Castel San Pietro & Ponte Pietra
Castel San Pietro / Ponte Pietra
A viewpoint on the hill across the Adige, the best place to overlook Verona's red roofs and the river bend, with a Roman stone bridge below.
The hill of Castel San Pietro was the earliest settlement in Verona. The surviving buildings are barracks built during the Austrian period in the 19th century. The castle itself is not open to visitors, but the free viewing terrace in front overlooks the whole old town wrapped by the bend of the Adige. The Torre dei Lamberti, the cathedral and the Arena are all in view, and the scene is most beautiful at sunset. To get up, cross the river on the Ponte Pietra and walk up the steps for about 10 minutes, or take the Castel San Pietro funicular, reopened in 2017 (about 2–3 euros one way). The Ponte Pietra is Verona's oldest bridge, begun in the 1st century BC. Some of its arches are still original Roman work, and it was rebuilt after World War II using stones recovered from the river. At the foot of the hill are a Roman theatre and an archaeological museum (included in the Verona Card).
Opening hours
Observation deck open all day; cable car approx. 10:00–21:00 (shorter in winter; per official website)
Nearby sights
- Roman Theatre & Archaeological Museum
- Basilica of Sant'Anastasia
- Scaliger Tombs (Arche Scaligere)
- Giardino Giusti
- Verona Cathedral (Duomo)
- San Giorgio in Braida
- Torre dei Lamberti & Piazza dei Signori
- Juliet's House