Castelvecchio
Last updated on September 8, 2026Overview
Castelvecchio is a fortified complex built for Cangrande II della Scala in the 1350s beside the Adige. It combined residence, military stronghold and a protected route across the river. The attached Ponte Scaligero is now a free pedestrian crossing, while the castle houses the Museo di Castelvecchio.
The museum is also celebrated for Carlo Scarpa's restoration, carried out mainly between 1958 and 1964. Scarpa placed medieval sculpture, paintings and architectural fragments in a carefully choreographed sequence that keeps old masonry and modern additions visibly distinct.
Quick Facts
- Type: Castle, Museum, Bridge
- Visitor access: Open to visitors
- Admission: €6
- Built: 1354-1376
- Built by: Cangrande II della Scala
- Built for: a fortress and residence for the Scaliger family, doubling as a refuge against Verona's own citizens
- Designed by: Carlo Scarpa (1958-1964 restoration)
- Architectural style: Scaliger Gothic
- Ponte Scaligero's central span: the widest arch span of any bridge in the world when it was built
- Bridge destroyed and rebuilt: blown up by retreating German troops in 1945; rebuilt by 1957 using the original stones recovered from the riverbed
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: Yes
Visit Responsibly
Ponte Scaligero remains a functioning pedestrian route for Verona residents as well as a landmark -- it's a genuine crossing, not only a viewpoint, and moving with rather than against the flow of foot traffic is appreciated.
Plan Your Visit
Admission: €6
Prices verified August 2026
Museum admission and opening days can change; verify them with the Musei Civici di Verona. Ponte Scaligero is normally freely accessible as a pedestrian route independently of museum hours, although temporary closures remain possible.