Castello Padenghe, Medieval fortress in Padenghe sul Garda, Italy

Castello Padenghe is a 12th-century fortress on a hill above the town of Padenghe sul Garda. Its square defence tower rises 20 m, and the walls are entered through an arched portal in a tower fitted with a drawbridge. Inside stand several houses divided by two streets.

The fortress received official recognition in 1154 when Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa granted it to the Bishop of Verona. It formed part of a defensive network across the Valtenesi region built to protect against invasions.

The fortress displays northern Italian military architecture with its squared defense tower and original drawbridge entrance. Today visitors walk through narrow streets that show how people once lived within these protective walls.

The castle is freely accessible without admission fees and visitors can walk through the grounds at their own pace. The cobblestone streets inside are easy to navigate, though the hilltop location means some uphill walking.

The castle was documented in 1145 and probably built on the ruins of a structure older than the 10th century. In 1154 Emperor Frederick Barbarossa listed it among the properties granted to Teobaldo, Bishop of Verona. The moat was filled in after 1796.