A passageway that once separated the nobility and high officials from the masses is today known for the giant whale bone hanging from its arch.
A whale bone has dangled from the arch of the Arco della Costa since at least the 18th century and its origins and meaning remain a complete mystery. The suspended rib bone has brought intrigue and curiosity to the gateway, which opens onto the Piazza dei Signori and the Piazza Erbe in the Città Antica (Historic Center) of Verona. Visit the Arco della Costa to follow in the footsteps of medieval and renaissance aristocrats who used this passageway to avoid mingling with the lower classes.
Gaze up at the whale bone that is suspended by an iron chain and wonder how it got to Verona, which is around 75 miles (120 kilometers) inland from the sea. Hear the locals joke about how the bone will fall on the first honest person who walks through the arch, perhaps a reference to the passageway’s former use by judges and magistrates.
Snap photos of your family standing beneath what is thought to be a rib bone, with the arch and the striped exterior of the Palazzo della Ragione serving as a majestic backdrop.
Head into the lively Piazza Erbe and sit beside the public stocks. Browse the items for sale in the market stalls and relax in one of the cafés as you watch people go by.
When you pass through to the Piazza dei Signori, marvel at the sculpture of 13th-century Italian writer Dante Alighieri. Surrounding the square are several historic attractions, including the Lodge of Consiglio, the Palazzo del Podestà and the Palazzo di Cansignorio.
Find the Arco della Costa right in the heart of the Città Antica, on the southern side of the bend in the Adige River. Travel here via bus and get off at one of the many stops in this historic quarter. Explore the surrounding area for such highlights as the Palazzo Maffei, the Casa di Romeo and the Chiesa di San Pietro in Monastero.
