Scaligerburg
One of the most beautiful castles on Lake Garda
The famous Scaliger Castle of Sirmione, which dates back to the Scaliger lords of Verona, and its small port, which is still perfectly preserved, are an unusual example of a fortress that served as a port. The Scaligerburg is located in the Italian seaside town of Sirmione.
Sirmione is a municipality with about 8000 inhabitants in the province of Brescia in the Lombardy region. The Italian city has a beautiful historical center that is located on a small peninsula that juts out into the southern part of Lake Garda. The Scaligerburg is considered to be one of the most beautiful examples of a medieval fortification with a fortified, well-preserved harbor. Sirmione was once known as Garda and has been around since the 1st century BC. A summer vacation spot for the elite. The city was one of the most important Roman cities in northeastern Italy at the time and was extolled by artists and poets.
The castle was built in the 13th century and was a port fortification used by the fleet of the influential Scaliger family. The castle dominates the landscape of the city and has a large moat where ducks and swans can be seen today. There are 150 steps that lead to the ramparts and the dungeon tower is open to the public. The massive fortress is completely surrounded by water. A staircase leads from the drawbridge to the walkways over the walls and offers great views of the harbor, which once housed the Scaliger fleet. The castle can be visited independently, but there are no guided tours and hardly any information boards and also no audio guides for tourists.
But the rather smaller Sirmione can easily compete with larger cities in Italy as a travel destination outside of the fortress with its charm, atmosphere, hotels and restaurants. A visit in the off-season is particularly recommended.
Ivrea
If you are on holiday in the Italian region of Piedmont near Turin, you should also pay a visit to the small town of Ivrea. The city of 20,000 inhabitants, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Italy since July 2018, has numerous sights to offer.
For example, the Castello di Ivrea attracts thousands of tourists and locals every year. The imposing castle in the historic old town from the 13th century is one of the region’s greatest attractions.
The neighboring cathedral of Ivrea should not be missed on a city tour.
And just a few streets away from these historic buildings is the Municipal Museum Pier Alessandro Garda. In addition to an exciting insight into the eventful history of the city, the museum, which is well worth seeing, offers many archaeological and artistic treasures.
World famous Carnival of Ivrea
But Ivrea is world famous for the traditional carnival, which is one of the oldest and most impressive carnivals in the world. The high point of the carnival season in Ivrea at the end of February is the great procession and the traditional “orange battle” of historical characters, which symbolizes the great popular uprising against the tyrant Raineri di Biandrate in the early 18th century. Anyone can take part in the three-day orange fight – whether local or tourist. You just have to register with the city beforehand.
Spoleto
Spoleto is an ancient city in the Italian province of Perugia in eastern Umbria. It would take too long to tell the full story of Spoleto, but among other things, it was the capital of one of the greatest Lombard duchies that projected the city’s political influence over the vast expanse of central and southern Italy. Today the ancient settlement from prehistoric times has around 35,000 inhabitants.
Il Ponte delle Torri – The Tower Bridge
ll Ponte delle Torre was built in different phases and is probably the most famous structure in the city. It is believed to be a Roman-Lombard aqueduct. It is 230 m long and is considered the symbol of the city of Spoleto. It is unique in its height of 82 m, which makes it the tallest of the oldest bridges in Europe. The tower bridge is a tourist attraction and a rarity because it is one of the few structures that were built for civil use of this size at the time.
Il Duomo di Spoleto
Spoleto Cathedral is dedicated to Saint Mary of the Assumption. It was built in the Romanesque style in the twelfth century and later rebuilt. These include the addition of a Renaissance style porch between 1491 and 1504 and the remodeling of the interior in the 17th century. The interior has one nave and two aisles and contains many works of great artistic value. In the first chapel on the right there is a fresco of the Virgin Mary and Saints by Pinturicchio. Above the entrance is a bronze bust of Pope Urban VIII by Bernini.
