The Scaligero castle. Originally founded on the site of an old Roman fort, it is a fine example of its kind and dates back to the early Middle Ages.

Under the rule of the Scaligeri, it was re-built and enlarged and throughout the centuries, many fierce battles were fought for its possession, the most memorable one being at the beginning of the XVI century, when the Soavesi under their captain Rangone, defeated and drove out the enemies of the Venetian Republic: As a reward for this victory, the town was granted the right to fly the standard of San Marco, the flag of the "Serene Republic".

The castle was accurately and carefully restored to its present form by the owner Giulio Camuzzoni, an Italian Senator in 1890. Covering an area of 5882 sq.metres, the castle stands on Monte Tenda overlooking a wide plain. It is dominated by a high tower, surrounded by 3 courtyards all of different shape, size and level and from it the crenelated walls descend and completely encircle the whole town.

The main entrance to the castle is across a drawbridge, easily reached by car or on foot. Inside, much is still visible of its turbulent past, including the ruins of the X century chapel, frescos of the 13^th and 14^th centuries, numerous old documents and arms and trapping of the Scaligeri soldiers; in addition , a small medieval, well preserved house of 3 rooms with earthenware pottery and furnished in accurate period style. In the highest courtyard, which is small and elegant, is to be found the well, as old as the castle itself, with its deeply grooved stone parapet to bear witness of the primitive methods used to draw water. From the middle of the courtyard rises to keep, last bastion of defence and also of imprisonment and torture.

The walls around the old historical centre are 2.400 metres long and 12 metres high, with 24 towers 15/18 metres bigh.

The Surroundings and Monuments. Soave contains a number of notable monuments, witness to its prosperity and importance in the past: the most inportant being the famous Scaligeri crenelated walls which are today, entirely encircle the town: The Palazzo di Giustizia (Law Courts) in Antenna Sq. and the Palazzo del Capitano (Captain’s Palace – now Town Hall) in Camuzzoni St. All are XIV architectural gems dating from the heigh of the power of the Cansignorio della Scala. Of them all, the Palazzo di Giustizia is probably the most notable and interesting, its construction having been financied in 1375 by the 22 municipalities which owed fealty to the Captaincy of Soave: It contains 2 inscriptions of considerable historical and poetical interest.

Other buildings of interest are: the Cavalli Palace in Antenna Sq. built in 1411 in Ghotic-Venetian style by the noble Nicolò Cavalli, the Palace of the Counts of Sambonifacio (XIIIth century) in A. Mattielli St., the Moscardo Palace (XVIIth century) and the Pullice Palace, both in Camuzzoni St.

Two churches of outstanding interest which have remained substantially unchanged are the Dominican Church built in 1443 in Lombardic style and situated on the steep slope leading up to the castle, with its adiacent monastery (now a public library) and St. George’s, built in a very simple style by the Franciscan Friars in 1200.

The Parish Church built in 1758 on the site of the old dating back to the Middle Ages, about 1303) was enlarged in 1884. Constructed with one aisle, it contains Baroque altars and paintings by Veronese artists. A particular work in an altar piece by Francesco Morone, the renowned artist of the XVI century. Also outstanding is a wooden statue of the Redeemer, carved by Polo Cahansa in 1553.

The Curch of St. Rocco, built in the XV century on the site of an old Roman cemetery and that of Bassanella (which, as a chapel, dates back to 1098) are both located in the ancient Borgo Bassano.

Situated in a fertile valley and surrounded by rolling hills in some cases over 1200 ft. high, an interesting additional tour is available by visiting the outlying villages of the Soave district such as Castelcerino, Fittà and Costeggiola, all centres in this wine country, famous not only for their vast and prosperous vineyards, but also for their landscape. It is from these places that the finest Soave wines originate.

The Economy. The prosperity of Soave was founded and depends on the cultivation of the vines for which the soil is particularly suitable and the production and sale of the precious white wine obtained fron them. The ancient art of wine making and the meticolous care necessary to achieve a good bouquet has been jealously guarded and handed down through the centuries from father to son and still remain today the keystone of prosperity.

Many of the firms engaged in the different aspects of the industry are famous and amongst the most important and best known are the Cantina Sociale di Soave, Cantine Bolla, Cantina del Castello, Cantina Monte Tondo, Cantina Roncolato, Cantina Suavia, Cantina Pieropan with the 1^st white wine in Italy in the year 2000 among over 3.400 white wines produced in Italy and other.

The names of white wines are: Soave Classico and Recioto di Soave.

Grape Festival. The notably famous Festival is celebrated every year during the 3^rd Sunday in September. It was the first in Italy, opened on September 29^th 1929. It was quickly copied and adopted as an annual event by many other wine centres throughout Italy: It is characterized by cultural and folklore shows, exalting virtues of the Garganega grape, one of the oldest varieties of vine in the Veronese province.

Wine Festival. The "Festival of the Soave Classico and Recioto di Soave" sponsored by the Town Council and the Pro-Loco takes place on the 3^rd Sunday in May. During this Festival are named "Castellane di Suavia" many important woman famous in the world and an important medieval banquet.

Other news from the web site of: www.comunesoave.it E-mail: segreteria@comunesoave.it

For tourist information E-mail: turismo@comunesoave.it

For other Festivals: prolocosoave@mbservice.it

For 12^nd International Symposium of WTFC Walled Towns Friendship Circle in Soave 27 – 31 August 2002 E-mail to: soave2002@libero.it

Amelia I Cittadella I Corinaldo I Gradara I Montagnana I Padua I Soave

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