Ponte Pietra in Verona: history, how to get there and what to see
Ponte Pietra is Verona’s oldest bridge and the only one surviving from Roman times. It is pedestrian-only, free and always open. It crosses the Adige, linking Via Ponte Pietra, on the historic-centre side, to the hill of the Roman Theatre and Castel San Pietro on the opposite bank. From its centre you get one of the most photographed views in Verona: the river, the hills, the rooftops of the city.
For an overview of all the places to see in Verona, read our article on what to see in Verona.
Practical information
- Address: Via Ponte Pietra, Verona (right bank) — also accessible from Regaste Redentore (left bank)
- Access: Pedestrian only, free, always open
- Ticket: None — it is a public street
- Accessibility: Fully accessible to people with disabilities
- Pets: Allowed, in compliance with current regulations
- On foot from Piazza Bra: About 15 minutes
- On foot from Piazza delle Erbe: About 8 minutes heading north-east
- On foot from Castelvecchio: About 15 minutes heading east along the Lungadige riverside roads
When to go: sunset is the most atmospheric time: the low, raking light on the stones of the bridge and on the water of the Adige creates one of the most photographed scenes in Verona. Early in the morning the bridge is almost deserted, and it is the best time to cross it slowly and take in the details. In summer, in the middle of the day, it is very busy with tourists.
History: two thousand years in five arches
The spot where Ponte Pietra stands was already a ford in prehistoric times: it is the point where the Adige narrows to a minimum width of 92 metres and the current is weaker, thanks to the wide meander the river makes just upstream. It is no coincidence that Verona was born right here.
In 148 BC, during the construction of the Via Postumia, a first wooden bridge was built at this point. It was later replaced by the stone bridge whose two arches on the countryside side have survived intact to this day, built in opus quadratum with large blocks of Valpolicella stone. The bridge is not aligned with the orthogonal grid of the Roman city because it predates the urban plan: Verona was redesigned around the bridge, not the other way round.
Over the centuries the bridge was damaged by the river’s floods — recorded in 1007, 1153, 1232 and 1239 — and partially rebuilt several times. In 1298 Alberto della Scala had the tower on the city side restored and the adjacent arch rebuilt: that section is still recognisable today by its use of brick instead of stone. In 1368 Cansignorio had an aqueduct run across the bridge, bringing running water to several homes in the centre and to the Madonna Verona fountain in Piazza delle Erbe. Between 1508 and 1520 Fra Giocondo oversaw the rebuilding of the two central arches in Venetian style, with the large round opening that can still be seen today.
The worst damage came on 24 April 1945, when retreating German soldiers blew up the bridge with mines. Only the arch on the city side survived. The people of Verona patiently recovered the original blocks from the riverbed (529 in all) and reassembled them on the basis of old drawings and photographs, following the different building techniques used over the centuries. The reconstruction work, directed by Piero Gazzola and the architect Libero Cecchini, began in 1957 and was completed in 1959.
What you see: three eras readable at a glance
What makes Ponte Pietra unique is not just its age, but how clearly its layers can be read. The five arches tell two thousand years of building history, with no attempt to make them uniform or to hide them.
- The two arches on the countryside side (left bank): Roman, made of large blocks of Valpolicella stone in opus quadratum, without mortar, held together by metal clamps
- The right-hand arch with the tower: Scaliger, commissioned by Alberto della Scala in 1298, recognisable by its exposed brickwork
- The two central arches with the large round opening: Venetian, rebuilt by Fra Giocondo between 1508 and 1520, a mixed structure of stone and brick
From the middle of the bridge the view opens up in both directions: upstream you can see the Veronese hills and the bends of the Adige; downstream you can glimpse the city’s other historic bridges. On the left side, at the foot of the hill, stands the Roman Theatre — the two monuments are practically next to each other.
To see Ponte Pietra from a completely different perspective — from below, on the water — rafting on the Adige passes under the bridge’s arches during the descent. It is one of the most spectacular moments of the route.
How to get to Ponte Pietra
Ponte Pietra is a few minutes’ walk from the historic centre. The most direct route from Piazza delle Erbe follows Via Ponte Pietra north-east for about 8 minutes. From Piazza Bra, add a few minutes walking through Via Mazzini and the pedestrian centre.
There is no ticket office and no opening hours: the bridge is a public street you can cross freely at any time of day or night. Parking: the area is a ZTL (limited traffic zone). The nearest car parks are those of the historic centre — for directions, see our page on parking in Verona.
What to see nearby
Ponte Pietra is in an area full of points of interest, all within walking distance:
- Roman Theatre and Archaeological Museum (5-minute walk, left bank) — the 1st-century BC theatre at the foot of the hill, with the museum in the Augustinian convent above it
- Castel San Pietro (10–15 minutes on foot, or by funicular from the Roman Theatre) — the finest panoramic terrace in Verona, ideal at sunset
- Giardino Giusti (10-minute walk, left bank) — one of the most beautiful Renaissance gardens in Italy
- Piazza delle Erbe (8 minutes heading south-west) — the former Roman forum, with its daily market
- Via Sottoriva — the medieval street with low porticoes, along the right bank of the Adige, almost beneath the bridge