Barbarian Face Passage

Barbarian Face PassageVolto Barbaro is a famous alley in Verona, in Veneto, that joins Piazza Erbe to Piazza dei Signori. Situated next to the Case dei Mazzanti, among the oldest buildings in the city, it is strategically located.

It became famous for being the scene of the assassination in 1277 of an Italian commander, Leonardino della Scala, known as Mastino I. Today, you can see a plaque dedicated to this member of the Della Scala family of Verona as you cross the alley.

But the story of this narrow, dark passage is also inextricably linked to the tragedy by William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet. In fact, the Volto Barbaro was the backdrop for many clashes between Montagues and Capulets. One among all, the murder of Mercutio, Romeo's best friend, murdered by Tybalt, Juliet's cousin.