My Trip In Italy (Part 2C): Verona – Colle San Pietro & Piazzale Castel San Pietro

If you’re a fan of capturing beautiful moments or just want to take in a killer view, Verona’s Colle San Pietro (St. Peter’s Hill) is definitely worth the trek. To be honest, I wasn’t exactly thrilled about the idea of hiking up a hill. I kept thinking, ‘What’s up there that’s so special?’ But once I stepped onto the terrace overlooking the city, I quickly realized the climb was totally worth it.

Today, I’m going to share with you what I saw at St. Peter’s Hill, what I learned, as well as why it is an unforgettable experience. I hope you enjoy.

History of a Hill

Surprisingly enough, this unassuming plot of elevated land was actually the first inhabited nucleus of Verona, probably founded by the ancient Veneti in the 5th century BC. Sometime during the 2nd century BC, the Teatro Romano di Verona (Roman Theatre of Verona) was built at the foot of St. Peter’s hill. Roughly 3 centuries later, Veronese would build the famous Roman amphitheatre Arena di Verona (Verona Arena). It seems like Italians back then must have really valued their leisure time.

All of this was connected to the rest of the city by the historic Ponte Pietra (Pietra Bridge, literally translating to ‘Stone Bridge’), which spanned the vast Adige river below. Being the oldest bridge in Verona, crossing it felt somewhat surreal; you could almost feel the rapid rushing of water underneath your feet, the crushing of waves against the bridge’s pillars, and the sheer determination of an ancient structure holding up against all that pressure.

Have you ever wondered where the name ‘Verona’ came from? Although there are many theories, a common theory suggests ‘Ve-ro-na’ combined Etruscan ‘Ve (from the ancient Veneti)’, Greek ‘reo (flow, describing the Adige river)’, and ‘na (settlement)’, meaning ‘The Venetian city on the river’. Another theory highlights an Etruscan link to ‘verone (terrace)’, an accurate account of the city’s location. Either way, it’s safe to say that St. Peter’s Hill played an important role in shaping Verona’s early culture.

Funky Funiculars

Funnily enough, it was when I had reached an observation platform halfway up St. Peter’s Hill that I realized there was a faster and less exhausting way to the top: a funicular. Although I’ve seen cable cars at ski resorts going up mountains and trams travelling up hills, this was honestly the first time I’ve ever witnessed a funicular in action.

After a quick Google search, I discovered that funiculars are actually quite interesting. Designed as energy-efficient alternatives in places where traditional systems don’t work, such as up extremely steep slopes, funiculars are basically elevator-train hybrids. Featuring two counter-balanced cars running on tracks, the vehicles are connected to each other via a strong cable that loops around a pulley, enabling the ‘one car goes up, the other comes down’ logic and requiring minimal fuel while simultaneously transporting large amounts of people. My greatest regret? Not knowing about the funicular on St. Peter’s Hill earlier!

Piazzale Castel San Pietro

After traveling across Italy, I eventually drew the conclusion that ‘atop a hill, there’s always a castle’. So what castle stands atop St. Peter’s Hill? Castel San Pietro (St. Peter’s Castle) of course!

Even though I would really want to take a tour of St. Peter’s Castle, it’s sadly not open to the public. However, the castle’s famous hilltop viewpoint is still definitely worth paying a visit. Standing up there on the observation deck, I was able to not only take in stunningly beautiful panoramic views of Verona’s sunset, but I could also feel the slight wind breezing through the trees, hear the soft rustling of leaves, and experience being surrounded by a historic, well-balanced harmony of nature and human culture.

Conclusion

Climbing St. Peter’s Hill taught me something that day: there’s so much more in this world that you haven’t seen yet, countless marvels that await your discovery, therefore, don’t be held back by the difficulties at hand or become constrained in pursuing short-term interests. Remember that as long as you keep climbing towards the summit, you’ll eventually arrive at a place full of wonders; looking down upon what you’ve overcome, just like how I gazed upon the miniature silhouettes crossing Pietra Bridge, you would think to yourself ‘hmm, the distance was never as daunting as it felt.’

I hope you were as inspired by Verona’s St. Peter’s Hill as I was. If you liked today’s article, please consider sharing it to your friends and family. Thank you for reading, and don’t forget to subscribe to not miss out on future updates.