Palazzo del Podestà, Medieval palace in Piazza dei Signori, Verona, Italy

Palazzo del Podestà is a medieval palace on Piazza dei Signori that wraps around three sides of a rectangular courtyard. The structure displays both Gothic and Renaissance features, reflecting different construction phases and renovations across the centuries.

Cangrande I della Scala built the palace in the first decade of the 14th century, probably on an earlier structure, and moved in with his court by 1311, hosting Dante Alighieri. Cansignorio added a two-storey loggia in the 1360s. Under Venice it became the podestà's seat; the 1560 extension completed the layout, and Antonio Avena's 1927–1930 restoration gave the medieval look seen today.

The palace functioned as the seat of city government for centuries and shaped how the central square developed. Its rooms and courtyards today reflect how different ruling families left their mark on Verona's identity.

The building sits on the main square of Verona's old town and is easily reached on foot while exploring the historic center. Its facades are visible from multiple points around the square and can be viewed from outside at any time.

The portal commissioned in 1533 by podestà Giovanni Dolfin and carved by Michele Sanmicheli echoes the Roman Arco dei Gavi, but omits its base so the new entrance would fit the earlier doorway. Look for the lion of Saint Mark added above it, the emblem of Venetian rule.