Malcesine
Place of Interest
Scaliger castle in the centre
Malcesine
The Pearl of Lake Garda
Malcesine presents itself to its visitors as a picturesque town with a great ambiance. The small town is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful spots on Lake Garda and at the same time also the focus of the summer tourism. Malcesine is located at the foot of the majestic Monte Baldo mountain range amid olive groves and offers a beautiful historic old town and a magnificent Scaliger Castle. Narrow medieval streets, a beautiful harbour promenade and numerous small shops, stores and cafes invite visitors to stay and stroll. While Malcesine has a lot of flair in the off-season, it is crowded in the summer season and the thousands of visitors squeeze through the narrow streets. So if you come to visit Malcesine itself you should definitely avoid the peak travel time.
Attractions in Malcesine
The main attraction in Malcesine and landmark at the same time is the mighty fortress of the Scala family in the centre. It was built the 12th century and is located in the historic centre. The castle itself consists of three walled courtyards. In the first courtyard there is a small geology museum and in the second courtyard you can visit an exhibition of Goethe. The poet visited Malcesine and the region around Lake Garda in 1786. The third courtyard is dominated by the massive keep and the palace of the Scaliger. There is also a museum that describes the insane attempt by the Venetians to transport an entire fleet on the road over the mountains to Torbole when they were fighting against the Visconti of Milan.
Also worth seeing is the Palazzo dei Capitani in Malcesine – the palace of the sea captains. It is located between the port and the castle and served as the residence of the Venetian city’s governors. The entire architecture of the palace and the frescoes inside make a visit worthwhile.
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