Arch of the Gavi

The Arch of the Gavi, located in Verona, is one of the most fascinating and representative monuments of Roman architecture in northern Italy. Built in the first half of the 1st century AD by the Gavia family, one of the most influential Roman families in the city, the arch served to celebrate the prestige and importance of this family. The arch was originally located along the Via Postumia, an important consular road that connected Genoa to Aquileia, making it one of the main access points to Verona. The Arch of the Gavi is an architectural and engineering masterpiece designed by Lucius Vitruvius Cerdo, a Roman architect whose name is inscribed on two inscriptions on the inner pillars of the arch. These inscriptions testify to the rarity of knowing the name of the architect of a Roman monument, making the Arch of the Gavi an exceptional example of signed architecture. Vitruvius Cerdo, probably a Greek slave freed by a Roman citizen named Lucius Vitruvius, applied the fundamental principles of Vitruvian architecture in the arch, such as ordinatio and dispositio, which concern the rational organization of parts and their harmonious relationship with the entire structure. The arch has an elegant and proportionate structure, made of white limestone. It consists of a single arch with two main fronts adorned with Corinthian columns framing the central opening. The niches between the columns once housed statues of members of the Gavia family, including Caius Gavius Strabo, Marcus Gavius Macrone, and Gavia, daughter of Marcus Gavius. These decorative details and inscriptions give the arch an important historical and artistic value, offering a window into Roman society and its culture. During the Middle Ages, the arch lost its original function and was integrated into the city walls, becoming one of the gates to Verona, known as Porta Nuova di San Zeno. This adaptation reflects the city’s ability to reuse existing structures to meet changing defensive and urban needs. In 1805, during the Napoleonic occupation, the arch was dismantled to improve traffic and safety in the area. The stone blocks were carefully cataloged and preserved, allowing for future reconstruction. This took place in 1932, when the arch was reassembled in its current position near Castelvecchio, using the method of anastylosis to preserve as much of the original material as possible. The reconstruction of the arch in 1932 was supervised by the inspector of historical monuments Antonio Avena and the architect Carlo Anti. This restoration project not only returned one of Verona’s most important symbols, but also enriched it with new meanings, integrating it into the modern urban context. The choice of the new location next to Castelvecchio, along Corso Cavour, was strategic, making the arch a central element of the city’s tourist and cultural itinerary.