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Piazza delle Erbe is the oldest square in the UNESCO World Heritage listed city of Verona, Italy.
Introduction to Piazza delle Erbe
During the Roman period, Piazza delle Erbe was the site of the forum. It’s surrounded by a handful of historic buildings with the Lamberti Tower overlooking the southeast side.
If you’re looking for a great place to sit outdoors and have a coffee or a meal, the east side of Piazza delle Erbe is lined with several different cafés and restaurants. During our visit there were several market stalls selling goods such as fruit, clothing, and souvenirs.
Monuments at Piazza delle Erbe
In the center is a fountain built in 1368 under Cansignorio della Scala (1340-1375) topped by a Roman sculpture dating to 380 AD as well as the Capitello, a 13th century ceremonial capital where oaths of office were taken.
On the north side, in front of Palazzo Maffei, is a white marble column crowned by the Lion of St. Mark, which is a symbol of Venetian rule.
On the south side of the square is a 14th century column with reliefs of the Virgin Mary along with Saints Zeno, Christopher, and Peter.
Domus Mercatorum
Domus Mercatorum is on the southwest side of the square. Originally built in 1210 out of wood, the structure once housed the Casa dei Mercanti, the city’s merchant’s guild. It was rebuilt out of stone between 1301 and 1304 by Alberto I della Scala (d. 1301) shortly before his death. After undergoing several changes over the centuries, it was restored to its original appearance at the end of the 19th century. The building is now the home of the People’s Bank of Verona (Banca Popolare di Verona).
Palazzo Maffei
On the north end is Palazzo Maffei. It was built by Marcantonio Maffei starting on December 20, 1469, but it wasn’t completed until 1668. The Baroque-style building has three stories and five arches on the ground floor. It’s topped by marble statues of six ancient gods: Hercules, Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, Apollo, and Minerva. The statue of Hercules is believed to have come from the Roman Capitolium, which once stood on the site.
Palazzo Maffei houses the Palazzo Maffei House Museum (Casa Museo Palazzo Maffei), which opened to the public on February 15, 2020. On display are over 650 works from the private art collection of Luigi Carlon, spanning over 2,000 years. Admission is €15 for adults, €13 for seniors age 65+ and Giusti Garden ticket holders, €7 for students age 13-26 and holders of a Verona Card, €4.50 for kids age 6-12, and free for kids under 6 (as of May 2025). Audioguides are €3.50 but you must bring your own earphones. The museum is open daily except Tuesdays.
Gardello Tower
To the left of Palazzo Maffei is the Gardello Tower (Torre del Gardello), which was built by Cansignoro della Scala between 1363 and 1370. It reached its current height of 44 meters when it was renovated in 1626. A bell was placed in the tower in 1370. It rang every hour and is considered the city’s first public clock. The bell is now kept in the Castelvecchio Museum.
Mazzanti Houses
Finally, on the northeast side are the Mazzanti Houses (Case Mazzanti), a group of buildings dating back to the 13th century. The houses took their current name in 1527 when they were sold to Matteo Mazzanti. He had the buildings restored with work completed in 1529. A few years later, Alberto Cavalli was commissioned to paint the 400 square meters of frescoes on the façade.
An important event that took place at the Mazzanti Houses was the assassination of Mastino I della Scala by a member of the aristocratic class opposed to Scaliger rule. Mastino was the founder of the House of Scaliger and served as the Lord of Verona from 1260 until his death on October 26, 1277.
Via Mazzini
Via Giuseppe Mazzini is a pedestrian shopping street in the historic center of Verona. It connects Piazza delle Erbe to Piazza Brà. The street is lined with shops, many selling luxury goods. During our visit, the street was super crowded in the early evenings.
The first stretch of Via Mazzini running from Piazza delle Erbe follows the Roman decumanus. The rest connecting to Piazza Brà was created in 1391 after Gian Galeazzo Visconti (1351-1402) ordered the demolition of several buildings.
Via Mazzini was called Via Nuova during the Middle Ages. It was a dirt road until 1818, when the section nearest Piazza Brà was paved at the expense of the building owners. The entire street was paved with marble in 1998.
In 1907, the street was named for Giuseppe Mazzini (1805-1872), a politician and journalist who spearheaded the Italian revolutionary movement. The most impressive architecture is on the half nearest Piazza delle Erbe.
Birthplace of Pietro Leonardi
The building at the corner of Via Quattro Spade, another shopping street, was the birthplace of Pietro Leonardi (1769-1844), an important Catholic priest who did many things to help the sick and the poor. It also has a pair of Capitoline Wolf reliefs attached to the corners.
Loggia Arvedi
Loggia Arvedi stands in an open area before the road changes direction towards Piazza Brà. It was built in 1816 by silk manufacturer Gian Antonio Arvedi and designed by architect Giuseppe Barbieri (1777-1838). The Neoclassical building features a three arches on the ground floor, with the head of Mercury above the central one and the heads of lions atop the other two. The loggia on the upper level has Ionic columns and an elliptical balcony. On the pediment is a relief of Hercoles killing the lion Nemeo.
Madonna Verona
Finally, on the Piazza Brà end of Via Mazzini is the Madonna Verona. This column depicts the Virgin and Child, St. Mark, St. Anthony, and St. James. It dates back to the 14th century and is an important religious symbol in the city
