The Soave wine road

These are the lands of Soave, a noble white wine made with Garganega and Trebbiano grapes. The itinerary traces its path among wineries, villas, churches and unique landscapes. It starts in Soave and goes through many townships of Verona belonging to the Doc area and also to the Docgs Recioto di Soave and Soave Superiore areas.

Soave, a medieval town, stands inside intact walls, that reach the top of the hill standing above it dominated by a castle. Soave used to be a Roman town, as witnessed by the layout of its streets. It was rebuilt by the Svevi, after the Longobards, and fortified by the Scaligeri. Artistic and historical artifacts abound throughout the town, which still preserves its wonderful 13th and 15th century palazzi, such as Palazzo San Bonifacio, the gothic Palazzo Cavalli and the remarkable Palazzo Scaligero, the seat of the governors of Verona, of the Captains of the Republic of Venice and today, after careful restoration, of the local authorities.

Leaving Soave, the wine road runs across the national road leading to San Vittore, and proceeds along a charming panoramic road that arrives in Colognola ai Colli. It is situated at the entrance of the Illasi valley and it is a lovely town on the pleasant hills of Soave. Its Roman origins are witnessed by the many archeological findings and the remains of Villa Spinola, with its beautiful gardens, and the 17th century Villa Peverelli.

Out of Piano di Colognola ai Colli, in the surroundings of Decima, one meets with the national road of the Illasi valley. At this point one has three alternatives: southwards, in the direction of Caldiero, the old Roman baths of Juno are worth a visit. Northwards, one reaches Illasi, a town formed by an aggregation of aristocratic villas, from where one can return back onto the Soave wine road. The last alternative is westwards to Pieve to visit the Romanesque Pieve di Santa Maria.

After crossing through Ca' dell'Ara, one reaches San Pietro in Lavagno, the municipal center of a several towns, some of which protohistoric. The town is surrounded by villas among which stands out the great 16th century Villa Verità-Montanari, with its beautiful Italian park, called Il Boschetto.

The Soave road, starting from San Pietro di Lavagno, leads to Illasi and its many noble mansions: Villa Pompei-Carlotti, a Palladian style 18th century villa, the majestic Villa Perez Pompei-Sagramoso, seat of the government of the fief, which has a vast park extending up to the top of the hill where the remains of the Scaligeri castle are. T

The itinerary picks up again towards Sa' Monte and Cazzano di Tramigna, with its small 12th century church of San Pietro, proceeds to Costeggiola and ascends to Castelcerino and Montecchìa di Crosara, situated in the heart of the Alpone valley. At this point the road turns off towards Roncà (center of the Cimbrian culture), Terrossa and Costalunga. This road includes another short itinerary that starts in Castelcerino and arrives in Costalunga, crossing through Brognoligo. From Costalunga the itinerary descends to Monforte D'Alpone, a Roman fortified town, where in the 10th century a castle was built. The small 14th century church of Saint Anthony the Abbot is visible standing on the remains of this castle. The road leads to the surroundings of San Bonifacio and finally turns back to Soave.