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Arco ruined castle, Lago di GardaArco ruined castle, Lago di Garda

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Aug
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    This castle is regionally famous Nati. But the way you visited it is cool...
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      Very good description!
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      Yes! But you didn't add a plan...
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      Yes, 2
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      Yes!
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      Yes!
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This castle, perched on the top of a rocky hill with cypresses overloooks Arco and the plain spreading to the Garda lake.

My experience, Explo description: 

Since the 12th century, the castle has been controlling the Northern side of the Valle del Sarca valley, which used to be often crossed by armies coming from the North and heading towards the Po River Valley.

At that time, the fort and its hamlet could be accessed by four gates. The Transfora gate, which used to be a drawbridge, can still be visited today.

The Castle of Arco is one of the most famous castles in the Trentino region. It is featured in countless paintings, including a famous watercolour painted by Albrecht Dürer, found at the Louvre in Paris.

In 1927, the Countess Giovanna d'Arco, Marquise of Bagno, purchased the castle and become its sole owner up to 1982, when it returned into the hands of the Municipality of Arco.

Inside the fort, Explorers can visit the prisons, the large tower, the bastions and numerous rooms. The castle's precious treasure is its wonderful cycles of profane frescoes dating back to the 14th century.

The castle can be visited all year around and is used to host music and theatre events in the summertime.

My personal recommendations: 

The trail going uphill to the entrance of the Castle is wonderful, going up splendid olive groves. Enjoy the view. If by lack lack of chance you arrive too late and find the castle's gate door closed, don't worry: about 50m south from the gate, the wall is... hum... not so high and looks like all the inhabitants of Arco know that you can climb it to gat inside the castle. There, you can enjoy a wonderful terrace with grass, where you can sit on benches overlooking the town. So I would say the best time to visit the castle is at the evening, when the gates are closed and when you will be alone in these unique ruins!

How getting there: 

Arco is on the SS45bis, about 5km north from Riva del Garda.

A tip to eat: 

In Arco.

A tip to sleep: 

In Arco.

Useful information: 
Open hours: 

Hours:
APRIL - SEPTEMBER
10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
OTHER PERIODS
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Visit duration: 

From 1h to 3h.

Entry fees: 

Hum... I don't know... I did arrive too late! ;-)

Contact: 

Castello di Arco
Via Castello
38062 Arco, Italy
Tel: +39 (0464) 510156
Fax: +39 (0464) 583631
E-mail: cultura [at] comune [dot] arco [dot] tn [dot] it

Access security: 

Access is restricted, except at opening time. Climbing the wall and getting into the ruins when castle is closed is a your own risk.