Description of the attraction
The Scaliger Bridge, built in Verona in 1355 by order of Cangrande II della Scala, connects the left bank of the Adige River with Castelvecchio Castle. In the Middle Ages, it was the main entrance to the fortress with the longest span in the world. Kangrande built this bridge to ensure a safe escape route for himself in the event of a popular uprising against his tyrannical rule. According to legend, Kangrande awarded the bridge's architect, Guglielmo Bevilacqua, with a saber that once belonged to Saint Martin of Tours, one of the most revered saints in France. According to another legend, Bevilaqua appeared at the opening ceremony of the bridge on horseback, so that if his brainchild collapsed, he would immediately run away, without waiting for the wrath of a powerful customer.
The architect's fears were not justified, and the strength of the structure allowed the bridge to retain its original appearance until the end of the 18th century, when French soldiers destroyed its tower on the left bank of the river. And in 1945, retreating German troops blew up the Scaliger Bridge along with some other strategic buildings in Verona. Fortunately, already in 1949-1951, it was restored using all the fragments found.
Today the Scaliger Bridge consists of 3 spans that start from the pentagonal towers. The central span is 50 meters long and the total length of the bridge is 120 meters. Its upper part is made of red brick, like most of the sights of Verona of the Scaligerian era, and the lower part is made of white marble.
