Piazza dei Signori

Piazza dei Signori is Verona's Renaissance civic square, set in the historic centre of the city in Italy's Veneto region, just a two-minute walk from Piazza delle Erbe through the Arco della Costa. The square was the seat of political power under the Della Scala rulers and later the Venetian Republic, and it is surrounded by the palaces that housed the government. At its centre stands a nineteenth-century statue of Dante Alighieri, who spent part of his exile in Verona under the protection of Cangrande I. The Palazzo della Ragione, the medieval town hall, runs along one side, with its Gothic courtyard and the Torre dei Lamberti behind. Across from it stands the Loggia del Consiglio, a Renaissance council hall from the late fifteenth century, topped with statues of famous Veronese figures, including the poet Catullus and the architect Vitruvius. The red-and-white brick Palazzo del Capitanio and the Domus Nova complete the enclosure, and the arch known as the Arco della Costa, with a whale rib hanging from it, links to the neighbouring square. Cafes with outdoor seating line the edges, making the square a popular spot for aperitivo, and a seasonal Christmas market fills the space in December. A visit takes about 20 to 30 minutes, longer when stopping for a drink. The best photo angles are the Loggia del Consiglio with the Dante statue in front, and the view toward the Torre dei Lamberti from the arch. Evening light brings out the red brick and stone, and the square is calm after the daytime crowds leave. Midday is the busiest period, particularly in summer, and cafe prices on the square are higher than in side streets. Visitors can continue to the Scaliger Tombs, a short walk away, or climb the tower for city views.