Scena Castle

Scena castle, also called Castel Schenna, has first been documented in 1346, but this refers to a forerunner of the building. Only Petermann from Scena, burgrave from Tyrol and minion of Margaret, Countess of Tyrol, had the castle complex built in 1350, the way it appears today.

In the years to follow the castle repeatedly changed hands. Among the famous owners there were the Lords of Starkenberg, the Counts of Lichtenstein and Archduke John of Austria. They inhabited the castle complex and renovated, changed and shaped it. Today the Earls of Merano, descendants of Archduke John of Austria, live in and cultivate the castle complex.

Via a bridge you can reach the entrance and by passing the oubliette you come to the inner courtyard. In the inside you can visit lordy rooms, a Renaissance hall with faience oven dating back to the 18th century, a painting gallery and a weapons collection dating back to the 12th to the 19th century, as well as the biggest private Andreas Hofer collection. Part of the castle is also a mausoleum in neo-Gothic style, in which Archduke John and his family were entombed. Curiosity: Castel Scena is one of the fews castles in the surroundings of Merano which has never been abandoned and so it never began to decay.

References:

• suedtirolerland.it

Address

Via Al Castello 11, Schenna, Italy

Details

Founded: c. 1350
Category: Castles and fortifications in Italy