Juliet’s Castle

Why visit

Bellaguardia means “good watch”, and the castle lives up to its name. From its walls you look across the whole plain between Vicenza and Verona, with the hills of the Lessini behind and the Berici hills to the south. Like Romeo’s Castle, it was rebuilt by the Scaligeri of Verona in the 14th century, ruined in the early 1500s and restored in the 20th century.

The legend

Local tradition names this castle after Juliet, and the larger one after Romeo, because the two towers face each other on the hill like the rival families of the story. Luigi da Porto, who first told the tale in full around 1530, lived nearby, and many people in Montecchio believe the castles were his inspiration. See our guide to the Romeo and Juliet castles.

What to see

• The tower: the tall brick and stone tower, lit up at night.
• The terraces: views over the town, the plain and the hills.
• Romeo’s Castle: the larger castle, a short walk along the ridge.
• The restaurant: a meal inside the walls is a memorable way to see the castle.

Tips

• Book the restaurant ahead, especially at weekends, and check its days of closure.
• The road up is narrow and steep. Walking up from town takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
• Bring a camera at dusk, when the towers are lit and the plain turns gold.
• Read our one-day itinerary.