Piazzale Castel San Pietro (San Pietro Fortress), Verona

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Piazzale Castel San Pietro (San Pietro Fortress), Verona

Piazzale Castel San Pietro (San Pietro Fortress), Verona (must see)

This medieval fortress is set high on a hilltop above Verona. The hilltop location was chosen as the ideal location to protect the city against intruders. The Romans used this hilltop as a defensive position.

During Roman times, the hill was known as Monte Gallo, or Rooster Mountain. The Romans also revered this location as a religious site and built a temple and theater here.

The hill was later named Colle San Pietro when a Medieval church dedicated to Saint Peter was built on the site. The area was next fortified with battlements typical of medieval fortresses. Between the 14th and 15th centuries, the Castello Visconteo (the Castel of the Viscount) was built.

In 1801, the Napoleanic army destroyed most of the buildings on this historic site. Later, Austrian soldiers arrived and destroyed Saint Peter's Church. The Austrians built barracks that are still in place.

Today, visitors can climb the switchback stone steps to the top or take a funicular cable car to the top of the hill. This hilltop location is a beautiful place to view the city of Verona, take pictures, and watch the sunset. There's also a restaurant at the top of the hill so you can relax and enjoy a meal or drinks.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Verona. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Piazzale Castel San Pietro (San Pietro Fortress) on Map

Sight Name: Piazzale Castel San Pietro (San Pietro Fortress)
Sight Location: Verona, Italy (See walking tours in Verona)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Verona, Italy

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