Sight guide · Verona · Italy
Visiting Castelvecchio and Ponte Scaligero
Cangrande II della Scala built this brick fortress on the Adige in the 1350s, together with the fortified Ponte Scaligero across the river.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Arne Müseler, CC BY-SA 3.0 de
Quick answer
Castelvecchio and Ponte Scaligero is a castle in Castelvecchio, Verona. Allow 1.5–2 hours; it is low cost. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Castle
- Area
- Castelvecchio
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- history, art, rainy day and kids
- Best months
- April–June
About Castelvecchio and Ponte Scaligero
Cangrande II della Scala built this brick fortress on the Adige in the 1350s, together with the fortified Ponte Scaligero across the river. Inside, the civic museum, redesigned by the architect Carlo Scarpa from the late 1950s, shows medieval sculpture and Veronese painting, including works by Pisanello, Mantegna and Giovanni Bellini, along walkways threaded through the castle walls.
Tip: Walk across the Ponte Scaligero, rebuilt after it was blown up in 1945, for the best views of the castle's swallowtail battlements.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 1.5–2 hours.
- Cost: Low cost.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Castelvecchio.
Best time to visit Castelvecchio and Ponte Scaligero
Castelvecchio and Ponte Scaligero is indoors, which makes it a good plan for the wettest months:
- April: 18°C (64°F) highs, about 9 rainy days, busy crowds.
- May: 23°C (73°F) highs, about 9 rainy days, busy crowds.
- June: 27°C (81°F) highs, about 8 rainy days, busy crowds.
When to visit Verona has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Verona itinerary visits Castelvecchio and Ponte Scaligero on day 3, together with Castel San Pietro viewpoint, Roman Theatre and Archaeological Museum and Piazza delle Erbe.
- No. 7 of the 17 sights in our Verona things-to-do list.
- One of the picks in verona on a rainy day.
- One of the picks in historic sites in Verona.
- A family favourite in Verona with kids.
If you like Castelvecchio and Ponte Scaligero
- Arena di Verona — Piazza Bra and the Arena, 1 hour
- Piazza dei Signori and the Scaliger Tombs — Città Antica (Piazza delle Erbe), 45 minutes
- Roman Theatre and Archaeological Museum — Veronetta, 1–1.5 hours
- Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore — San Zeno, 45 minutes
Staying near Castelvecchio and Ponte Scaligero
Where to stay in Verona compares every area by price and who it suits.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Castelvecchio and Ponte Scaligero?
Plan 1.5–2 hours.
+Is Castelvecchio and Ponte Scaligero free?
No, it is low cost. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Castelvecchio and Ponte Scaligero?
April–June, the wettest months, when an indoor sight is most welcome. Walk across the Ponte Scaligero, rebuilt after it was blown up in 1945, for the best views of the castle's swallowtail battlements.
+Do I need to book Castelvecchio and Ponte Scaligero in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.
+Is Castelvecchio and Ponte Scaligero good for kids?
Yes, it is one of our family picks in Verona. Verona is compact and largely car-free in the centre, which makes it manageable with children, and a Roman arena, a real castle and a hilltop funicular appeal to most kids.