Arco dei Gavi

The Arco dei Gavi is a Roman triumphal arch on Corso Cavour in Verona, Italy, standing beside the Castelvecchio at the western end of the street. It was built in the first century AD for the Gavii family, a prominent local clan, and is unusual because the architect, Lucius Vitruvius Cerdo, signed it on the structure, a rare practice in Roman monuments. The arch originally stood further along the Roman Via Postumia, close to the city's entrance, and spanned the road as a ceremonial gateway. In 1805 French troops dismantled the arch to clear the way for military traffic, and its stones were stored for over a century. It was reassembled in 1932 on its present site next to Castelvecchio, with its fragments set in the original order. The monument is built of pale limestone with a single large opening, flanked by pilasters and niches that once held statues of family members. Visitors can walk through the arch and examine the details at close range, including the dedication inscriptions and the carved capitals. The visit takes just 10 to 15 minutes because the monument is a single structure, so it is usually combined with the nearby Museo di Castelvecchio and the Ponte Scaligero. Photographers favour the view of the arch with the brick castle towers behind it, and the contrast between the white stone and the red brick is clearest in morning light. The arch is open to view 24 hours a day with no admission fee, and the surroundings are quiet outside the busy lunch period. Crowds are small, though groups gather when buses stop at the castle. Visitors should take care when crossing the road, as traffic passes close to the monument. The arch is about a 20-minute walk from Piazza Bra along Corso Cavour, passing several historic palaces and shops, so the walk is part of the experience.