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Square · Verona, Vêneto
Piazza Bra
Verona’s largest square, in front of the Arena, with the Liston promenade, the palazzi of the Gran Guardia and the city hall, and a central garden.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Piazza Bra
Piazza Bra is Verona’s largest square and serves as the gateway to the centre for those arriving from the station. The name comes from braida, a word derived from the Lombard breit, meaning ‘wide space’: for centuries it was an open area outside the walls, and only in the 16th century did it begin to become a proper square.
On the side of the Arena runs the Liston, the stone promenade created in 1770 for the bourgeois stroll, today filled with cafés and restaurants with pavement tables. On the south side are the Gran Guardia, a palace begun by the Venetians and finished by the Austrians, and the gates of Portoni della Bra, which marked the city’s entrance.
On the east side stands the Palazzo Barbieri, the city hall, designed in 1836 and originally used as an Austrian barracks. In the centre of the square, a garden with a fountain and trees provides shade for those waiting for the Arena to open. From the Bra, Via Mazzini, a pedestrian shopping street, leads in a few minutes to Piazza delle Erbe.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About half an hour to walk around the square; longer if you sit at a café on the Liston.
Best time
In the late afternoon, when locals go out for a stroll and the sun lights the Arena. During the opera festival months (June to September), the square fills up before performances.
How to get there
About a 15–20 minute walk from Verona Porta Nuova station via Corso Porta Nuova. City buses stop next to the square.
Tip
The cafés on the Liston charge more for tables with a view of the Arena; a coffee at the bar of a neighbouring street bar is cheaper. On opera nights the square gets very crowded: take care of your bag and wallet.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Piazza Bra
What is the Liston?
It's the wide stone promenade on the west side of the square, created in 1770 for the city's promenade. Today it has cafés and restaurants with tables facing the Arena.
Is it far from Piazza Bra to Piazza delle Erbe?
No. Via Mazzini, a pedestrian street, is about a 10-minute walk.
Is Piazza Bra near the station?
Yes. Verona Porta Nuova station is about 1.5 km away, roughly a 15–20 minute walk along Corso Porta Nuova. City buses also run the route.