Museo di Storia Naturale del Monte Baldo e del Garda

About the museum

The museum is inside the Castello Scaligero (Scaligero Castle) in Malcesine, in the rooms of the Casermetta, and is included in the castle visit. The castle, the symbol of the town, was rebuilt by the Scaligeri (the Della Scala family) around 1300 and overlooks the lake from a height of about seventy metres; it was declared a national monument in 1902.

The museum offers a route over two levels: the lower floor is devoted mainly to the lake, while the ground floor illustrates the landscape and mountains of Monte Baldo. The collections include geological, botanical and paleontological materials and preserved specimens of local flora and fauna, with a section on traditional fishing on Lake Garda.

Inside the castle you can also visit the rooms dedicated to Goethe, who made some drawings here during his journey to Italy, located in the former powder magazine built by the Austrians, and the tower, 31 metres high, with its view over the lake.

Highlights

• Natural history route through the lake and Monte Baldo
• Geological, botanical and paleontological materials
• Section on traditional fishing on Lake Garda
• Rooms dedicated to Goethe in the former powder magazine
• 31-metre castle tower with a view over the lake

Permanent exhibition

• Museo di Storia Naturale del Monte Baldo e del Garda – Route through nine rooms on the lake, the landscape and the mountains, with geological, botanical and paleontological materials and a section on traditional fishing.

Operated by

Comune di Malcesine

Visitors per year

approx. 178,099

Admission & discounts

The castle ticket includes the fortified areas, the tower, the Museo di Storia Naturale del Garda e del Baldo and the rooms dedicated to Goethe. Tickets are bought at the castle entrance ticket office.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Because of the medieval structure, with cobbled paving and steep stairs, accessibility is partial: the main courtyard can be reached, but the tower and some museum rooms cannot be reached by wheelchair or with a heavy pushchair. A free unattended storage area for pushchairs is available at the entrance.

Kids & families

• Stroller-friendly: not available

The castle is not very suitable for pushchairs because of the cobblestones and stairs; there is a pushchair storage area at the entrance.

Getting there & parking

The castle is above the historic centre of Malcesine, reachable on foot in 5–10 minutes from the centre.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Weddings / ceremonies

The castle is the official venue for civil weddings, celebrated in two indoor rooms or on the Rivellino, the outdoor panoramic terrace.

Plan your visit