Wine lovers are undoubtedly familiar with the name Soave. What most don’t realize, however, is what a charming medieval town Soave is. It is an ideal romantic weekend get-away or a perfect location for exploring the surrounding wine trails.
Soave is a small town in the Veneto region of northern Italy, not far from the romantic Verona. Of course it has gained its reputation thanks to the famous Soave wine, made in the region. However, there is much more to Soave than just the wine production. Its history goes long back and the medieval atmosphere charms anyone who passes through.
The cultural gem of Soave is the local castle. First historical mention of the castle dates back to 943. Being a proper fort, it is surrounded by well preserved medieval walls, built to protect the town in the 13th century. They wind around Soave and are 2,400 meters long and 12 meters high. The castle is mainly accessible via a drawbridge. When inside, visitors will appreciate the ruins of a 10th century chapel featuring precious frescos, which date back to the 13th and 14th centuries.
Another impressive piece of architecture is the Palace of Justice, built in 1375. Tourists love to admire its mighty structure and usually find it hard to resist dining in its fine restaurant, located on the ground floor.
Soave is also famous for its churches. The 15th century Santa Maria dei Domenicani and San Rocco Churches are a true spectacle. Furthermore, the Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Bassanella dates back to the 11th century and is highly regarded for its 14th century frescoes.
When it comes to wine tasting, one cannot afford to escape it. There are several wineries in the surrounding picturesque area and visiting them makes it a great day out. Wine devotees often come here during the ‘festival season’. Especially the Medieval White Wine Festival held in May attracts a lot of attention, as well as the Music and Wine Festival in June or the widely popular Grape Festival in September.
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DOLCEACQUA – THE GEM OF NERVIA VALLEY
Bike rental is available in Soave from june 2011. The service is available from Monday to Sunday by advance booking.
Bike rental is managed by the Association “AMEntelibera” that was born with the purpose of promoting life-styles responding to a vision of integrated sustainability.