Lamberti Tower (Torre dei Lamberti) Tours

Piercing the sky high above Verona’s historic Piazza delle Erbe, the 12th-century Lamberti Tower (Torre dei Lamberti) is one of the most eye-catching landmarks in this UNESCO-listed city. Climb 84 meters (275 feet) to the panoramic terraces and belfry at the top for 360-degree views over Verona’s historic center. 

The original tower was built by the powerful Lamberti family in 1172, but the top was damaged by lightning in 1403. Forty years later, the tower was restored and expanded into the tallest in Verona. Today, the Lamberti Tower is one of the most popular attractions in the Piazza delle Erbe—home to the Baroque Palazzo Maffei, crenellated Casa dei Mercanti, and frescoed Mazzanti houses—and is included in walking tours of Verona along with the Roman arena in Piazza Bra, the Castelvecchio bridge and museum, and the Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore.

Verona is located in Italy’s Veneto region, halfway between Venice and Milan and just west of Padua. Piazza delle Erbe and the Lamberti Tower are in the historic center of Verona, about a 30-minute walk from the train station or 15 minutes by bus.

The best time to visit the tower is morning or late afternoon, when the light is perfect for taking photos of the view. Verona is known as the setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, and the city holds its Verona in Love festival each year around Valentine’s Day, with special events and exhibitions. 

The Lamberti Tower was originally built as a city watchtower to warn the citizens of impending disasters such as fire or attacks by the Venetians. Two bells were installed in the tower: the smaller, the Marangona, was used for fire alerts; the larger, the Rengo, was used to call citizens to arms or to call city council to meetings.