Castello Scaligero di Malcesine Site Features

The castle is built onto the rock rather than on it -- the walls rise straight out of the natural stone, following its shape, which is why the plan is irregular rather than square.

It rises in three enclosures at different levels, ending at the tall square keep that is the landmark from the lake.

The masonry is pale local limestone with swallowtail merlons -- the Ghibelline form the Scaligeri used, declaring their imperial allegiance, as at Soave and Sirmione.

The keep can be climbed, and the view from the top runs the length of the upper lake with Monte Baldo rising behind.

Because the site is a rock, the interior is a sequence of terraces, courtyards and stairs rather than rooms on a floor -- the castle is essentially vertical.

The keep and its view

The climb up the tower gives the classic view: the lake north and south, the harbour directly below, and Monte Baldo behind.

The Goethe room

A small display on the 1786 arrest, with the relevant pages of Italian Journey.

The Monte Baldo natural history section

On the mountain's exceptional flora -- a useful primer before taking the cable car up.

The 1439 galley haul

A display on Venice's transport of a fleet overland from the Adige to the lake, one of the strangest feats of the Italian Renaissance.