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Castelvecchio is a castle in the UNESCO World Heritage listed city of Verona, Italy. It sits along the Adige River on the southwest corner of the historic city center.
Introduction to Castelvecchio
Castelvecchio sits on the former site of a Roman fortress. The castle was built by Cangrande II della Scala (1332-1359) to defend Verona from Venice, the Gonzaga clan from Mantua, and the Sforza clan from Milan. The original name was the Castle of San Martino in Aquaro (Castello di San Martino in Aquaro).
Construction on the Gothic castle lasted from 1354 to 1376 and included a fortified bridge over the Adige River. Castelvecchio consists of seven towers, two courtyards, and four main buildings. It was also surrounded by a moat that is now dry.
The della Scala (Scaligeri), who had ruled Verona since 1262, were driven out by the Visconti in 1387. Under their rule, defensive reliance on the castle decrease. During the Venetian period, the castle was used as a barracks, an artillery arsenal, armory, powder magazine, and warehouse for food reserves. They also used part of it as a prison. In 1759, it became the headquarters of the Veneto Military College (Veneto Militar Collegio), which trained engineers to form a military technical corps.
After the Venetians were driven out by Napoleon, the emperor stayed there on his trips to Verona. He used it as an arsenal and demolished several buildings to construct a barracks between 1802 and 1805. The Austrians continued using the castle as a barracks.
Castelvecchio was restored between 1923 and 1926 and again from 1963 to 1965. During the first restoration, the Torre dell’Orologio (Clock Tower), which had been destroyed in 1797, was rebuilt by Antonio Avena (1882-1967). The restorations almost completely erased the 18th and 19th century additions.
Court of Arms
The Court of Arms (Corte d’Armi) is protected by four towers and is the largest courtyard at Castelvecchio. The north side contains the barracks built by Napoleon, which is unrecognizable after restoration. It now appears as a “Venetian Gothic palace” that never existed.
Church of San Martino in Aquaro
The foundations of the small Church of San Martino in Aquaro can be found on the south side of the Court of Arms. It dates back to at least the 8th century and was incorporated into the castle. In fact, the castle was originally named after the church, which probably served as the court chapel. The church was dismantled under Napoleon.
Court of the Keep
The Court of the Keep (Corte del Mastio) is on the west side of Castelvecchio. During the Habsburg period, the tower housed a military telegraph station.
Castelvecchio Museum
The castle is now the home of the Castelvecchio Museum (Museo di Castelvecchio), which is one of the most important museums in Verona. The building was restored and modernized between 1958 and 1964 by Carlo Scarpa (1906-1978). It displays works of art from the Middle Ages through the 18th century as well as ancient artifacts, all spread throughout roughly 30 rooms. Most items are from the Romanesque period until the 14th century. Admission is €9 for adults, €6 for seniors over 65, €2 for visitors aged 18-25, and free for kids under 18 or holders of the Verona Card (as of May 2025). The museum is open daily except Mondays.
Castelvecchio Bridge
The Castelvecchio Bridge (Ponte di Castelvecchio), also known as the Scaliger Bridge (Ponte Scaligero), cross the Adige River next to the castle. It was meant as an escape route to Tyrol in case of an uprising or enemy attack. The bridge had the world’s largest span at the time of its construction around 1354, at 48.7 meters.
Unfortunately, the original bridge was completely destroyed by retreating Nazi troops on April 24, 1945. It was rebuilt by architect Libero Cecchini (1919-2020) between 1949 and 1951 with the exception of one tower. The bridge, which has a total length of 120 meters, provides excellent views down the Adige River.
