Ponte di Veja

Veja Natural Bridge

Italy is home to Europe's largest natural bridge -- The Bridge of Veja.  The Pravcicka Brana in Czech Republic also claims to house Europe's largest natural bridge, but Pravivcicka Gate has a span of 79.5 feet, while Veja has a span of 100 feet.  Pravcicka is 48 feet high, while Veja is 90 feet high.  Veja Bridge is a limestone natural bridge, and Pravcicka Gate is a sandstone arch.  Both are magnificent arches that are well worth a visit to see!  Pravcicka Brana is in the Czech Republic.  Veja Natural Bridge is near Verona, Italy.

My daughter and I visited Verona in March of 2025.  Besides visiting the famous Juliet House, I couldn't resist visiting the largest natural bridge in Europe!  It is only a 37 minute drive from the Verona train station to the parking lot for this natural bridge.  I contacted the VisitVerona.IT tourist board and they were extremely helpful in planning my trip.  They said that I would need to rent a car if I wanted to visit Ponte di Veja on a Sunday because of limited bus routes to the arch, especially on weekends.  They sent me a map of the town and a list of the car rentals in Verona.  I was very impressed with their kindness and helpfulness.  If you have questions about Verona, you can email them at info@visitverona.it.  

I rented a car from Locauto, which is right next to the Verona Train Station.  They were very friendly, helpful, and affordable.  Driving in Verona was not crazy like driving in Rome is.  Google Maps worked great, and I was able to very easily find the free parking lot for the bridge.  The bridge is level with the ground, so you can easily walk on top of it.  It has fences on both sides of it to prevent people from falling off the bridge.  There is a very easy path to climb down underneath the bridge, and you can walk through it and view it from the other side.  It is very tourist-friendly, which is something that I really appreciate about beautiful tourist areas in Europe.  Europeans have made it as easy as possible for people of all abilities to visit beautiful places like this.  

Veja Bridge has appeared in artwork over the years, including a fresco created by Andrea Montegna in the bridal chamber of the Palazzo Ducale in Mantua.  Some believe that Veja Bridge was the inspiration for Dante's Inferno, and there's even a tree near the parking lot that is said to be Dante's Chestnut Tree, a 600 year old tree that is believed to be where Dante sat while writing his Malebolge, the 8th Circle of Hell.  It is 36 feet in circumference at its base and has a plaque on it describing its history.  Dante would have visited the tree and the natural bridge some time around 1300, during his exile from Florence.

There is a restaurant near the bridge, and the drive from Verona to the bridge parking lot is beautiful and enjoyable.  If you are visiting Verona, I very highly recommend taking the extra time to see Ponte di Veja.

Google Maps Location of Veja Bridge

Route from Verona train station to Veja Bridge

area near the parking lot

Welcome to Veja Bridge

This isn't Dante's tree.  This gnarly tree is located along the path to the bridge

All of the trail is very easy.

view from beside the bridge, taken from the trail

You can see the fences on top of the arch

My daughter walking on the bridge

View from on top of the bridge

From on top of the bridge you can see how easy and short the trail is to stand under the bridge

Looking down from the front of the bridge

View off the back of the bridge

"Dangerous To Lean On"

This beautiful view off the back of the arch gives you a good idea of how high it is, especially on the back side.

My daughter and I on top of the bridge, looking off the back side

Standing on one end of the bridge and photographing the other end

My daughter and I on top of the bridge, looking off the front

As you walk under and behind the bridge there is information to read on posted signs, as well as beautiful views in every direction

This sign includes a photograph of the fresco by Andrea Montegna

The bridge from ground level

The path to the bridge

An interesting cave that is fenced off from explorers - the caves under the bridge housed ancient artifacts or prehistoric people.  The artifacts have since been placed in nearby museums

My daughter and I on ground level

The perfect frame for a photo

Climbing behind the arch after going under it

more caves along the trail

My daughter under the arch

Underneath the arch

My daughter and I under the arch

Under the arch

The inside of the arch

view of the back of the arch from the ground

This cave has a locked gate blocking it from visitors

view from behind the arch - the gated cave is on the right

The back of the arch has a great deal of brush

small waterfall from the stream that runs under the arch

There would be better views without all the brush, but the back side of the arch is more of a natural space than the front

My daughter and I behind the arch

The foliage below the arch

Underneath the arch again on our way back out the trail

That rock houses a carving of Jesus Christ

I tried to find information online about this carving, but was not successful

The creek that runs below the arch

watching the creek flow below the arch

The trail back up to the parking lot

heading back up to the parking lot and restaurant, Trattoria Ponte Veja

The drive from the Verona Train Station to Veja Bridge

My daughter took photos as I drove from the train station up to the parking lot for Ponte di Veja

The drive from Veja Bridge back to Verona Train Station

someone walking their horse down the road