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The Lamberti Tower (Torre dei Lamberti) is an 84m high tower in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Verona, Italy. It sits next to Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza dei Signori.
History
The tower was built by the Lamberti family who started construction in the 11th century. It was struck by lightning in 1403 and badly damaged, but wasn’t restored until 1448. The restoration was completed in 1464. In 1779, the clock was added, giving the tower its current appearance.
Visiting the Tower
The Lamberti Tower has been open to the public since 1972. Visitors can choose to climb up the stairs or take the lift to a viewing platform at the top. It’s open daily. Admission to the tower is €6 for adults; €4.50 for seniors over 60, students aged 14-25 with a valid student ID, and children aged 8-14; and free for children up to 7 (as of August 2024). If you have a Verona Card, admission is free for stairway access but you have the option pay €1 to ride the lift. We had the Verona Card and paid for our ride up.
Once at the top, we were treated to some incredible views of Verona. It’s possible to spot several landmarks including the Duomo, the Basilica of Saint Anastasia, the Arena di Verona, and the squares below.
We were also able to see the four historic bells in the belfry. Each one has a different name. The Rengo, which is the largest bell, was used to call the Arrengo (city council) and the army during emergencies. It was originally cast in 1272 and replaced in 1557. The Marangona was also cast in 1272 and replaced in 1833. It sounded during fires and at the beginning and end of the work day. Two smaller bells, the Rabbiosa and Bajona, were added in 1779.
Palazzo della Ragione
The Lamberti Tower is attached to the Palazzo della Ragione. It was built in the 12th century as one of the first public palaces in Italy. Today it houses the Achille Forti Gallery of Modern Art (Galleria d’Arte Moderna Achille Forti). Admission is €6 for adults, €4 for seniors over 65, €2 for visitors aged 18-25, and free for children up to 17 (as of August 2024). It’s open daily except Mondays. We didn’t visit.
One of the main features of the Palazzo della Ragione are the Stairs of Reason (Scala della Ragione). Once covered, this Gothic staircase led to the law courts that were once held in the building.
The building surrounds the Old Market Courtyard (Cortile del Mercato Vecchio), which is an old market square dating back to the 15th century. During our visit, there was a Christmas market in the square.
