Trattoria Ponte di Veja
since 1957
The Ponte di Veja, the great natural rock arch of the Lessinia, with blue sky and autumn woodland

Sant'Anna d'Alfaedo · Lessinia Regional Nature Park

The trattoria at the foot of the Ponte di Veja

Since 1957, the Lavarini family has been preparing traditional Lessinia dishes just steps from Europe's largest natural bridge. Dining rooms for groups, a terrace, a tavern carved into the rock, and a large parking lot with a camper area are available.

See the menu Book a table
Where Via Ponte di Veja 1, Sant'Anna d'Alfaedo (VR) 27 km from Verona, how to get here
When Open Monday to Sunday From 7:30am to 11:30pm
The bridge Free, open access Parking for cars and motorhomes, toilets always open

Who we are

A restaurant born to welcome those who had come all the way here to see the natural bridge

In 1927 our great-grandfather bought at auction a patch of woodland nobody wanted: inside it stood the Ponte di Veja. Thirty years later the family's cattle shed became an osteria, a simple country inn, feeding and watering the visitors who arrived on foot, back when there was still no road, no running water and no electricity.

From there we grew into what we are today: five different spaces, traditional Veronese mountain cooking and the same family behind the counter.

Read our story
  • 1957the year the osteria opened
  • 4 generationsof the Lavarini family
  • Up to 130seats in the main dining room
  • 27 kmfrom Verona
Sepia-toned portrait of the Lavarini family
The first generationFrom left: Benvenuto, Francesco, Vittoria, Elio, Arturo.
In front: Bruno and Guido.
The Lavarini family gathered around the hearth
Around the hearthThe family at home, with Leo the dog.
The osteria in 1965, with the yard outside full of vintage cars and mopeds
1965The yard outside the osteria, full of cars and mopeds.
A man behind the trattoria's bar counter, next to the coffee machine
Behind the counterThe trattoria's bar, the place where it all began.
Four members of the Lavarini family together inside the trattoria
The familyThree generations in the same place, since 1957.

What you'll find here

The bridge, the trattoria, and everything else

Three reasons to come up to the Lessinia. Most people who arrive for one end up staying for the other two as well.

The reason people come up here The underside of the Ponte di Veja arch, seen from below, with the caves under the arch

The Ponte di Veja

Fifty metres of suspended rock, five caves inhabited since prehistoric times and a legend that carries Dante's name. The natural monument that gave birth to this trattoria.

Free, open access, every day. The trail starts right from our car park.

Discover the bridge
Tables set with checkered tablecloths in the trattoria's dining hall

The trattoria

Five spaces: the main dining room seating up to 130, the terrace, the taverna carved into the rock, the outdoor self-service and the bar.

For groups and celebrations please call ahead.

See the spaces
The landscape of the Lessinia Regional Nature Park

Around the bridge

Near the arch there is much more: centuries-old chestnut trees, caves, fossil museums, the Veja Adventure Park and the Lessinia Regional Nature Park.

The E5 European long-distance trail passes right through here.

Discover what's nearby

The natural monument

Europe's largest natural bridge

It formed around 40 million years ago, when the roof of a large karst cave collapsed. What remains is a rock arch seventeen metres wide and fifty metres high, at 602 metres above sea level.

Under the arch are five caves, used by humans since the earliest glaciations. Mantegna painted it, tradition links it to Dante's Malebolge, and for years it hosted the Voci e Luci in Lessinia festival.

Everything about the Ponte di Veja

Services

What you'll find when you arrive

The bridge is a public site: these services are also there for anyone who comes up just to visit it, not only for those who stop to eat.

01 Plenty of parking In front of the trattoria and in the area next to it, with space for cars and motorhomes. It is right beside the building, so getting in stays easy even with a wheelchair or a pushchair.
02 Horse rest area Next to the trattoria there's a dedicated space, shaded and with a water trough, so horses can rest safely while you go see the bridge.
03 Motorhome area A large dedicated area with fresh water on tap. Motorhomes can park and stay overnight, even for several nights, completely free.
04 Outdoor toilets, always open Free and open to everyone visiting the bridge, not just to customers. They close only in winter, on freezing days. There are accessible toilets too, both indoors and outdoors: for the outdoor ones, just ask the trattoria staff for the key.
05 Baby-changing room The toilets inside have a room set aside for changing babies, because families are most of our visitors.
06 Free wi-fi Free for all trattoria customers, it covers every space in the building. Just ask at the counter or the bar staff for the password.
07 All payment methods Cash, credit card and debit card. We also accept Satispay, for those who pay by phone.
08 E-bike charging A charging station for electric bikes, available to all visitors. A useful stop for anyone who reaches the bridge on two wheels and wants to set off again with a full battery.

How to get here

Twenty-seven kilometres from Verona

From Verona take the provincial road toward Arbizzano and Negrar, continue through Fane and Sant'Anna d'Alfaedo, pass the Schioppo and Giare junction, and you'll reach the bridge.

The road is wide enough for coaches, so coach parties reach the car park without any trouble.

By bus: the ATV Verona bus lines have a dedicated stop, called Ponte di Veja, right next to the trattoria.

Open the route on Google Maps
Verona 27 km Negrar Fane Sant'Anna d'Alfaedo Ponte di Veja trattoria and parking N Route sketch, not to scale
Connects to Google's servers only if you ask it to

Get in touch

Contact

To book a table, call the trattoria. The trattoria also offers self-service, no booking needed, available from Easter Monday.

Aerial view of the Ponte di Veja with the trattoria just above the arch
  • Where we are Via Ponte di Veja, 1
    37020 Sant'Anna d'Alfaedo (VR)     Inside the Parco Naturale Regionale della Lessinia (Lessinia Regional Nature Park)
  • Phone 045 7545048
  • Opening hours From 7:30am to 11:30pm Open Monday to Sunday
Call to book See how to get here