Keep of medieval castle, the Castello Scaligero or Rocca Scaligera, at Sirmione, Lombardy, Italy. It boasts swallowtail battlements designed for medieval archers and machicolations or ‘murder holes’ for dropping hot oil or boulders on attackers. Built in the 1300s, the castle takes its name from the Della Scala family, ruling dynasty in Verona, who dominated the area at the time and whose members are known as Scaligeri or Scaligers. It is one of the best-preserved Scaliger fortresses.
Sirmione, Lake Garda, Lombardy, Italy: climbing 37 meters (121 feet) to the top of the mastio or keep of the medieval Rocca Scaligera fortress rewards visitors with panoramic views over the southern reaches of the Lago di Garda. The keep, once the governor’s residence, is the highest of the castle’s three main towers and also the most visually impressive, with brick swallowtail merlons or battlements - designed for medieval archers - above machicolations or ‘murder holes’ through which stones, burning objects or hot oil could be dropped on attackers. However, although the tower is an original feature of the fortress, the merlons were rebuilt when it was restored in the early 20th century. The Rocca, also known as Castello Scaligero, was built in the 1300s at the narrowest point of the Sirmio peninsula. It is the best preserved of the main fortresses that defended Scaliger lands on the eastern and southern sides of Lake Garda. It includes a very rare example of a 14th century fortified harbour, built to an irregular shape, perhaps to shield the space within from strong prevailing north winds. The Rocca had lost its importance as a defensive structure by the 1500s. Under French and Austrian rule, it was used as an armoury and barracks and it later housed municipal offices, a post office and a prison. Sirmione is now a very popular tourist resort and the castle is among the Italian Lake District’s top visitor attractions.
Size: 2000px × 3008px
Location: Rocca Scaligera, Sirmione, Lake Garda, Lombardy, Italy
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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