What to see in Soave, a fortified village next to Verona famous for its wine

Starting from Verona you can easily reach Soave by bus, with line 130 (45 minutes), or even more comfortably by car, driving on the A4 highway to the exit for Soave or on the ring road Verona Sud and then SR11 (30 minutes).

The first thing you must do when you get in Soave is visiting Scaligero Castle, an iconic attraction of the city and testimony to an important historical past made of power and nobility.

You can visit the master rooms and the armory of the castle in full autonomy, trying first-hand the experience of a true journey through time to remote eras, dominated by great lords, ladies and knights. The wonderful walk to the Scaligero Castle then ends on the patrol walkway, up to the top of the main tower where the tricolor flag stands tall. From up here the panorama is amazing, offering the unique emotion of a wide view dominating the historic centre of Soave from above, and then loses itself beyond the horizon over the vineyards that surround the sweet countryside around.

Along the main street of Soave, Via Roma, there are the main historical monuments of the city after the castle. Among these here’s the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, the main church of Soave, a beautiful example of 1700’s art and architecture with an evocative aesthetic that elegantly mixes Renaissance, Baroque (particularly in the colors) and Neoclassical elements. Near the Cathedral there are also some valuable historic buildings, that are Palazzo Castagnedi and Palazzo Cavalli.

Among the other churches to visit in Soave we also remember the 1200’s Church of San Giorgio and the Churches of San Rocco and Santa Maria dei Domenicani, both from the Renaissance.

A little further on, in the so-called Piazza dell’Antenna at the entrance to the panoramic Via Castello that leads to the fortress, you will find Palazzo di Giustizia. Built in 1375 by the Scaligeri in Gothic style, the palace was once the seat of the city government while today on the ground floor there is a very valuable and nice wine shop. Not to be missed also Palazzo Scaligero del Capitano, another interesting example of medieval architecture.

Originally Soave was just a tiny village located along the Via Postumia, the Roman road that connected all the areas of Cisalpine Gaul, today's Po Valley. But in the Middle Ages Soave evolved and grew as a real city reaching its top splendor, a majesty that can be relived today in its historic centre.

Where the imposing yet elegant Scaligero Castle stands today, it is likely that there was an ancient Roman bastion for defensive and control purposes. The castle, whose construction date is uncertain but certainly prior to 1200 according to historical sources, is a massive medieval fortification that dominates the entire village and the plain below from the slopes of Mount Tenda. It consists of a high main tower, the Keep, around which run the circuits of the walls, creating three inner courtyards.

An important date in the history of the castle is 1379, when the rise of the Della Scala family, or Scaligeri (a noble dynasty that officially ruled the city of Verona and its surroundings from 1262 to 1387), led to a restructuring and renovation of the castle with the construction of walls around the original historic centre of Soave, extending its functions from a pure military fort to a real residence.

Soave and its Scaligero Castle then passed under the government of the Republic of Venice, experiencing a very long period of peace partially due to the evolution of political interests of the time, but also due to the characteristics of the fortress, which was considered obsolete for the warfare. The castle was therefore rented for many years as a residence for local noble families and wealthy bourgeois, to the point of even being used as a farm.

After falling into a state of ruin, Scaligero Castle of Soave was eventually recovered in 1890 by Senator Camuzzoni, mayor of Verona in previous years, who restored it returning it to its status of residence. Today, in its newfound elegance and historical pride, the castle is a tourist attraction particularly appreciated for its immense scenic charm. It can be reached on foot by following the picturesque road that starts from Piazza Antenna, in the heart of the historic centre, or by taking the road to the north of the village.

Soave is also a very important land of wines, a town that has also given its name to the most popular white wine produced in the area, the Soave DOC, whose production area is located in the eastern side of the province of Verona, where the Garganega grape grows.

There are different varieties, such as Soave DOC, Soave Classico DOC, Soave Superiore DOCG and Recioto di Soave DOCG, distinguished by the specific geographical position of production. The area includes the territories of Soave, Monteforte d'Alpone, San Martino Buon Albergo, Lavagno, Mezzane di Sotto, Caldiero, Colognola ai Colli, Illasi, Cazzano di Tramigna, Roncà, Montecchia di Crosara, San Giovanni Ilarione and San Bonifacio.

The historic area, enclosed for the first time in 1931 and coinciding with Soave Classico DOC, is located exactly on the hills between Monteforte d'Alpone and Soave, with a total area of about 1700 hectares of vineyards.

Since 1929, Soave has also hosted the Grape Festival, the oldest festival in the region dedicated to wine, usually celebrated on the third Sunday of September. Wine is also the main theme of other events here in Soave, such as the picturesque Medieval Soave DOC White Wine Festival held in the middle of spring.

In 1999 was also established Soave Wine Road, which includes 130 members; a real route of about 50 km dedicated to the noblest beverage ever, along which it’s possible to admire beautiful landscapes, visit rich cellars, taste the best qualities of wines from Veneto and savor the typical dishes of this fertile land of beauty and goodness.