Torre dei Lamberti (Lamberti Tower), Verona (must see)

Lamberti Tower is one of Verona’s most recognizable landmarks, built beginning in 1172 by the influential Lamberti family, at a time when prominent Veronese households constructed tall towers to express their wealth and political influence. Over the centuries, the tower has undergone several phases of modification, including a major restoration following a lightning strike in 1403. This reconstruction campaign, which lasted from 1448 to 1464, introduced visible changes in materials and extended the structure to its current height of 84 metres.

The tower features two bells, each with a distinct civic purpose. The Rengo bell once summoned citizens to arms or to public assemblies, while the Marangona signaled work hours, timekeeping, and fire warnings. These bells were central to the daily lives of medieval and Renaissance residents, long before the advent of printed notices or municipal clocks. Their sound was so important that strict laws governed when and how each bell could be rung.

Visitors today can take an elevator partway up and then climb the remaining stairs to reach the main viewing terrace. From the top, the view extends across the historic center — from Market Square directly below to the rooftops and bell towers that define Verona’s skyline — and outward to the Adige River and the surrounding hills. The tower’s clock, a late-18th-century addition, enhanced its civic importance and remains one of the most visible timekeepers in the city.

Today, Lamberti Tower is part of the vast Palace of the Reason complex and is included in Verona’s network of civic museums, hosting temporary exhibitions and occasional special events in its interior spaces. It continues to serve as a key point of orientation for locals and travellers alike.