Malcesine Castle. Italy Editorial Image

The symbol of Malcesine is its Castle, rebuilt by the Scaliger family around about 1300. Castle halls contain the Monte Baldo and Garda Natural History Museum, the “Galley Room” and the former powder magazine. It was built by the Austrians, now dedicated to W. Goethe with several drawings made by the poet during his “Trip to Italy”. The castle was declared a national monument in 1902. Today the Castle halls host the interesting Museum of Natural History of Mount Baldo and Lake Garda, which exhibits numerous findings and illustrative tables of the native species of flora and fauna in the Garda territory. One of the halls, the ex-gunpowder magazine built by the Austrians, is dedicated to Goethe and exhibits several sketches that depict views of the lake and Malcesine Castle realised by the poet on occasion of his 'travels in Italy'.