Museo di Castelvecchio

Castelvecchio is a brick fortress on the Adige in Verona, in the Veneto region of Italy, built between 1354 and 1356 by Cangrande II della Scala. It was designed as a residence and stronghold for the Scaliger lord, with defensive walls, towers and a fortified bridge, the Ponte Scaligero, that allowed escape across the river. Its purpose was as much to protect the ruler from rebellious citizens as from outside enemies. After the fall of the Scaligeri it served under the Visconti, Venice and later the French and Austrian authorities, who used it as barracks and altered the buildings considerably. In the twentieth century the fortress was restored and converted into the city's art museum. The architect Carlo Scarpa carried out the main redesign between 1958 and 1964, removing later additions, opening the spaces and creating a famous sequence of displays, entrances and details in concrete, steel and wood. Scarpa's work is recognised as a landmark of modern museum architecture, with the equestrian statue of Cangrande I placed on a concrete bracket where the bridge meets the keep. The Ponte Scaligero was rebuilt after being destroyed in 1945. The collections are shown in a broadly chronological route through the rooms: medieval sculpture and Romanesque and Gothic works, paintings by Veronese masters such as Pisanello and Paolo Veronese, Venetian works including Bellini and Tiepolo, as well as weapons, armour, jewellery and manuscripts. The curatorial approach pairs works with carefully designed supports and light, so the architecture and the objects are read together. The fortress is in good condition, with periodic maintenance and conservation of its brickwork and exhibition fittings. Visitors can walk on the walls and across the bridge, gaining views of the river and the Arco dei Gavi next door. The museum is a main stop for anyone interested in history, art and architecture in Verona.