona.
The 16th century frescoes that decorate the facade of the Mazzanti House represent allegories: “Ignorance”, “Greed”, “Love”, “Temperance” and the composition “The Fight of the Giants”.
The Mazzanti house in Piazza Erbe is actually several medieval houses united by a painted façade. On the ground floor, under the arches, there were trading shops. The third floor is united by a long balcony running across the entire façade.
During the Renaissance, many facades in Verona were so decorated, and this tradition was so strong here that Verona was even called “Urbs picta”, “the decorated city”. Initially, paint was applied to the walls of houses only to protect the building from bad weather, but over time, painting turned into an important decorative element of buildings.
It is known that in the 13th century the upper part of the house was used by the Scaligers as a granary, and trading shops were opened in the lower part. In the 16th century the house passed to the Mazzanti family. It was at this time that the facade received its current appearance.
During the history of Verona, the Mazzanti house was owned by several noble and powerful families. He was the place important events for the city, such as the murder of Mastino della Scala. Initially, the house belonged to the della Scala family, an influential dynasty of Verona.
Mastino I della S., the founder of the greatness of his house, was elected podesta in Verona in 1260, became Capitano del popolo in 1262, expanded the possessions of Verona to the north and made it a refuge for the Ghibellines, ousted from the rest of Lombardy; accompanied Conradin on his campaign against Charles I of Anjou. In 1279, Mastino was killed due to private revenge in the passage between Piazza delle Erbe and the back of the building where the entrance is, a few steps from his house.
The house is on the other side.
There are wells in the lower part of the palace; they could be used without leaving the house. The wells are still working.
Staircase with iron
rails, which made it possible to lower the bucket directly from the house and collect water
Houses adjacent to the Mazzanti house.
Fountain "Our Lady of Verona"
There are few historical monumental fountains in Verona, and every tourist pays attention to the Madonna Verona Fountain in Piazza Erbe. The fountain received its name immediately after its creation in the Scaliger era, because it was dedicated to Verona.
The outstanding fountain Madonna Verona amazes with its age and elegance of composition; we must not forget that we are seeing a rare medieval fountain, and the Renaissance was still more than a hundred years old at the time of its construction. In fact, it was created using various elements from the Roman era and decorative decorations glorifying Verona.
Fountain of Our Lady of Verona, created in 1368 using an ancient Roman statue that had been on the site since the 1st century AD. 
During the reign of Cansignorio Della Scala in 1368, the fountain was opened on main square city, when a new water supply was installed in Verona from the Lori springs from the Aveza hills, 15 km from the city center. The only possible author of such a fountain in the 14th century could be Giovanni di Rigino, a sculptor known to us from many works in Verona.
The fountain's pool was made of marble by the Italian sculptor B. Campione. This is one of the most famous architectural monuments cities, heritage of the Scaliger era
The pedestal on which the statue stands is surrounded by eight sculptures with water flowing from their masks.
It is believed that there was already a fountain at this place in ancient times, and it was decorated with the same statue. The female sculpture on the fountain is made of valuable Greek Pario marble and dates back to the 1st century AD. A statue from the Roman Forum of Verona, to which the sculptor attached a new head and arms; apparently they were no longer there by the 14th century. Indeed, from the side you can see the differences in the material and technique of these elements of the statue; even to the eye of an amateur, they are medieval and not distinguished by grace. Giovanni di Rigino created new hands and a head with a crown, and gave them a bronze ribbon with an inscription of praise to the city EST IVSTI LATRIX VRBS HAEC ET LAUDIS AMATRIX
(“This city, the bearer of truth, is worthy of praise”).
A large fountain bowl was found in the area Cathedral, where the Roman baths of the city were located, and probably also served in the baths, it dates back to the 2nd century. In the middle of the bowl there is a pedestal for the statue, on which there are eight bas-reliefs in the form of masks: four large and four small. They are made with extraordinary grace, inserted into the base as skillfully as valuable stones were inserted into jewelry and crowns. 
During the restoration they were discovered interesting details bas-relief masks and methods of constructing fountains in the Middle Ages. At the base of the fountain there are sectors and a bowl made of red Prune marble. The pedestal of the large bowl is also made of red Prune marble, in the middle of the bowl there is another base for a small bowl and a statue. It is made of pink marble from four interconnected parts.
The middle part of the base of the small bowl is almost a cylinder, decorated with four crowned heads, which are called masks. There were inscriptions on the crowns that are now almost indistinguishable. The letters allow you to identify the characters depicted.
On the upper part of the base of the small bowl of the fountain there are four more heads, this time made of valuable Greek marble from the island of Pario, similar to the marble of the statue on the fountain. On the south side it is clearly visible that the mask was built into an existing niche with a floral design carved into the marble.
Jets of water fall from the masks, water rises through a large inner cylinder covered with plates of copper and brass. This is how they created a water column, a column inside the fountain, which allows streams of water to come out with constant and strong pressure.
The colored marble of the fountain creates a chromatic effect that is beautiful in its simplicity - from red and pink to white with a light gray tint to the bright white Pario marble.
There is a sign according to which tourists visiting Verona throw a coin into the fountain. It is believed that this will bring good luck in business. The roots of this custom come from the times when many transactions were concluded by merchants near the famous fountain.
Aedicule "Berlin"
Aedicula (diminutive of Latin aedis house, temple, chapel), literally means a small house or temple.
In Roman architecture, aedicules were located in public buildings such as triumphal arches, city gates, temples
Currently, aedicules are found on tombstones in Catholic cemeteries. The most famous is the aedicule (in Orthodoxy Edicule), located inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem
The Aedicula is a 13th-century covered pavilion called "Berlina", once used for the ceremonial inauguration of each new ruler of Verona.
The severed heads of criminals were also put on public display here.
A chain with an opening ring made it possible to control the size of the fascine - that is, a bundle of brushwood that was traded in the square. Local units of length were also measured on the columns of the aedicule, and notches of a certain size were made on the steps, making it possible to control the dimensions of the building materials sold in the market here.
Gardello Tower
It is known that this tower was erected even before the reign of the Scaligerians, but in 1363, by order of Cansignorio della Scala, it was significantly rebuilt.
In 1421, construction of the dial and clock mechanism began. This was the first public mechanical clock in Verona, with which the whole city checked the time.
The tower is built of brick, its simple and austere architectural forms contrast with the nearby Baroque and Renaissance palaces.
The belfry is marked by double window openings and the roof is topped with large Ghibelline battlements. Great importance It also has a bell placed in the belfry of the Gardello tower.
Bell from 1370 from the Gardello clock tower, Castelvecchio Museum
It was cast by the famous Verona master Maestro Jacopo, commissioned by the Scaliger rulers of Verona for the first clock tower in Europe (a Verona record!) in 1370, as evidenced by the plaque installed at the base of the tower.
In the Castelvecchio Museum we can see this masterpiece weighing about 2 tons, the diameter of the bell bowl is 130 cm.
Bells were made in different shapes, and the most optimal solutions were sought for the shape of the bell and the sound it makes. From 1200, the methods and techniques of bell casting began to spread, and by the 14th century, Venetians also appeared among the best foundries, working in Verona.
Since the 15th century, when Verona became part of the Venetian Republic, there have been no such famous bell foundries in Verona.
Torre del Lamberti
From the northeast of Verona's Piazza Erbe rises the Lamberti Tower, built into the 12th-century House of the Commune.
It was built in 1172 by the Verona Lamberti family, from whom it took its name, in the Romanesque style.
In May 1403, it was struck by lightning, which destroyed the upper part of the tower.
It was possible to repair the tower only in the second half of the century, and the reconstruction made it taller than the original building. Currently, the height of the tower is 84 meters, which makes it the tallest building in Verona (in second place is the bell tower of the cathedral).
Areas corresponding to the two phases of the tower's construction are visible on its exterior due to the different materials used in different eras. At the bottom there are bricks and tuff blocks, then there are only bricks, and at the top there is marble.
There are 368 steps to the top of the Lamberti Tower. There is now an elevator to the first 243 steps
A large clock was installed on the tower in 1779. The towers also included two bells, Regno and Marangona; a small bell chimed the hours and announced a fire, and the ringing of a large one gathered people to meetings and announced the approach of the enemy.
The Rengo bell, the largest, gathered people for important celebrations and rang in cases of danger to the city, and the second Marangona chimed the working hours for artisans and rang the alarm in case of fires.
In this octagonal belfry at the very top there is still the old Rengo Bell. It weighs 4215 kg and is the second largest bell in Veneto. Only the Bell of the Verona Cathedral, which weighs 4566 kg, is larger than it. In third place in the Veneto region is the main Bell of San Marco in Venice (weight 3625 kg). The Marangona bell, together with two small bells, is located below Rengo, in the belfry of the base of the octagonal top of the Lamberti Tower.
You can visit the Lamberti Tower and take the elevator to its top, where you can enjoy wonderful panoramas of Verona.
At the top, from the belfries of Verona's highest bell tower, an unforgettable panorama of the historical city center and the surrounding area of Verona opens.
The 84 meter high tower is visible from everywhere. Of course, it was not built for the needs of the city at all - the towers in the 12th century were reliable fortified houses of powerful families in the city. The higher the house and the more prestigious the location, the more significant the family. The lands around the former Roman Forum right in the heart of Verona were of course the most prestigious and expensive.
Tower-fortresses were built around, providing security to the owners in turbulent times of struggle for power and influence in the cities, internecine strife between the Guelphs and Gibbelins. In 1172, Boseno di Lamberto began to build his tower house nearby in Piazza Erbe, which at that time was called Big square, in the typical Romanesque style of architecture of that time. A few decades later, the House of the Commune was built around the Lamberti tower, and it became an integral part of this public building of the city.
Over the centuries, the tower was made higher, built on, and in 1295 the tower became the Lamberti Bell Tower.
The last restoration of Torre Lamberti ended in 2007. Since April 2014, the Lamberti Tower has been part of museum complex Houses of the Commune with the Gallery of Paintings and Sculptures, where you can see the Chapel of the Notaries in the House of the Commune of the 12th century. 
Until now, our Tower has retained its medieval structure, the strips of brick and white stone are Romanesque from the 12th century, the brick walls are from the 13th century, and the top is Venetian from the 15th century. Then, above the triple windows of the tower, the coats of arms of the governors of Venice - Podesta and the Captain of the city - were installed.
An octagonal capital was erected above the trifors of the tower, open on all sides with double biforated windows made of white stone.
Palazzo Maffei
5. Every tourist pays attention to the magnificent building on Erbe Square in the Baroque style - Maffei Palace. On this site there was a loggia and porticoes that belonged to the city, and at the beginning of the 17th century they were sold to the Maffei family.
In 1626, the brothers Marcantonio and Rolandino Maffei petitioned the City Council to build a house. No documentary evidence survives until 1653. Apparently, construction was suspended due to the plague epidemic in the city and its consequences in 1630.
Rolandino Maffei in 1653 confirms that "a few rooms are habitable, but it is necessary to connect them with the rest of the house." On February 15, 1663, the following document concerning this palace: a request for connection to the city water supply system.
In 1713, the traveler Volkamer wrote: “In Verona, in the main square, called Erbe, everyone sees magnificent palace Counts Maffei. On its flat roof there is a terrace with a beautiful garden, with flower beds, flowers and trees. I saw this garden with my own eyes during my stay in Italy since 1660.” 
After the construction of the Palace, the subsequent owners of Maffei, of course, continued to decorate and expand their house. In 1696, Nicolo Maffei bought a house nearby for 2 thousand ducats and rebuilt it, joining it to the main building. Bottega shops are located at the bottom of the new building, and the owner’s apartments are located at the top. 
The author of the Maffei Palace project is unknown to us. Scipione Maffei, from one branch of the Maffei family, studied the family archives in the 18th century and claimed that the design was brought from Rome. The connections of the Maffei family with the famous Roman Urbe family are indirectly confirmed. 
The architecture of the building differs from all the buildings in Verona of that time; an element of repeating modules is used, which create the scenographic effect of the facade overlooking Erbe Square. Such a pompous façade of the Baroque Palace emphasized the splendor and power of the Maffei family.
The first floor is formed by a series of rusticated arches, there are five of them, with the entrance to the courtyard in the fourth arch, and not in the middle. The first floor is intended for botteg shops, since the façade of the building faces the Erbe shopping area. At this place, already under Count Rolandino Maffei, from July 13, 1691, “the merchants of Verona united shops and, following the model of the Ponte Rialto in Venice, traded in the courtyard of the Palace, under the porticoes and in the arches in the spring and summer. In the fall and spring they went upstairs to the second floor salon.”
The second floor on the facade is represented by five large windows, decorated at the top with alternating pediments - triangular and rounded. The windows are separated by Ionic semi-columns supporting a cornice along the entire façade. On the top floor of the building, the windows are smaller and face a balustrade along the entire façade. All this is richly decorated with a frieze with bas-reliefs and plant motifs.
At the top there is a balustrade and statues of six gods from Olympus. Minerva, Neptune, Apollo, Venus and Jupiter are made from local stone, and the statue of Hercules is made from dazzling white marble. The only statue is created from ancient marble found under the foundation during the construction of the building. The pedestal made of Pario marble (an island in the Aegean Sea) became a statue of Hercules. Now we know that in the Roman era there was a main temple the city of the Capitol and it was the valuable pario marble from the Capitol that was discovered in the 17th century.
JUPITER
MINERVA
MERCURY
APOLLO (who, however, is not a Roman, but a Greek god)
VENUS
HERCULES
Ground floor plan of the Maffei Palace
An interesting staircase was built inside the Maffei Palace, this is how Scipione Maffei described it: “the staircase leads from the basements to the roof of the house, and is arranged in a spiral, like a shell, in order to save internal space.
Despite this, it turned out to be noble and spacious, it all floats in the air.” Built entirely of stone, the spiral staircase has no vertical support, runs through the entire building from the bottom up from the basements to the roof garden and is “self-supporting.”
The historian Da Persico wrote in a guide to Verona in 1820 that “Sanmicheli created many staircases of this shape, but they all had a vertical support in the middle. This same staircase has no support, and causes surprise among all architects, especially European ones, who saw it.”
In Verona, this is not the only Palace of the Maffei family, in total there are five Palaces of this family, wealthy bankers, in the city, because three branches of this family lived in the city. The Maffei families had several villas in the province, such as Villa Maffei Sigurt.
Palace ceiling
You can also see the interiors here: http://www.travel.ru/hotel/italy/verona/palazzo_maffei/?in=02/25/2016&out=02/26/2016&hid=568628&occ=2
Top floor. Balustrade along the entire façade
View from the palace windows
Currently there is a hotel here. 
Column of St. Mark
The Column of St. Mark adorns the Piazza del Erbe opposite the Maffei Palace in the city of Verona.
Since Verona became part of the Venetian Republic in 1505, the symbol of the metropolis, the Lion of St. Mark, was, of course, installed on the main square: 
It was erected in the 16th century. on a marble column by Michele Leoni (isn't that a suitable surname for this monument?). During the Napoleonic Wars it was knocked down and reinstalled in the 19th century. 
It is crowned with the symbol of Venice and the former Venetian Republic - a winged lion depicting St. Mark.
The white marble column was installed in 1523, when Verona was part of the Venetian Republic.
The winged lion with an open book was designed by Michele Leoni. According to the observations of historians, the open book testified to the peaceful situation in the cities. Unfortunately, with the fall of the Venetian Republic in 1797, the original sculpture was destroyed. Therefore, in 1866 the column was decorated with a new lion.
"Ancient Column"
In the southern part of the square there is the so-called “ancient column”. This is a small Gothic column with an aedicule, erected in 1401 and containing the coat of arms of the Visconti family of Milan, which ruled Verona at that time.
In the niche you can see a relief image of the figures of the Mother of God and Saints Christopher and Peter the Martyr.
Monument to the Victims of 1915.
Between Via Pellicciai and Piazza delle Erbe there is a small 14th century square called Novembre, where a monument to the Victims of 1915 is erected.
Statue of a woman pointing her sword at the sky. This monument commemorates the tragic incident of the First World War. On November 14, 1915, an Austrian airplane strafed the historic city center, hitting many civilians in the market.
The people of Verona never forgot about this barbaric attack on unarmed and defenseless people. On November 14, 1920 this statue was installed. The female figure symbolizes a city that mourns but is not defeated.
Currently, the souvenir market is bustling in the Herb Square.
In the immediate vicinity of Piazza delle Erbe there is another economic and political center of ancient Verona - PIAZZA dei SIGNORI.
The passage leading from the Place des Traves to the Place des Seigneurs.
Verona is one of the most famous and visited cities in Italy. With the light hand of Shakespeare, it became the birthplace of Romeo and Juliet, as well as a mecca for lovers, it attracts history buffs with a well-preserved amphitheater, and wine lovers with the largest wine exhibition Vinitaly.
Verona is located in the north of the country, in the Veneto region, its neighborhoods stretch along the banks of the Adigia River.
History of Verona
Once upon a time, the Gauls and Veneti lived on these lands, in 89 BC. Verona became a Roman colony of great strategic importance.After the fall of the empire in the 5th century, the city was conquered by the Visigoth king Theodoric the Great. Verona became his favorite place to stay, and rather the king received the nickname of Verona.
Later the city came under the rule of the Lombards and acquired capital status. In 774, the Franks gained control of Verona under Charlemagne. Mark Verona then came under the influence of the Holy Roman Empire, and remained on its side throughout the struggle with the Papal States.
In 1136, the city became a free commune, and later the noble Scaliger family came to power, which was replaced by the Visconti at the end of the 16th century.
In 1405, Verona became part of the Venetian Republic. The next four centuries brought peace and prosperity, but there were also cataclysms. In 1603, a plague epidemic broke out, killing almost half the population.
In 1797, Verona became part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
In 1815, the province of Verona became part of the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia, and in 1866 it was annexed by Italy.
In 1882, the Adige River overflowed its banks and flooded the historic city center, causing damage to many buildings.
During the Second World War, Verona was bombed.
After the fall of fascism, the city became the core of the Italian Social Republic.
Currently, Verona is one of the most developed and rich cities in Italy. The economy is based on industry, commerce, agriculture and tourism.
Sights of Verona
There is quite a concentration in Verona a large number of sights dating back different centuries. The city grew and developed, enriching its cultural heritage. Historical Center dates back to the Middle Ages, although later buildings are also found. The Veronetta and San Zeno quarters were formed in late Middle Ages, outside the city wall there are villas and baroque palazzos.Verona was surrounded by five walls, the ruins of which have survived to this day. The arena is the symbol of Verona and the third largest Roman amphitheater in Italy (after Colosseum and the amphitheater in Capue).
When Caesar annexed Verona to Rome in 49 BC, the rapid development cities. Verona became an important strategic point, a camp in which legions were stationed.
The construction date of the Verona Arena is considered to be I-III centuries. Its dimensions are 152 by 123 meters and it can accommodate 22,000 spectators.
Since 1913 Arena di Verona (www.arena.it) became one of the most famous opera houses Italy, in which performances take place in the open air.
The stalls have comfortable chairs, and tickets for the less comfortable stone steps are cheaper, and you can feel like an ancient Roman.
2. Piazza Bra
Sconce (Piazza Bra) is the most large area Verona. The Arena is located in its center.
From here we can see the city wall surrounding Verona.
“But there is no peace outside the walls of Verona:
Purgatory is there, torture, hell itself!”
This is what Shakespeare wrote in Romeo and Juliet, although the great poet had never been to Verona, perhaps information reached him that the city wall had always played a big role for the city, was its protection and hope.
Verona, even in Roman times, was of great strategic importance due to its location at the crossroads of roads. Therefore, it needed protection from numerous enemies. The defensive system included not only a wall, but also towers, fortified gates, and forts.
From Bra Square you can see the city wall from the time of the Scaligerians; it is distinguished by decorations in the form of a “swallow’s tail” and several towers that have survived to this day.
Next to the main gate of the Bra there is a sculpture of a legless and armless pregnant woman. This controversial monument is considered the personification of courage and unbending will; it shows that you can be a happy mother without arms or legs.
The role of the model was the British artist Alison Lapper, disabled since birth. The marble sculpture was sculpted by Mark Quinn.
3. Square of Herbs (piazza delle Erbe)
The Square of Herbs (piazza Erbe) is considered the oldest in Verona; it is located on the site of the Roman forum.In the dungeons around the square, numerous ruins of ancient Roman buildings have been preserved, including houses, basilicas and baths.
The picturesque Square of Herbs is always full of life. Fruit and souvenirs are sold from stalls; in bars people lazily drink a spritz or eat ice cream.
In the center of the square there is a fountain with antique articles Verona Madonna, which dates back to 380.
The Lamberti Tower soars up 84 meters; it was erected in 1172 under the Palazzo Ragione, where the Verona court sat for several centuries.
You can climb the tower by elevator or on foot (ticket price is the same for the elevator and walking) and admire the beautiful panorama.
Opposite the Palazzo Maffei, decorated with statues of Jupiter, Hercules, Minerva, Venus, Mercury and Apollo, there is a white marble column with a lion, which is the symbol of the Venetian Republic. Lions with an open book were installed in Peaceful time, while closed indicates martial law.
The square was formed in the Middle Ages, when luxurious palazzos that belonged to the political elite of that time began to be built around it. In the center in 1865, a monument was erected to Dante, who, after being expelled from Florence, found refuge in Verona.
5. Church of Santa Maria Antica and the Scaliger Arches
The Church of Santa Maria Antica is located near Piazza della Signoria. In the 7th century, a small chapel was built on this site, which was destroyed by the earthquake of 1117. In 1185, a new temple was erected in the Romanesque style, the appearance of which has been preserved to this day.The church played the role of a private chapel for the Scaliger family, who built their tomb nearby - the Scaliger Arches. The tomb's headstone was made in the Gothic style in the 14th century and was worked on by various sculptors.
6. Gavi Arch
The Arch of Gavi is located on the ancient Roman Via Postumium, which led from Genoa to Aquileia. It was erected in the 1st century to celebrate the arrival of the Roman family Gavia (or Gabia).
7. Cathedral
The Cathedral (Duomo) is dedicated to St. Mary the Intercessor.It was erected in the 4th century in honor of St. Helena. It was rebuilt in the 12th century, and later the cathedral also underwent various changes, especially in the 16th century, when the current façade appeared.
The bell tower was added much later in 1915-20. But it remained unfinished; legend says that this was done specifically so that the bell tower would not rise higher than the Lamberti Tower.
The facade of the cathedral is made of white and pink marble.
Inside, the temple is divided into three naves. The central nave was designed by Michele Sanmichele, who was a great architect and engineer of Verona.
The side aisles house numerous works of art, including Titian’s masterpiece “The Assumption of Our Lady.”
8. Basilica of San Zeno
The Basilica of San Zeno (Basilica di San Zeno) is one of the most significant in Verona. It was founded in the 4th century, over the centuries the church rose up, the main structure dates back to the 10th-11th centuries, construction was completely completed in 1389.
The basilica houses numerous works of art, including Andrea Mantegna's masterpiece, the bronze portal. The facade is decorated with a rose window, which is called the “wheel of fortune”.
9. Stone Bridge (Ponte Pietra)
A stone bridge is the oldest and the only one remaining from Roman times in Verona. It survived several floods and a second world war, having received serious damage.The bridge is almost 93 meters long and connects the two banks of the Adige River, which is the second longest in Italy.
10. Basilica of Saint Anastasia (basilica Santa Anastasia)
The Basilica of St. Anastasia is one of the most beautiful and significant in Verona.
Its construction began in 1290, when the Bishop of Verona, Manfredo Roberti, decided that the Dominican friars needed a monastery and church within the city walls. The temple was consecrated in 1471, but work continued, moreover, the facade still remained unfinished.
Inside, the basilica is rich in architectural elements and works of art. Two unusual bowls for holy water attract attention: on the right is the Pasquino bowl by Paolo Orefice, made in 1591, on the left is the Hunchback bowl by Gabriele Cagliari, the father of the famous artist Paolo Veronese, dating back to 1495. Touching the hump is believed to bring good luck.
11. Juliet's Balcony
Thanks to William Shakespeare, Verona became the city of Romeo and Juliet. Despite the fact that the prototypes of the heroes of the famous tragedy lived in Udine, “Juliet’s house” appeared in Verona, which became a medieval building on via Cappello, near Trav Square. Tourists like to enter the small courtyard to see the balcony of Romeo’s beloved and climb onto it for a photo. There is also a statue of Juliet, next to which love notes are left and heart-shaped locks are locked.
The old castle was called the fortress of San Martino in Aquaro and is now considered the most significant example of military architecture from the time of the Signorius of the Scaligeri. It was part of a system of defensive structures on the right bank of the Adige River.
The majestic castle was built by order of Can Grande II in 1355-1375. It was surrounded by a battlemented wall with towers. The moat that surrounded the castle and bridge has been partially preserved. Subsequent rulers made changes. Now within the fortress walls there is an art museum where you can see works by Bellini, Pisano, Francesca, Rubens, Tintoretto, Tiepolo and other artists.
13. Veronetta Quarter
The Veronetta quarter is located on the left bank of the Adige River. Its name comes from the French word Veronette during the occupation in the early 19th century. This is how the French disparagingly called the part of the city occupied by the Austrians.The quarter lies on the hill of San Pietro, it was here that the first settlement was founded, which later became the city of Verona. high top had a strategically advantageous position and served as a natural defense in the event of enemy attacks.
Nowadays it offers a magnificent view of Verona, cut by the Adige River.
14. Porta Borsari street
The street Porta Borsari, starting from the Piazza de Traves, was a decuman in the ancient Roman period. Now along it there are shops, cafes and restaurants.
The street ends at the Borsari entrance gate, dating from the 1st century. Next to them is a copy of the Kate Moss statue, the work of the notorious sculptor Marc Quinn.
Borsari Gate, i.e. The Speculators' Gate is built into the Roman wall. There was once a temple dedicated to Jupiter not far from here, and the gate was also named after the god. Then the name was changed in honor of Saint Zen, and they received their current name because of the soldiers who collected the “entrance fee”.
15. Church of San Fermo
The Church of San Fermo (chiesa di San Fermo) was founded in the 8th century; now this part has been preserved on the lower level; in the 11th century, the Benedictines completed the upper church.A 
Piazza delle Erbe
