Piazza delle Erbe
Last updated on September 8, 2026Overview
Piazza delle Erbe occupies the area of Verona's Roman forum and has remained a centre of commerce and public life through successive centuries. Its irregular space is enclosed by civic buildings, frescoed façades and monuments that reveal the city's Roman, communal, Scaliger and Venetian layers.
The square is both a landmark and an active gathering place. Market stalls and café terraces animate it during the day, while nearby passages connect it with Piazza dei Signori, Torre dei Lamberti and the Scaliger Tombs.
Quick Facts
- Type: Historic Place, Square/Plazza
- Visitor access: Open to visitors
- Built: Roman forum; present form medieval to Baroque
- Architectural style: Medieval to Baroque
- It was the Roman forum: The square occupies the forum of Roman Verona, which is why it sits at the centre of the street grid rather than beside a church as a medieval square usually would.
- A Roman statue on a medieval fountain: The Madonna Verona fountain was assembled in 1368 for Cansignorio della Scala around a Roman statue of about 380 CE, reused with a new head and arms.
Visit Responsibly
The fountain and painted façades draw people into the same narrow viewpoints, especially when the market is active. Taking photographs from the edge of the pedestrian flow keeps the centre of the square usable. The surrounding buildings still contain homes and workplaces, even when the piazza feels like an open-air stage.
Plan Your Visit
The square is a free public space and can be crossed at any time, but businesses and market stalls keep their own hours. Early morning offers clearer views of the architecture; evenings emphasize the square's social atmosphere.