Scaligeri

Cangrande I

Before I move from Lake Garda to our stay in Verona, I think I should mention the Scaligeri (also known as Della Scala) family who dominated the area in mediaeval times. Throughout the area there stands reminders of the family & their influence.

Almost every village or town on the eastern side of Lake Garda has its castle, or remains of one. Their symbol of ladders (“scala) abound. All of them date back to the days of the Scaligeris. Even places we didn’t visit, such as Malescine has one. Verona, the home of the Scaligeris, has one of the finest. It is now an impressive gallery of mediaeval art. Verona also has their tombs & at least one magnificent church which they patronised.

Remnant of the Scaligeri castle, Bardolino

Scaligeri castle, Torri del Benaco as seen from the cross lake car ferry

Lazise castle

Scaligeri castle at Sirmione

To the left the shield of the Scaligeri with its ladder over the entrance to the castle, Sirmione

Castelvecchio, another Scaligeri castle. This time in Verona

Tomb of Cangrande I , built into the wall of Santa Maria Antica church

Tomb of Cansignorio, wiht ladders int he grillwork

Tomb of Cansignorio

So who were these people? They ruled Verona & the area around during the late 13^th & 14^th century. They were true warlords, vicious with a lust for power, softened sometimes by a love of the arts. Most of them had dog nicknames so there was “Cangrande” (“Big dog”), “Mastino” (“Mastiff”) & “Cansignorio” (“Lord Dog”). They ruled by force & didn’t hesitate to kill one another in their greed for power. Altogether not the sort of people I would like to know, but perhaps that was the only sort of people who could provide some sort of order in a lawless period of history.

Bartholomeo della Scala, was perhaps a bit of an exception. It was he, with the support & power of his older brother Cangrande I, who provided safety to Dante in his exile.

Statue of Dante, Piazza dei Signori, Verona