CASTELVECCHIO, History

Hi, my name’s Rick, and I’m your personal guide. Along with MyWoWo, I’d like to welcome you to one of the Wonders of the World: Castelvecchio, in Verona.

Castelvecchio is an impressive medieval castle that takes us back to the time of the Scala family, the ambitious Lords of Verona who ruled over the city in the 14th and 15th centuries.

Three sturdy stone towers facing the city and long rows of merlons distinguish the fortress, built in 1354 both for defensive purposes and as a noble residence. One of the city’s most important monuments, the castle sits along the banks of the Adige, straddling the city walls, built the previous century.

Walls divide Castelvecchio into two parts: on the right, the rectangular place-of-arms forms the larger courtyard; on the left, the residential part, protected by two rings of walls. The central area is dominated by the entire building and the highest tower, the main architectural feature of the whole complex. The magnificent three-arch Ponte Scaligero bridge rises across the Adige River from the tower.

This fine example of fourteenth-century civil and military engineering is an integral part of the castle’s defense system. Open to pedestrians only, it offers splendid views over the river....