Piazza Erbe

Piazza Erbe, the beating heart of Verona, is perhaps the place where you can best verify with your own eyes one of the criteria for which the beautiful city of Verona, in 2000, received the recognition of UNESCO World Heritage Site.
"For its urban structure and architecture, Verona is a splendid example of a city that developed progressively and uninterruptedly over two thousand years, integrating artistic elements of the highest quality of the different periods that have followed one another."

A mix of artistic, historical and architectural elements expertly assembled and incredibly well preserved: all this is Verona, all this is, in particular, Piazza Erbe. One of the most beloved open-air lounges in the world, whose walls are made up of ancient buildings dating back to different eras that have characterized the history of the city.
Piazza Erbe is the oldest square in our city and is located on the area of the Roman forum. At that time it was the nerve centre of social, economic and political life in Verona.

The north side of the square is now characterized by the liveliness of the crowd that animates the bars and restaurants, making it a pleasant and refined showcase overlooking the heart of the Della Scala City. It is occupied by the old Town Hall building, the evocative Lamberti Tower, the Casa dei Giudici and the Mazzanti houses, a fascinating agglomeration of buildings from various eras, of which one cannot but admire the splendid, well-preserved frescoes, testimony to the sixteenth-century nickname of Verona "urbs picta", due to the custom, in fact, of embellishing houses and palaces with marvellous frescoes.

The west side, the smallest, is closed by the baroque Palazzo Maffei, adorned with various statues of gods of Greek mythology.
The north-west side of the square is based on the Roman Capitol, which looked towards the Forum. Many of the houses have preserved the remains of fresco paintings.

The protagonist of the south side is the House of Merchants (Domus Mercatorum), a building that symbolizes the Middle Ages in Verona.
The other houses, which are more anonymous, are reminiscent of the tower-houses of communal origin for their height/width ratio.

The main protagonist in the centre of the square is the fountain with the Roman statue of Madonna Verona (380 A.D.), which holds in its hands the scroll with the old municipal motto: "to this city, bearer of justice and lover of praise".

The square is dotted with the ancient 13th century Tribune, the imposing column bearing the lion of San Marco, symbol of the Serenissima, and the statue of the beloved poet Berto Barbarani, who, on the edge of the square, near Via Cappello, watches over the perennial coming and going of citizens and foreigners, almost as if to eternally whisper words of love for his, our, beautiful Verona.

FAQ

Why is it called Piazza delle Erbe?
The square was given this place name in the 14th century, when there was a small market with fruit and vegetables on the site, expanded to the present day with the sale of souvenirs and clothing.

What is the white marble capital in the middle of the square for?
The place was used by the governors for citizenship proclamations. In addition, some important medieval units of measurement are carved at its base.

Who represents the statue that stands in the fulcrum of the square?
In Piazza Erbe there is the statue of "Madonna Verona" placed in the fountain in the center of the square. The statue, built at the behest of Cansignorio della Scala, represents a figure of a woman who embodies the splendour and prestige of Verona.

Is the monument accessible to people with disabilities?
The square is completely accessible.

Is it possible to access to the monument with animals?
It is possible to transit in accordance with the specific current rules.