hotel near castle montorio veronese

Verona is a city of many layers, where ancient Romans, medieval nobles, Venetian signori, Napoleon, and Austrian Hapsburgs, have woven a rich tapestry of art, architecture, and history throughout its urban fabric. The city’s great appeal lies in the fact that, from its historic center to the banks of the Adige River, it is both a bustling, modern northern Italian city and a living testament to Verona’s glorious past.

Begin your exploration of Verona in the centrally located Piazza Brà, where the enormous Arena, a Roman amphitheatre from the first century A.D., is located. To this day, the Arena still hosts the 22,000 spectators attending the prestigious, annual opera season held there each summer. Located nearby are the Palazzo Barbieri and Palazzo della Gran Guardia. Along the Liston, an elegant pink marble sidewalk that borders one side of Piazza Brà, and along the Via Mazzini, Verona’s most elegant shopping avenue, the Veronese enjoy a daily, ritual stroll called the passeggiata. At the end of Via Mazzini sits one of the city’s most famous monuments, Casa di Giulietta, home of Juliet, Shakespeare’s tragic heroine.

A short distance away, on the site of the ancient Roman forum, you will find Piazza delle Erbe, now home to a local market and surrounded by buildings and towers dating from the 12th-17th centuries. The Madonna Verona, a fountain found in its center, is a symbol of the city. Passing underneath an unusual archway (a large rib hangs down from its main arch) you enter Piazza dei Signori, the former seat of the medieval Scaligier reign (the della Scala family palace is found at one end of the piazza). Adjacent, you will see the beautiful Arche Scaligere, sepulchral monuments of Cangrande della Scala and his family.

The characteristic Via Sottoriva takes you to the banks of the Adige and the church of Sant’ Anastasia, a repository of medeival and Renaissance works of art. On the other side of the river, just across the Roman bridge Ponte Pietra, rises the Teatro Romano, the Roman theater. Continuing further along the river embankment, you will come upon Verona’s cathedral, the Duomo, whose harmonious Gothic interior complements the priceless altarpiece by Titian located inside.

The wide loop of the river that encloses the historical city center ends at a remarkably well-preserved medieval castle, the Castelvecchio, a 14th century work of the Scaligeri, and home to an important local art museum. Further down the river, the itinerary concludes at the Basilica di San Zeno one of the most beautiful and important Romanesque churches in northern Italy. Masterpieces such as the bronze panels of the main portal and Andrea Mantegna’s triptych found at the high altar are indicative of an important period of artistic flourishing in the city.

The Lessinia district is situated in the northern reaches of the Verona province. The plateau that extends as far east as Vicenza, as far west as the Val d’Adige, and as far north as the Valle di Ronchi. In 1990 the area was proclaimed a Regional Natural Park, due to the many natural wonders found there.

The Veronese mountain range, with its southerly-exposed Valpantena valley, is a temperate zone located between the Padana Plain and the Alps. The gradual slope of its ridges (100-1800 meters above sea level), the abundant autumn and spring rainfall of the upper Lessinia, its deep torrential streams, the arid karst of its limestone, and thousands of years of human habitation have created an environment of great diversity. The olive groves and Mediterranean vines of the lower hills give rise to the the cherry and chestnut orchards of the mid- Lessinia, which then lead to the plateau’s alpine pastures. The sedimentary and volcanic rock (formed in the last 200 million years) are the oldest parts of this rare, environmental mosaic of which the fish fossils of Bolca are the most famous.

The story of Lessinia, however, doesn’t end with its geological, pre-historic or ethnographic heritage. Several traditional activities, such as alpeggio (specialized dairy and cheese production) and stone masonry continue as economic and cultural pursuits. Some quarries are still operational today, and extract Pietra della Lessinia (the traditional stone of the Lessinia region).The principal centres of the district are: Grezzana, where the prestigious Villa Arvedi is situated; Bosco Chiesanuova and its Museo Etnografico, Erbezzo with the flora and fauna area of Malga Derocon, S. Anna d’Alfaedo, where the Museo Paleontologico is located, and Ponte di Veja, a unique example of a natural bridge formed by a geological phenomenon. Markings left on the Grotta dell’Orso and other caves formed under this bridge indicate a use by hunters (one of whom may have been “Otzi”, found on the Similuan glacier) in pre-historic times. The Parco delle Cascate di Molina, a natural water oasis, full of rare botanical species, boasts gorgeous canyons, lakes and panoramic lookouts found throughout the park. Refreshingly cool in the summer months, the park is also fascinating during the winter, when its many waterfalls freeze over.

The Lessinia easily reached by public transportation and served by a variety of accommodation including hotels, camp sites, and apartments—offers numerous possibilities for both winter and summer tourism. Skiing (on the new lifts of San Giorgio), hiking, and much more are yours for the taking. No wonder the Veronese consider this their “premier mountain”.

For many centuries, on the lower slopes of the Lessinia mountains located in the eastern province of Verona, the volcanic soil of the Alpone, Tramigna, Illasi and Mezzane valleys has provided the ideal environment for the cultivation of garganega grapes and the production of Soave wine. This wine, considered one of the great Veronese whites, owes much to the volcanic origins and emerging limestone of these hills. In addition to producing fine wine, Soave is also a territory rich in castles, churches and ancient belltowers. An impressive array of historic sites, gastronomic traditions, and picturesque villages are found in the area, as are a number of businesses, sales outlets, restaurants, cultural attractions, and environmental points of interest. Start from the walled town of Soave, located at the foot of a magnificent, medieval castle.

Soave was almost certainly reconstructed by the Svevi, followed by the Longobards, and fortified by the Scaliger nobles of Verona. Examples of their respective rules include the 18th century church of San Bonifacio, the 15th century Palazzo Cavalli (in Gothic- Venetian style), the 14th century church of San Lorenzo (reconstructed in the 18th century), and the beautiful Palazzo di Giustizia and Palazzo Scaligero.

Leaving the town towards the east, cross the bridge over the Torrente Tramigna and continue along on the panoramic road towards Colognola ai Colli, a quaint village originally inhabitated by Romans, and extending across the charming hills of Soave.

From here, a turn towards the south takes you to local hot springs dating from the Roman period (Antiche Terme Romana) in Caldiero. Alternatively, head north to reach the delightful Valle d’Illasi, where olive trees flourish amongst vineyards and cherry groves; continue the journey up to Pieve di Colognola where the romantic Pieve di Santa Maria, surrounded by vineyards, can be admired.

The very ancient center of San Pietro di Lavagno, surrounded by villas, can also be visited. Return to Illasi, with its suggestive, medieval atmosphere. Admire the villas of the former nobility, such as the Villa Perez Pompei Sagramoso (once the seat of feudal government), whose large park extends up to the castle. Climb to the top of the hill crest and enjoy views of the Illasi valley and Tramigna, then descend to Cazzano di Tramigna meandering through the cherry orchards. A bit further south, near Monteforte d’Alpone, you will find the historic zone of “Soave Classico”, the selection area for “cru” wines (Monte Pressoni, Monte Foscarino, Rugate, Ronchetto, Val D’Alpone, Roncà and Bolca). Admire the important parish church of Santa Maria Maggiore, decorated with a neoclassical facade and bell tower, and the Palazzo Vescovile, enhanced by a delightful cloister. In all, an intoxicating journey of discovery to the land of a world-famous wine

The Veronese shores of Lake Garda offer an intoxicating landscape, and burst with colour. Charming small towns, vineyards and olive trees dot the shoreline. A water-lovers paradise, the deep blue waters of the lake and its eastern riviera offer an incredible variety of attractions that can be visited in a half day tour from Verona or the Valpolicella, or on a more leisurely full day tour.

Start at the southeastern corner of the lake, where the waters of Lake Garda mix with those of the Mincio River, in the town of Peschiera. Sixteenth century sammicheliane walls conjure up images of the town in its role as a Venetian stronghold, while lakeshore beaches and a nearby amusement park, Gardaland, all beckon within easy reach. Like Peschiera, many other towns on the lake’s eastern shore developed around historic fortifications laid down during Scaliger and Venetian rule.

Some examples are Lasize, marked by a charming historic center; Bardolino, noted for its wine, the small romanesque church of San Severo, and the elegant villas of Canestrari and Bottagisio; and Garda, dominated by the unmistakeable Rocca hill, and Venetian architecture. One of the most panoramic and romantic stretches of the lake begins north of Garda, where the headland at Punta San Vigilio encloses a wide bay. The incredible beauty of this area, in addition to the views that can enjoyed from the summit of Mount Luppia, must certainly have held great charm for those that constructed its nearby namesake church and villa (indeed, the area has hosted many famous guests since the 13th century).

After San Vigilio, the eastern shoreline changes dramatically: the lake narrows, as it is closed off by Mount Baldo to the east and the Brescian pre-alps to the west. Another Scaliger castles rises in Torri del Benaco; there, you may also admire the beautiful Palazzo del Capitano del Lago, the indoor lemon nurseries or limonaia, the Torre del Berengario, and the small church of SS Trinità. Picturesque moutain roads lead to Albisano and San Zeno di Montagna nearing the summit of Mount Baldo.

This area is characterized by stone houses and narrow lanes, notably in Pai, Castelleto and Biazza. Enjoy Cassone, with its tower and hermitage of SS Benigno and Caro, and the Val di Sogno, a scenographic inlet enclosed around the islet of Trimelone. The next view opens onto Malcesine, probably one of the lake’s most evocative villages, thanks to its superb Castello Scaligero, cobblestone streets, and the interesting botanical species that proliferate in its unique micro-climate. From the center of town, a cableway climbs 1752 metres to Tratto Spino, and offers sweeping views of Lake Garda.

Say the word Valpolicella, and images of Recioto and Amarone—wines once enjoyed by Roman emperors, and today even more complex and prestigious—instantly come to mind. From the vineyard-carpeted valley slopes of spring, to the purple-tinged harvests of autumn, the regal grape makes a difficult journey, and endures a three-month long drying period, on its way from vine to wine. Indeed, the merits and value of this grape can best be appreciated with a visit to the Valpolicella, a 240-sq. kilometer area steeped in local traditions, where natural, historic, and artistic resources also play an important role in the economic strength of the region. The following are some examples:

Natural and archaeological marvels Ponte di Veja, the largest natural bridge in Europe; Waterfalls of Molina; Chiusa di Ceraino; medieval caves of Prun; a six-metre shark fossil displayed in the Museo di S. Anna. Prehistoric remains Grotta di Fumane (the “shaman” grotto dates back 34,000 years); Castellier delle Guàite (oldest rampart in Europe, dating back 3600 years). Romanesque monuments Civic tower of Negrar; Churches of San Giorgio and San Floriano, plus a dozen other minor churches.

Hundreds of Veneto Villas, many with frescoed halls, built by Palladio, Sammicheli, Cristofoli, and others: San Dionigi (Parona); Verità-Serego Alighieri and Turco Zamboni (Arbizzano); Mosconi-Bertani (Nòvare); Rizzardi (including the famed gardens) (Pojega/Negrar); Pullè-Galtarossa (S. Pietro); Porta-Rizzini (Marano); Buri-Avanzi (Bure); Della Torre (Fumane); Nichesola (Ponton); Del Bene (Volargne); Da Sacco (Pescantina). Alongside these marvels of art and nature, you will see fragrant peach and cherry trees, silvery-green olive groves, terraced apple orchards and leafy chestnut trees. Likewise, in the marble district of S. Ambrogio and in nearby industrial zones, small companies and talented craftsmen produce prized handicrafts and important machinery.

Local gastronomic traditions also abound in lively taverns, inns, and restaurants, where the area’s cuisine attains a high level of elegance and refinement. Some local dishes include Paparèle col brodo tajà e figadini; tri lessi con pearà; pasta e fasoi; polenta; agnello in umido; Locally-cured meats and aromatic mountain cheeses are also popular. Typical deserts still incorporate ancestral flavours, from the rustic pissòta to pastafròla, sbrisolòna, torta margarita, nadalini and Easter brasadèle. All are even tastier, accompanied by a glass of Recioto or Amarone.