The castle, an imposing civic building from the medieval Veronese period, was built between 1354 and 1356 by order of Cangrande II della Scala. The design was conceived by the della Scala family as a defence against both outside invasions and popular rebellion.
The surrounding area allowed for a rapid and easy escape from the city:after crossing the fortified bridge, accessible only to the noble family, the road to the north along the Adige valley was a secure route.
The city’s geographically strategic location led to the development of a fortification system, consolidating the remains of the Roman and Commune periods.