Piazza delle Erbe, Verona

If there are too many tourists in the Piazza Bra (and I can imagine in the summer this will be the case) you should go to the more relaxed Piazza delle Erbe.

Some of the buildings in this square boast some lovely frescoes on their walls, and there are medieval and baroque buildings to look at too.

But you might not even look up to the buildings above as there's sure to be a nice atmosphere on the ground in one of the bars evening or morning - grab an espresso or an evening drink and listen to the fountain

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In the days of the Roman empire, the area where Piazza delle Erbe now stands was known as Verona's "forum": it was a popular marketplace and was of great social importance. One could say that things haven't changed all that much over the years - between the souvenir stalls that stand in the center of the piazza, it's still possible to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. Both locals and visitors enjoy stopping by one of the piazza's terraces to share news and stories over drinks and food, while social and political ideas are still being debated (there was a small protest about the price of water one evening).

The architecture of the buildings surrounding the piazza is very interesting - the Palazzo Maffei is especially nice, as are some of the buildings decorated by fading frescoes. There are also some statues of historical importance, including that of St. Mark's lion, a symbol of Verona's part in the Venitian empire, and the fountain that features a 2000-year-old Roman statue that has become known as "Madonna Veronna".

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Like Mantua, Verona has a central square, or piazza, named for the herbs that grow in the region. The Piazza della Erbe was originally the Roman forum, now the central marketplace. Surrounded by shops, cafes, and bars, this is Verona's main gathering place. The Tower Lamberti stands over the square.

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With its 274ft, this is the tallest building in Verona.

It was begun in 1172 and completed in 1464 with the construction of the octagonal belfry.

Inside, there are two ancient bells called the Rengo and the Marangona.

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This square has hosted a marketplace for more than 2,000 years! It is named after the city's old herb market. Even now you can buy many kinds of produce as well as the regions breads, wines, etc. It is also a good place to browse for souvenirs, some of which are handmade locally.

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This was the home of the Forum for Roman times, and still center of city activity toady for politics and economy. The fountain is called Madonna Verona constructed in 1368, and the Gardello tower is from the 14th century. The main square is now a mix of cheap items and food stuff to sell tourists, and it is tacky to say the least. They need to take it back to the heritage it deserves. There are many renowned palaces called Mazzanti (14th Cen), Maffiei (17th Cent), Mercanti (1301)and Comune that leads into Torre Lamberti.

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Market Square (or the square of herbs) occupies a good part of the area of Verona’s Roman Court, where the Maximum Decuman and Maximum Cardo intersected. Through the centuries, the square has been the centre of the city’s political and economic life.
The square is surrounded by buildings and monuments that have marked the history of Verona.

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The inner courtyard of the Palazzo del Comune is usually called the Mercato Vecchio.

The stairway called Scala della Ragione can be found in the courtyard.

From here you can take the lift to reach the top of the Lamberti Tower.