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VERONA OF THE SCALIGERS

These itineraries are inextricably intertwined with the history of the free commune of Verona as the Scaliger lordship emerged from the city-state. The Scaliger period of Verona is one of great political influence, economic power and territorial expansion. The walls which stand on the first hills to the north bear ample witness to his golden age, as do the numerous Scaliger Castles standing throughout the Province at Malcesine, at Soave, at Montoria and Villafranca, at Torri del Benaco, and Lazise and the imposing remains of the castle at Valeggio. These are joined by all the other castles and towers on Lake Garda (Biaza, Castelnuovo), in the hills (Illasi) and in the southern plains (Isola della Scala, Sanguinetto, etc...).

Yet the real focal point of this period are the public and private buildings of these lords who came to Verona from the east in the XIII Century: the Case Mazzanti, which still bear on their rear side the metal bars and beams used to draw water from the fifteenth century well; the Scaliger Palace, now the Head Offices of the Provincial Council, with the Scaliger Arches, the burial palace of the Scaliger lords decorated by the leading sculptors of the XIV Century, such as Bonino da Campione and Giovanni di Rigino; and the private Scaliger chapel, the Church of S Maria della Scala. And Castelvecchio itself, the Scaliger stronghold at the south-west of the city, construction of which began in all haste in 1354, when the power of the Scaliger lords was alreadyirremediably in decline. The bridge which crosses the River Adige opens to the north towards Germany, a statment of the fact that the Scaligers were Ghibellines supporting the Emperor. Today, the main, central structure of the castle flanking the river houses the Museum of Ancient and Modern Art, houseng periods, with works by Pisanello, Stefano di Francia, Caroto, Bellini, Paolo Veronese, Tintoretto and many others.

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