The castle surrounded by the waters of Lake Garda
At the entrance to the old town of Sirmione, the Rocca Scaligera is one of the best preserved castles in Italy and one of the few examples of a fortified harbour. It was built in the thirteenth century by the della Scala family, lords of Verona, to control the southern shore of Lake Garda, and is entirely surrounded by water: you enter it across a drawbridge, which is also the only access to the historic centre.
The castle has crenellated walls with swallow-tail merlons, typical of the Ghibelline faction, three corner towers and a central keep 47 metres high. Inside, a fortified dock, the darsena, enclosed by walls, was used to shelter the Scaliger fleet; it is one of the few surviving examples of this type of structure. Climbing the stairs to the walkways and to the top of the keep, you enjoy a splendid view over the roofs of Sirmione, the peninsula and the lake.
Tip: the castle is busy in summer; go early or late in the day. The view of the castle reflected in the water is most beautiful from the lakeside promenade.
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