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    • Home
    • LET'S EXPLORE
      • FAMILY HISTORY
      • HISTORY
      • CASTLE CHARACTERISTICS
      • SUGGESTED ITINERARIES
      • STORE FRONT
      • REFERENCES / LINKS
    • CASTLES BY REGION
      • MAP
      • Castles on Lake Garda
      • Castles of Verona - West
      • Castles of Verona - North
      • Castles of Verona - South
      • Castles of Vicenza North
      • KEY NEIGHBORING CASTLES
    • CONTRIBUTIONS
  • Home
  • LET'S EXPLORE
    • FAMILY HISTORY
    • HISTORY
    • CASTLE CHARACTERISTICS
    • SUGGESTED ITINERARIES
    • STORE FRONT
    • REFERENCES / LINKS
  • CASTLES BY REGION
    • MAP
    • Castles on Lake Garda
    • Castles of Verona - West
    • Castles of Verona - North
    • Castles of Verona - South
    • Castles of Vicenza North
    • KEY NEIGHBORING CASTLES
  • CONTRIBUTIONS

THE SCALIGERI BUILT DOZENS OF CASTLES AROUND VERONA BETWEEN 1259 AND 1387.

THE SCALIGERI BUILT DOZENS OF CASTLES AROUND VERONA BETWEEN 1259 AND 1387. THE SCALIGERI BUILT DOZENS OF CASTLES AROUND VERONA BETWEEN 1259 AND 1387. THE SCALIGERI BUILT DOZENS OF CASTLES AROUND VERONA BETWEEN 1259 AND 1387.

TAKE THIS BRIDGE TO MEDIEVAL HISTORY AND EXPLORE THIS ACCESSIBLE NETWORK OF CASTLES THEY BUILT AND CONTROLLED.


In 1200, the della Scala family were working-class merchants

  

In less than 150 years, the Scaligeri became Lords of Medieval Verona 

and the surrounding territories.    They also:

  • Built or rebuilt over 40 castles,
  • Over time, owned and controlled hundreds of castles,
  • Built dozens of miles of fortified walls, and
  • Became one of the wealthiest families in Europe.


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About Castelli Scaligeri

Castles and Who Built Them

The Scaligeri ruled Verona from 1259 until 1387

The Scaligeri ruled Verona from 1259 until 1387

In the middle of the thousand years of the medieval period (476 AD-1453 AD), between 1000 AD and 1200 AD, most castles in Italy were constructed to offer protection in lawless and dangerous times.  Castles were built as fortifications until the end of the medieval period, as the renaissance began. 

The Scaligeri ruled Verona from 1259 until 1387

The Scaligeri ruled Verona from 1259 until 1387

The Scaligeri ruled Verona from 1259 until 1387

Spanning five generations of the family della Scala, the dynasty and its domain were immensely prosperous.  Starting as merchants before 1250, they took positions in local government before Mastino was granted full legal control of the city of Verona, surrounding cities, and countless castles.  They owned Verona.

Della Scala Family

The Scaligeri ruled Verona from 1259 until 1387

Della Scala Family

At Castelli Scaligeri, we connect this network of castles that the Scaligeri built.  From the castles built along Lake Garda, to those used in the serraglio to the west and central, to a number of castles located north in the foothills, the Scaligeri used a network of castles to defend their territory.  Much of it is still standing.

Discover the name: Scaligeri

 While the name of the family is "della Scala", it is very common to use "Scaligeri" as their name, while in English it is common to use "Scaligers".  In Italian, however, Scaligero is also used as adjectives: 

noun single fem.        la citta' scaligera

noun single masc.     il museo scaligero          

nouns plural fem.      le strutture scaligere                        

nouns plural masc.    i castelli scaligeri   


PRONOUNCED: SCA (SCAR) + LI (LEE) + GE (GEM) + RI (veRY)

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The main points of castelli scaligeri IN the area of VERONA

When castles were most important?

When castles were most important?

When castles were most important?

Towns and cities of, what is now, northern Italy were constantly under attack in the years 1000 through 1500.  Nothing was considered safe in the depths of the medieval period.  Castles became a place to seek safety and for staging resistance against these attackers.  

Who actually built these castles?

When castles were most important?

When castles were most important?

It's safe to say that every town and city needed a castle.  These castles were built by everybody and had very different forms.  The Scaligeri used existing fortifications and strengthened them.  They built plenty of their own castles in a style that was their own between 1259 and 1387.

Does this network still exist?

When castles were most important?

How could regular people become so powerful?

The Scaligeri built or strengthened more than 36 castles to create their network.  They were exceptional builders.  Over time, a few sites have been lost forever, while some sites offer the remains of castles.  But it is truly remarkable how many complete castles having over 700 years of history are still standing. 

How could regular people become so powerful?

Why aren't there souvenir shops focusing on these castles?

How could regular people become so powerful?

Being at the right place at the right time.  Mastino had governing experience and was called on by his city of Verona when the blood-thirsty tyrant, Ezzelino III da Romano, was killed.  Mastino was entrusted with ownership of everything in the Verona district.  Verona needed leadership and loyalty, allowing the della Scala family to become one of the wealthiest dynasties ever.

Why aren't there souvenir shops focusing on these castles?

Why aren't there souvenir shops focusing on these castles?

Why aren't there souvenir shops focusing on these castles?

Many of these wonderful historical sites are found in small towns with little tourism.  These townsfolk take their castles for granted in some cases.  Regardless of the importance of the castle or the location, we offer the souvenirs that you can't find while traveling.  We are committed to investing some of this money into preservation.

How can we help preserve these castles?

Why aren't there souvenir shops focusing on these castles?

Why aren't there souvenir shops focusing on these castles?

Buying souvenirs is one way.  There are ways to donate and there are some great organizations at work in this pursuit.   In the future, having this network of Castelli Scaligeri as part of UNESCO would be appropriate.  This, or something as effective as this, is our long term objective.  We want to ensure the preservation of these castles.

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Discover the rich history of Castelli Scaligeri by seeing the iconic landmarks!

Discover the rich history of Castelli Scaligeri by seeing the iconic landmarks!

Discover the rich history of Castelli Scaligeri by seeing the iconic landmarks!

Discover the rich history of Castelli Scaligeri by seeing the iconic landmarks!

Discover the rich history of Castelli Scaligeri by seeing the iconic landmarks!

Discover the rich history of Castelli Scaligeri by seeing the iconic landmarks!

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