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The Piazza dei Signori is a small but popular square in the UNESCO World Heritage listed city of Verona, Italy. It’s located right next to the Piazza delle Erbe and is surrounded by historic political and administrative buildings connected by arches topped with statues.
When we visited, it was hard to get a good look at the buildings because of the Christmas market taking place. The entire square was packed with booths selling food and crafts and you couldn’t move without bumping into someone. It was tough but we were able to at least get a look at all of the important buildings on the square and the statue of Dante in the center.
Palazzo della Ragione
First, we had just visited the Lamberti Tower. The tower and the attached Palazzo della Ragione are part of the Piazza dei Signori.
Palazzo Domus Nova
To the right is the Palazzo Domus Nova. It was built in the 13th century and held the offices of the podestà and judges. Also known as the Palace of Judges (Palazzo dei Giudici), it now houses a luxury B&B.
House of Mercy
Continuing clockwise is the House of Mercy (Casa della Pietà) which was undergoing restoration. It contains the oldest coffee house in Verona.
Council Lodge
The next building is the Council Lodge (Loggia del Consiglio), also known as the Loggia di Fra ‘Giocondo. This Renaissance palace built between 1476 and 1493 as the meeting place for the town council. It now houses the Provincial Administration.
Decorated with frescoes and marble columns, it’s considered one of the most beautiful Renaissance palaces in northern Italy. The building is crowned by statues of Vitrivius, Catallus, Pliny the Elder, Marcus, and Cornelius Nepos.
Government Palace
The building on the east side of the square is the Government Palace (Palazzo del Governo), also known as the Palazzo del Podestà. It was originally built in the 13th century by the della Scala family on top of Roman ruins. They used it as their residence and hosted Dante there after his exile from Florence, which is why there’s a statue of the author in the center of the square. The Lion of St. Mark was placed above the entrance by the Venetians.
Palazzo del Capitano
The final building, which is to the left of the Palazzo della Ragione, is the Palazzo del Capitano, also known as the Palazzo del Cansignorio. It was the center of della Scala power and probably completed in 1363. It received the name Palazzo del Capitano because it was the residence of the captain of the Republic of Venice. The only original part of the building that remains is the tower, which was undergoing restoration during our visit.
Scaliger Tombs
Leaving the Piazza dei Signori just past the Palazzo del Capitano are the Scaliger Tombs (Arche Scaligere). This is where some important members of the della Scala (Scaliger) clan are entombed. The tombs are located in a courtyard next to the Church of Santa Maria Antica (Chiesa di Santa Maria Antica) and are surrounded by a wrought iron fence.
The tomb of Cangrande I sits above the entrance to the Church of Santa Maria Antica. The church, which dates back to 1185, was used by the della Scala as their private chapel. It was closed when we passed by.
A few interesting buildings also surround the tombs.
