If you are planning a trip or a stop on your itinerary in Torri del Benaco, the Scaliger Castle is definitely the first tourist attraction you should mark in red.
In Torri, in fact, in addition to its beaches and its wonderful lakeside promenade, you can immerse yourself in the past, climb the main tower as well as its fortified walls, and enjoy the panorama of Lake Garda from a privileged point of view. Toscolano Maderno, Gardone Riviera, the Gulf of Salò, the Rocca di Manerba, Sirmione, Gargnano, even Limone: these are the towns that can be observed from here!
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The history of the Scaliger Castle of Torri del Benaco
Before talking about what you can find inside, it is necessary to study its history, because the Scaliger Castle of Torri del Benaco seems to be historically placed about 4000 years ago (we are in 2000 BC), probably coinciding with the first human settlements in the area. In fact, in the area, rock engravings have been found that testify to the ancient settlement of Torri, engravings that are located in a dedicated room of the museum located inside the Scaliger Castle.
Tulles (this is its Roman name) was also a territory under the aegis of the Empire, of which numerous testimonies can be found, starting with the numerous coins found. After the fall of the empire, Torri passed from the Goths, to the Lombards and the Hungarians, and it was the latter who (in 905) had the walls of the citadel built, which once extended throughout the village. Today, however, the walls no longer exist, but their testimony remains thanks to the Berengario Tower, visible in Piazza della Chiesa.
Over time, the passage of world powers left their mark and their testimony: from Barbarossa’s troops to the Scaligeri, from the Visconti to the Republic of Venice, to the arrival in 1797 of Napoleon, who came to Torri to clash with the Austrians.
It was precisely with the Scaligeri that the castle was fortified and raised, rebuilding the foundations on the ruins of a pre-existing structure. After various historical vicissitudes, Torri became part of the Kingdom of Italy and its Castle lived years of peace but also of neglect and forgetfulness, which were then corrected by a phase of restructuring towards the end of the 1970s.
What to see at the Scaliger Castle of Torri del Benaco
After explaining the necessary history of this magnificent village and its Castle, it is now time to open the doors and discover what you can see and visit.
At the entrance, where the ticket office is located, an ancient marble well can be immediately noticed towards the center, surmounted by a tower (the keep). The ticket office, on the other hand, was the laundry area where the laundry was washed with the techniques of the time.
Following the museum’s “map,” you pass through several rooms and, towards the end of the path, you climb the walls and the main tower. The main rooms in order of visit are in fact the following:
- Calafati Room: you will observe the tools used at the time for the construction of fishing boats.
- Olive and Press Room: the name says it all as you can observe how olives were processed to obtain oil.
- The Fishing Room: very pretty and full of fishing nets used in the past.
- The Lemon Greenhouse: personally, it is the area that I liked the most. Entering the greenhouse, which is still used, you can observe a small pond at the entrance with many goldfish and dozens of freshwater turtles!
- Visit to the fortified walls and the main tower with a view from above of Torri and the lake.
- The Ancient Room: with various historical testimonies on official paper documents from different historical periods.
- The Plastic Room: with the model of Torri.
- The Rock Engraving Room: with the engravings of the past.
Scaliger Castle prices and hours
The Castle can be visited from early April until the end of October with these time slots, always considering that the closing day is Monday:
From April 1 to June 15: from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and from 2:30 pm to 6 pm. From June 16 to September 15: from 9:30 am to 1 pm and from 4 pm to 7:30 pm. From September 16 to October 31: from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and from 2:30 pm to 6 pm.
The cost of the ticket is 5 euros for adults, 3 euros reduced for seniors over sixty years and 1 euro for children up to 14 years old.
The towers of the Castle
As already explained, it should be remembered that the Castle was a part of the fortress that was erected in antiquity with the walls that surrounded Torri del Benaco. Over time, the walls were demolished, but a testimony remains thanks to the Berengario Tower and the Clock Tower: Torri in all respects.
