Castelvecchio & Scaliger Bridge

Castelvecchio / Ponte Scaligero

A 14th-century red-brick castle of the Scaliger family, remodelled into an art museum by architect Carlo Scarpa. A crenellated bridge spans the Adige.

The Castelvecchio was built in 1354–1356 by Cangrande II della Scala, ruler of Verona. Its swallowtail battlements are a symbol of the Ghibelline faction. The Scaliger Bridge (Ponte Scaligero), which connects to the castle, served as an escape route in its day. It was blown up by German troops in World War II and rebuilt after the war using the original stones recovered from the river. Crossing the bridge is free, and it is a good spot to photograph the castle and the river. In the 1950s and 60s, Italian architect Carlo Scarpa converted the castle into a municipal museum. His treatment of light, materials and circulation is regarded as a classic of modern museum design. The most famous piece is the equestrian statue of Cangrande I, suspended in mid-air. The collection focuses on Veronese painting from the Middle Ages to the 18th century, with works by Mantegna, Bellini and Veronese. Admission is about ten euros or less (included in the Verona Card). It is about an 8-minute walk from the Arena along Corso Cavour.

Castelvecchio & Scaliger Bridge

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