Description of the attraction
Piazza delle Erbe, whose name means "square of herbs" in Italian, is the oldest square in Verona, located on the site of the ancient Roman forum. In the era of Ancient Rome, it was the center of the city's political and economic life.
In the center stands the fountain of the Madonna di Verona, erected in 1368 by order of Cansignorio della Scala, for which a Roman statue from the late 4th century was used. Now she depicts the Virgin Mary. Here you can also see the edikula of the 13th century - a small building in which the head of the city administration (podesta) took office. Today this edicule is called "Berlin".
On all sides, the rectangular Piazza delle Erbe is surrounded by buildings that have been built in different historical periods and have become tourist attractions. Here you can see the Gothic House of Merchants, which housed professional corporations in the Middle Ages. In 1301, an arched loggia was built next to it, and in the 19th century, after restoration, the Gibbel battlements appeared on the house. Today it houses the People's Bank of Verona. Nearby is the medieval Palazzo Maffei - a magnificent building with statues of ancient deities: Jupiter, Apollo, Venus, Minerva, Mercury and Hercules. And in front of the baroque palace there is a column with a winged lion - the symbol of the Venetian Republic, which dominated here for four centuries. The Palazzo is adjoined by the Del Gardello Tower, built in 1370. Another interesting building is the Mazzanti House, whose façade was decorated with frescoes in the 16th century. Finally, it is worth paying attention to the Lamberti tower, built in 1172. This 83-meter tower is popularly known as the "bell tower" because the bells of Regno and Maragona were installed on it in the middle of the 15th century. Other buildings in the square include the old Palazzo del Comune and the House of Giudici.
