Malcesine
Malcesine is one of the most beautiful towns of the shores of Lake Garda. It faces the lake and is backed by beautiful olive groves at the foot of Monte Baldo.
The ancient picturesque village is built round the rock on which stands a superb medieval castle overlooking the lake, mentioned by Goethe in his ‘Travels in Italy’ in 1786. Goethe was even arrested here in Malcesine and then released on suspicion of being a spy, after he was caught drawing sketches of the castle.
The little port around the old village, is the town’s heart, a place so colorful and bright, it seems almost not real but painted.
Remnants of an Etruscan tomb have been found within the castle walls, and there is historical recorded information of fixed and organised settlements of population, since 500 B.C. Nearby there is a cable-car taking you to Tratto Spino (1.700m). This is an ideal starting point for wonderful walks or biking on Monte Baldo during the summer months. In the winter people can enjoy 11 km of ski slopes here on Monte Baldo.
Castello Scaligero (Malcesine Scaligero Castle)
The castle in Malcesine (Castello Scaligero) was first built around 500 A.C. by the Lombards. It was later destroyed (590 A.C.) and rebuilt by the Franks.
After the invasions of the Huns, it became part of the feudal bishop of Verona. It was modernized and reinforced by the “Della Scala” family who ruled Malcesine from 1277 until 1387. Interventions from this period gave rise to the present name, Castello Scaligero.
The Visconti of Milan occupied it from 1387 to 1403.The Republic of Venice incorporated it in 1405. The Empire recaptured it in 1506. It returned to the Republic of Venice from 1516 to 1797. Then came the French. In 1798 the French took over the Austrians, who performed substantial work on consolidation within the Castle and remained there until 1866. The castle was finally declared a National Monument on August 22, 1902.