The Scaliger Tombs (Arche Scaligere) are a cluster of Gothic funerary monuments beside the small church of Santa Maria Antica, just off Piazza dei Signori in Verona. Rising above a wrought-iron enclosure, their pinnacles, carved canopies and mounted figures turn a compact corner of the historic centre into a striking display of medieval ambition.
The tombs commemorate the Della Scala, or Scaligeri, the dynasty that ruled Verona until 1387. Among the most elaborate are those of Cangrande I, a patron of Dante during the poet’s exile, Mastino II and Cansignorio. Cangrande’s tomb sits above the church doorway, crowned by a copy of his famously smiling equestrian statue; the original is in the Castelvecchio Museum. Look for the ladder motif in the iron grille: scala means ladder, and it was the family’s emblem.
Allow 15 to 20 minutes for a visit, though the stonework rewards a slower look. The tombs can be viewed for free from the street through the railings; access inside the enclosure may be limited, so check locally if you hope to enter. Early morning or late afternoon can be quieter and offers softer light for photographs. The site is an easy walk from Piazza delle Erbe and the Torre dei Lamberti, but wear comfortable shoes for the uneven cobbles.