Scaliger castle: a jewel on Italy’s largest lake

There is not a single person who has not heard of Italy’s largest Lake Garda, a popular summer and winter resort that has earned the title of a true little paradise on earth with its beauty. It offers all kinds of natural treasures, from lush mountains to a clear lake, perfect for water sports like sailing, while the surroundings provide an ideal atmosphere for hiking.

In addition to natural beauty and attractions such as the Gardaland resort, Lake Garda hides charming and historically significant towns and villages. In one of these, Sirmione, there is one of the best-preserved fortresses of its time, known as Scaliger.

Lake Garda, Photo: dconvertini, CC BY-SA 2.0

The Scaliger Castle (Italian: Castello Scaligero) was built sometime in the 14th century by the powerful Della Scala family, known as the Scaligeri, who ruled Verona and part of the Venetian region throughout the 13th and 14th centuries and is located on the peninsula of the southernmost part lake that stretches for about 3.5 kilometers.

It served for defensive purposes, and it also had its small private harbor that was used to hide these Scaliger ships.

Scaliger Castle, Photo: Diego Bonacina, CC BY-SA 4.0

Over the centuries, it slowly began to lose its purpose, so the Pescheria del Garda fortress replaced it. A little later, Austria also used it to store ammunition and as a barracks, and it also had the role of a municipal office, a post office, and a small prison.

It shared its shape with many other fortresses from that era, and it took its current shape with the help of restorations that began as far back as 1919.

Scaliger Castle, Photo: Son of Groucho from Scotland, CC BY 2.0

AN INTERESTING LEGEND IS ASSOCIATED WITH SCALIGER…

According to ancient local legends, the Scaliger fortress was also the home of an aristocratic couple, Ebengard and his wife Arica.

One evening, the knight Elberto del Feltrino asked for shelter and immediately fell in love with Arice. He decides that he wants to have her as his own and attacks Arice. As she fought against it, he decided to kill her. When Ebengard saw this, he decided to take revenge and kill Elbert, and since then, his ghost wanders this beautiful castle looking for Arice.

Scaliger Castle, Photo: marcorubino Depositphotos

Today, the Scaliger castle is a real historical gem and cultural heritage monument as part of the Garda Museum complex, which you should not miss. The ticket price is 6 euros per person.