Valeggio and its Castello Scaligero

12May

Valeggio and its Castello Scaligero

Category What see Lake Garda and Verona

Valeggio, its Scaligero Castle and a magnificent landscape on Borghetto.

Number of views: 7215

The Scaliger Castle, perched atop the moraine hill above Valeggio, towers over the entire Mincio Valley, preserving the medieval grandeur of the 14th‑century fortifications. Its crenellated walls rise from the landscape like a stone bastion that still tells of sieges, battles and the power of the Scaliger lords.

Of the original structure—largely destroyed by the devastating earthquake of 1117—only the distinctive Round Tower remains, a horseshoe‑shaped construction from the 10th century. Together with three other towers it once formed a trapezoidal plan perfectly adapted to the terrain. The section now open to visitors, once called the “Rocca,” was reached by two drawbridges that have since disappeared. A third bridge, the only one still standing, led to the larger part of the complex known as the “Castello,” of which only the perimeter walls survive. Within those walls now stands a Liberty‑style villa built in the early 1900s (Villa Nuvoloni – Sberna), adding a touch of Belle‑Époque elegance to the austere medieval scene.

A legend steeped in mystery and blood hovers among the towers: the story of Messer Andriolo da Parma, a valiant castellan who defended the fortress against the armies of the Scaliger and Carrara families. On moonlit nights, locals say, the clash of armor and the echo of swords can still be heard reverberating through the walls, bearing witness to ancient chivalric deeds.

Centuries of conflict, neglect and weather gradually wore down the Scaliger Castle, but recent decades have seen significant restoration and conservation works. Today, during the summer, the inner courtyard becomes the stage for historical re‑enactments, open‑air concerts and film screenings, bringing new life and voices to this extraordinary treasure of the Veronese Mincio region.