Piazza dei Signori

If Piazza delle Erbe is the bustling kitchen of Verona, Piazza dei Signori is its refined, formal living room. Stepping through the Arco della Costa (the arch with the whale rib hanging from it), the noise of the market fades away, replaced by a sense of order and medieval power. Dominating the center is the brooding statue of Dante Alighieri, turning his back on the fun of the market square. He lived here in exile for years under the protection of the Scaligeri family. It’s a favorite meeting spot—"Let's meet at Dante" is a standard phrase for locals.

Piazza dei Signori in Verona is a truly enchanting square, rich in history and architectural beauty. Surrounded by elegant medieval and Renaissance buildings, it offers a peaceful atmosphere despite being in the heart of the city. I especially enjoyed the presence of the impressive Statua di Dante Alighieri, which adds a deep cultural touch. The square feels like stepping back in time, perfect for a quiet stroll or enjoying a coffee while admiring the historic facades. It's a must-visit spot in Verona for anyone who appreciates art, history, and a calm, reflective space away from the busier tourist areas.

Piazza dei Signori is a place with a special historical charm. Its Renaissance architecture creates an evocative atmosphere. It is an ideal meeting point for walks and admiring the surrounding beauty. Here, an atmosphere of elegance and art delights visitors.#🇮🇹🫶💯

A few summers ago, I walked around this square young and beautiful and heartbroken. I paced the streets in the warm mid-July air, with all the hope and love my newly 22-year old form could ever possibly contain. I was waiting on a friend, whom I felt was the love of my life at the time, to meet me in Verona. It was far fetched of me to believe in it, there were a million variables and things in the way. Of course, he couldn’t come. Silly Americans raised on romance movies and fallacious dreams of finding paradise or love in Europe. Deliriously thinking we’ll find peace or escape or everything we’ve ever wanted on our annual 2 weeks off. I paced the town for three nights. Unable to rest, every neuron in my brain lit up and firing, only concerned about one singular thing (person,) him. I paced the city in silence, listening to music and smoking a few Italian marlboros. All the while, my heart spilling over with all of the love my 22 year old form could contain. I was sitting on some steps in this piazza when lightning began to strike overhead. Beautiful stabs of light across the dark sky over Dante’s statue. The storm continued the whole night. I felt the sky (and Dante) were sad with me.

More to my liking than the more famous Piazza delle Erbe !

Great history and humanity.It has left us a rich historical and cultural heritage.

This was such a beautiful Piazza! Really loved looking at all the buildings and the art work.

A piazza that dates from the Middle Age and is in the historical center of a very interesting city deserves to be seen. Also known as Piazza Dante (after all, there's a statue of the great writer there), it's framed by beautiful buildings and arcades.

Piazza dei Signori is Verona's third largest piazza behind Bra and Del Erbe. As a result, it often gets overlooked. It shouldn't be missed though because you will find quite a few goodies here. We stopped by late at night after dinner and the town square was almost empty. One of the highlights of the Piazza is the statue of Dante Alighieri. You'll find information in the square about Dante and his connection to Verona. The architecture surrounding the square is also beautiful. It's super close to Piazza del Erbe so you can easily do them back-to-back. Town squares are always important places to visit in Italy and what's nice is you can visit at any time of the day.

One of Verona's larger squares, this one is surrounded by the Palazzo della Ragione (city hall), Palazzo Domus Nova, Casa della Pietà, Palazzo di Cansignorio, Palazzo del Podestà and the Loggia del Consiglio. Dating back to the 13th century when it was then the Platea Domini vicarii, it's gotten more developed as these buildings were added and the rectangular shape began to form. On the front of the Casa della Pietà, note the bas relief of the seated woman holding a flag that reads, "Fide et Charitate in aeternum non deficiam." And of course, the statue of the great Dante, author of the Divine Comedy. [Review 16989 overall - 194 in Italy - 505 of 2022.]

You get here by walking from Piazza delle Erbe through Arco della Costa. You'll know you're passing under the arco dell Costa because you'll see a whale rib hanging from it. Once you've gone under this arch you've reached Piazza dei Signori. The main reason to come to this piazza is because it's surrounded by monumental buildings. Directly in the middle of the square is the Dante statue. On top of the surrounding buildings you'll see more famous signori. Other cool stuff includes the tower at the Palazzo del Capitanio, the old town call from the 15th century (called the Loggia del Consiglio), and the 14th century Palazzo della Prefettura. The Plazzo della Prefettura (called Palazzo del Governo in my guidebook) used to be the home of the Scaligeri family (the family that ruled the city for 200 years - the reason there are ladders etched in the marble and ladder symbols all over town is because this was the symbol of their family).

There are some very fine and ancient buildings around this square like the Romanesque 'Palazzo Comune' and the 15th century 'Loggia del Consiglio', one of the most beautiful buildings to be seen in Verona. The statue of the 'divine poet' Dante is particularly interesting. You can have a drink at the famous Antico Caffè Dante too!