Verona · Landmark
Piazza delle Erbe
You are standing in what used to be the ancient Roman Forum, now transformed into Verona’s lively outdoor market. This is the true beating heart of the city. While browsing the market stalls is fun, the real magic is above eye level. Look up at the Case Mazzanti to see vibrant, centuries-old frescoes painted directly onto the building facades.
History
Piazza delle Erbe is the literal historic heart of Verona, pulsing with life for over two thousand years. In ancient times, this exact spot was the Roman Forum—the epicenter of political, religious, and commercial life. The square still keeps its characteristic elongated, oval shape from that era, even though the original Roman temples have long been replaced by magnificent medieval and Renaissance palaces.
It earned its current name, "Square of Herbs," during the Middle Ages when it transformed into the city’s bustling main market for fresh produce, spices, and medicinal herbs. Over the centuries, it was framed by some of Verona's most stunning architecture. Look up and you’ll see the beautiful, frescoed facades of the Case Mazzanti (a vivid reminder of when Verona was known as the "painted city"), the soaring Torre dei Lamberti, and a tall column topped with a winged lion, honoring the long rule of the Venetian Republic.
Right in the center sits the square's most famous landmark: the Madonna Verona fountain. Built in the 14th century by the powerful Scaliger family, it actually features an original Roman statue from the 4th century. It’s the perfect symbol of the square itself—a seamless blend of ancient and medieval worlds that still thrives today as Verona's favorite place to gather, shop, and soak up the local energy.