Lords' Square (Piazza dei Signori)

Lords' Square (Piazza dei Signori), also known as Piazza Dante, lies in the historic centre of Verona, adjoining Market Square (Piazza delle Erbe).
Piazza dei Signori was formed in the Medieval period when the Scaliger family ruled in Verona and built palaces in that area for political and administrative use. The piazza was given a square form, and all of the palaces were linked by arches and loggias.
The “heart” of the square and its symbol is, of course, a monument to the great Italian poet Dante Alighieri. In the mid-XVIIth century, the podestà (high officials of the city) decided to build a fountain on the square, but it no longer exists. At the very end of the century, it was demolished for being inadequate to honour such an important square. In 1865, it was decided to erect a statue of Dante that was kept in one of the palaces facing Piazza dei Signori; besides, it was the sixth centenary of the poet’s birth. Dante’s statue is made from the famous Carrara marble, and stands on a pedestal three meters tall. A bronze copy of it is in the collection of the Gallery of Modern Art Achille Forti, situated in the Palace of Justice (Palazzo della Ragione).
The Palace of Justice belongs to both Market’s Square and Dante’s Square, and was built in the XIIth century. Originally, it was a political and administrative building, but it got its name at the end of the XVth century, when it became the seat of the main body of justice in Verona. In the XVIIIth century, the palace changed its use and hosted different shops. Part of it was also used as a prison. The second half of the century brought a new cultural role for the palace, because the Academy of Fine Arts was given several rooms there. The Palace of Justice is an exhibition space even today, although now it hosts a modern art collection.
Next to the Palace of Justice is the Palazzo of Cansignorio, named after one of the lords of Verona who was a member of the Scaliger family. The XIVth century palace was originally a fortress and it had three large towers. One of them can still be seen today.
Next to Cansignorio Palace is an arch that leads to the Church Santa Maria Antica with another significant monument – the Scaliger Tombs.
From another side of the arch is the Palace of Podestà. It was built in the Scaliger era and has a typical Ghibelline battlement. When Venice conquered Verona, a lion of Saint Mark was added to the top of it.
Podestà Palace rests on the Loggia of the Council that is used as a seat of council even today. The XVth century building is decorated with marble columns, many sculptures and paintings.
Last year, Piazza Dante became a meeting place, and every Wednesday evening students of Verona come there with guitars to dance the flamenco and compete at capoeira. This has become a new social phenomenon in Verona, attracting more and more people and also numerous tourists who visit Verona each summer.