An itinerary between the land and waters of Lake Garda
In Verona, the Scala Family, who ruled the city from 1277 to 1387, left a huge fortress as a sign of their power: Castelvecchio, now a museum. During its rule, the family was greatly involved in the expansion of the borders, coming to include almost all of Veneto, part of Lombardy, Emilia and Tuscany up to Lucca among its possessions. Naturally, as a sign of domination, it also strengthened the old manors.
Now I suggest a full-day itinerary among the Scaliger Castles in the Verona area, along the eastern shore of the Lake Garda.
Departure from Verona
We leave Verona in the morning and, along the ancient Via Postumia, we arrive in Villafranca, where we find the first castle, built on a Roman fortress to guard the Postumia.
We continue to Valeggio sul Mincio, a strategic place since Roman times thanks to the presence of a passage on the river Mincio, an emissary of Lake Garda that reaches Mantua. Few ruins remain of the castle of Valeggio, but I recommend climbing to the top to admire the view and identify the houses and mills of Borghetto sul Mincio, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy.
Towards Lake Garda
Let's leave for Lazise, on the shores of Lake Garda. The town will not disappoint you: it still preserves the medieval walls and gates in excellent condition. The Venetian dock and the marina offer a perfect atmosphere for a lunch break on the shores of the lake.
After lunch, we continue towards Torri del Benaco. Here the castle, which can still be visited, is worth a stop: I recommend climbing to the highest point to enjoy a spectacular view of the lake.
Finally, the last stop takes us to Malcesine, where the Scaligero Castle stands on a large spur of rock. The castle houses a museum dedicated to the prehistory, fauna and flora of the lake, as well as a room dedicated to Goethe. During his trip to Italy, the German poet stopped here to make some sketches of the castle, but was mistaken for a spy and spent a night in the manor's prisons.
