Castle of Cavriana, Medieval castle ruins in Cavriana, Italy.

Castle of Cavriana is a medieval fortress ruin on a hilltop in Cavriana, Italy, overlooking the Mantuan countryside near Lake Garda. The remains show defensive walls that reveal the site's former strategic importance as a stronghold.

The castle was probably founded in the 11th century and was among the most important fortifications of the Mantuan area, with four corner towers on the hill above the town. It suffered raids by the Visconti of Milan in the 14th century and was enlarged by Francesco I Gonzaga, who died there in 1407. Ludovico Gonzaga had Giovanni da Padova strengthen the defences and turned it into a residence. Around 1770, under Austrian rule, it was almost entirely demolished and the material used to build Villa Mirra.

The castle's surviving tower now serves as Cavriana's bell tower, the campanile whose bells ring over the town below the hill. The fortified walls and this converted tower are what remain of a stronghold that once hosted the Gonzaga court, and they are the elements a visitor can still see today.

The site is accessible via Via Pozzone 20 in Cavriana with paths suitable for walking and cycling. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes and be prepared for uneven terrain, as the ruins sit on a hillside.

The fortress once featured four corner towers and an intricate system of protective ditches, making it one of the largest defensive structures in the Mantuan state. These fortifications demonstrate the engineering skill of medieval defensive architecture from that period.