Scaligero Castle of Lazise

A Complete Fortified Circle on Lake Garda

The Castello Scaligero di Lazise, with its six quadrangular towers and crenellated walls embracing the ancient core of the town, is one of the most complete fortified circuits on the Verona shore of Lake Garda. Built in the 12th century and reinforced by the Scaliger family in the 14th century, the castle was never a lordly residence but rather a defensive enclosure for the protection of the community, with its walls integrated into the town’s defensive system.

Italy’s First Free Municipality

Lazise boasts a historic distinction: in 983, Emperor Otto II granted the town the privilege of self-governance, the right to collect tolls, fish, and fortify itself — rights that make Lazise Italy’s first free municipality. The castle was the stone manifestation of this autonomy: the walls, towers, and gates were maintained by the community itself, not by a feudal lord.

Structure and Architecture

The fortified circuit extends for approximately 600 meters, interrupted by six towers that originally reached 20 meters in height. The curtain wall, made of river pebbles and tufa blocks, remains largely intact and can be walked around from the outside. The main gate, with its pointed arch, leads into the historic center through a passage that has seen merchants, soldiers, pilgrims, and now tourists pass through for centuries.

Visiting the Castle and Surroundings

Inside the walls, the castle is private property and not open to visitors, but the external perimeter — with the moat now filled in and transformed into a garden — can be freely explored. The most scenic point is the south-eastern corner, where the walls meet the lake and the towers are reflected in the harbor water. Access to the exterior of the castle is free. Lazise is reached via the eastern Gardesana road and has ample parking outside the walls. It is recommended to combine your visit with a lakeside walk and a stop at the Venetian Customs House (Dogana Veneta).