SEEING THE NETWORK OF CASTELLI SCALIGERI AND THEIR COMMON CHARACTERISTICS

ENTRANCE WAYS HAVE SIMILAR FEATURES

CUSTOMARILY HAVE THREE OPENING THAT ALLOWED FOR OPERATION OF A RETRACTABLE BRIDGE

TOWERS - THE FULL HEIGHT IS OPENED INTERNALLY

WOODEN PLANKS WITHIN THE TOWERS COULD BE ADDED, BUT ALSO REMOVED IN THE CASE OF AN INVASION

CRENELLATIONS - TYPICALLY FEATURE DOVETAIL MERLONS

THIS WAS DONE OFTEN TO EXPRESS THE ALLEGIANCE TO THE GHIBELLINE FACTION - FRIENDLY TO THE HOLY ROMAN EMPORER, NOT THE POPE

WALLS ARE SEVERAL LAYERS ON A SINGLE DARKER LAYER

THE SCALIGERI BUILDERS USED LOCAL MATERIALS AND COMMONLY ADDED BRICK CORNERS AND LINEAR FEATURES IN THE WALLS

THE FAMILY EMBLEM IS TYPICALLY VISIBLE

THESE ARE NOT ALWAYS VISIBLE IN EVERY CSTLE, STILL IN MANY CASES THE FAMILY SYMBOL REMAINS VISIBLE

SOURCE OF FRESH WATER

MOST WELL-PRESERVED CASTLES HAVE THE ORIGINAL WELL. SEEMS OBVIOUS, BUT CLEAN DRINKING WATER WAS ESSEMTIAL

WALLED CITIES AND TOWNS

TO PROTECT URBAN CENTERS AND ENCOURAGE PRODUCTIVITY AND PROSPERITY, MANY CITIES WERE SURROUNDED BY PROTECTIVE WALLS

CASTLE HAS SHARP ANGLES, USUALLY 90 DEGREE CORNERS, NEVER ROUND

ROUNDED TOWERS ARE FOUND IN NORTHERN ITALY, ROUNDED WALLS AND BASTIONS TOO, BUT NOT ON CASTELLI SCALIGERI

MOST BRIDGES SHARE A SIMILAR STRUCTURE

NOT ALL BRIDGES WE SEE TODAY ARE THE ORIGINAL BRIDGES BUILT BY THE SCALIGERI, STILL SEVERAL BRIDGES LOOK ALIKE