Castelvecchio Castle

Address: Castelvecchio (Museo di Castelvecchio), Corso Castelvecchio 2, 37121 Verona, Italy

Website: https://museodicastelvecchio.com

Admission: Adult approx €6 (check site for current rates)

Castelvecchio is a medieval fortified castle on the Adige River in Verona, northern Italy, originally built in the 14th century by the Scaliger family. It now houses the Museo Civico, one of Verona’s principal civic museums.

Erected by the della Scala rulers in the 14th century as a military and residential stronghold, the castle passed through civic ownership and was restored in the 20th century, including a prominent restoration and museum conversion by Carlo Scarpa. Its river bridge served as an important fortified crossing.

Sited on the right bank of the Adige in Verona’s historic centre, Castelvecchio is immediately adjacent to central Verona and accessible on foot from the city’s main squares.

• Scarpa restoration: The castle underwent a major mid-20th-century restoration by architect Carlo Scarpa, who integrated modern museum fittings with the medieval fabric.
• Best viewpoints: Positioned on the right bank of the Adige River, the site gives good photo views from the riverbank and adjacent public squares in Verona’s historic centre.

What to See#

• Fortified castle (14th century): A fortified complex with residential wings, curtain walls and an entrance keep constructed in the 14th century by the Scaliger (della Scala) rulers of Verona.
• Scaliger Bridge (Ponte Scaligero): The Ponte Scaligero is the defensive river bridge attached to the castle spanning the Adige and originally provided controlled access to the complex.
• Museo Civico collections: The municipal museum occupies former castle halls and galleries and displays medieval sculpture, local paintings and archaeological finds from Verona.

Castelvecchio (the Castelvecchio Museum and Ponte Scaligero) is in Verona’s historic centre beside the Adige River. From Verona Porta Nuova railway station it’s an easy 15-20 minute walk west along Corso Porta Nuova and into the city centre, or a short taxi ride.

Many city buses (ATV/Verona local services) serve stops around Piazza Bra and the Arena area; from those central stops the castle is a few minutes’ walk across the river and along the riverbank.

• Go at opening time to see the castle and museum galleries before mid-morning tour groups and cruise-ship day-trippers arrive.
• Start with the Ponte Scaligero and external ramparts for the best photographic views of the Adige, then enter via the Museo di Castelvecchio entrance to explore the permanent collection and upper-level walkways.