Portoni della Bra, Medieval gate in Piazza Bra, Verona, Italy
The Portoni della Bra consists of two rounded medieval arches built with Veronese marble at the base and red brick in the upper sections. The structure connects different areas of the historic city center and is flanked by a nearby tower that serves as a visual reference point.
A gate of the Braida is first documented in 1257, when it stood in the communal walls with the Adigetto flowing outside. Under Visconti rule (1389–1402) a covered passage linked Castelvecchio to the fortified Cittadella, crossing the road at the arch. The single arch was doubled between the late 15th century and the early 16th century.
The name Bra comes from the Lombard word braida, meaning a wide open space, given to today's Piazza Bra in the Middle Ages. Since the late 20th century a bust of William Shakespeare stands on the gate, with the passage from act III of Romeo and Juliet about Verona's walls carved in marble beside it.
The passage is easy to reach from the city center and serves as a natural waypoint for many visitors exploring the historic core. It is worth taking time to walk through slowly and observe the architecture, as the location is often passed through quickly.
A clock installed between the two arches in 1872 continues to function today, giving the passage an everyday practical role for residents and visitors. This small timepiece is often overlooked during quick visits, though it has been marking time there for nearly 150 years.
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