Exploring Castelvecchio and the River Adige

After a hectic day yesterday, we thought that we would take it easy and explore Castelvecchio just across the road from our apartment.

The castle was built between 1354 to 1376 by The Lord Cangrande II della Scala. It has seven towers, a super-elevated keep (or maschio) with four main buildings inside. The castle is surrounded by a ditch, now dry, which was once filled with waters from the nearby River Adige.... it's amazing what you can find on Wikipedia! The castle is now mainly used as a museum.

Part of the old moat system and the new museum

The beautiful grounds

Leaving the castle and approaching the bridge

We spent a few hours casually walking around and exploring the old castle and bridge that was also built by Cangrande at the same time.

On the bridge looking back at the castle

Castelvecchio bridge crossing the River Adige

We then wandered along the river taking in the views.

Looking back at the castle and bridge

After a short time we crossed the river and found ourselves back at the Piazza Erbe. This time I noticed something hanging from one of the arches, believe it or not, it is a whale bone (a rib to be precise) that is hanging from the underside of the arch (Arco della Costa). An old story has it that the whale rib will fall on the first “just” person who walks beneath it. Apparently it has never fallen, and to my surprise it even failed to fall when I walked under it!

Arco della Costa, and that whalebone

So we made our way back to the apartment after another great, but very hot day exploring Verona.

 

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