Villafranca Castle

Villafranca di Verona, Italy

The Castle of Villafranca di Verona was built starting in 1199, after the Battle of Ponte dei Molini (Mantua), and was completed in 1202. The purpose was to defend the population of Villafranca in casa of sudden attacks from Mantua.

Serraglio, a defensive wall unique in Europe, was built in 1345. It is about 13 miles long. It started from Borghetto and linked five castles: Borghetto, Valeggio, Gherla, Villafranca and Nogarole Rocca. Nowadays, of the Serraglio remains only some traces that can be seen along the right bank of the river Tione.

Inside the walls, there are seven small towers called 'Torresine'. The base of the Mastio (the main tower) was built using some stones that camed from the remains of the Arch of Emperor Tiberius. The wars over time destroyed most of the Castle.

Starting from the year 1450, the Castle was abandoned, and only centuries later, it was bought by some nobles such as Angelo Alessandri or G.B. Simeoni, the Count of Villafranca.

In 1890 the main tower of the castle was rebuilt and a clock was added. Under the main fortress, there is the Church of Christ, the first church of the district of Villafranca. In the inside, there are a fourteenth-century fresco depicting the Crucifixion and three paintings of the eighteenth century painted by Giovanni Battista Lanceni and representing the scourging of Jesus, the Christ mocked and crowned with thorns, and the ascent of Jesus to Calvary. The chapel has been restored in recent times.

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Founded: 1199
Category: Castles and fortifications in Italy

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Ekaterina S (8 months ago)
Best spot for music concerts!
Greg Chang (2 years ago)
Nice place for a show . free parking all around the venue
Mike Schut (2 years ago)
Went to the Slipknot concert at this venue, and it looks absolutely lovely. Probably the most beautiful venue i have ever visited for a concert. Sadly the lines were really long and the first band was finished by the time we got in. I think they can improve on that, if they do so it would deserve 5 stars! Until they do so try to be there early! And enjoy.
李G (2 years ago)
The venue is beautiful, stunning with the sunset in the back. Came here for the incredible Slipknot concert, but it has to be highlighted that the organization by Live Nation Italia was terrible - queue wrapped around the castle with many people missing over an hour of the opening acts shuttle ticket collection and definitely part of Slipknot too. People were being shunted about the 2 different queues in chaos. If you're coming here for a concert be sure to arrive - I'd say - in the morning?! and prepare to expect the worse. For context, in comparison, I have strolled leisurely into a Rammstein concert where they provided shuttles for €0.
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