Page 208 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Venice & The Veneto

206  THE VENE T O AREA B Y AREA

4 Montecchio
Maggiore
* 20,700. @ n Via Pietro Ceccato
88, Alta di Montecchio (0444 69 65
46). ( Fri am.
Visitors to industrialized
Montecchio Maggiore come
principally to see the two
14th-century castles on the
hill above the town. Although
these are known as the
Castello di Romeo and the
Castello di Giulietta (which
includes a restaurant), there
The 14th-century Castello Romeo, on a hill overlooking Montecchio is no evidence that they
belonged to Verona’s rival
2 Grezzana 3 Soave Capulet and Montague families
(see p201), but they look
* 9,680. @ ( 1st Wed & 3rd Fri * 6,200. @ n Foro Boario 1 (045
each month. 619 07 73). ( Tue am. romantic and provide lovely
views over the vineyard-clad
In Grezzana itself, seek Soave is a heavily fortified town hills to the north.
out the 13th-century church ringed by 14th-century walls,
of Santa Maria, which (though known all over Europe because + Castello di Romeo
frequently rebuilt) retains its of the light and dry white wine Via Castelli 4. Open Sat & Sun. 8
robustly carved Romanesque that is produced and exported + Castello di Giulietta
font and its beautiful from here in great quantity. Via Castelli 4. Tel 0444 40 09 79.
campanile of gold, white Visitors will see few vineyards Open daily.
and pink limestone. around the town, since they are
mainly located in the hills to the
Environs north, but evidence of the indus-
Grezzana is in the foothills try can be seen in the gleaming
of the scenic Piccole Dolomiti factories on the outskirts, where
or Little Dolomites. Close to the Garganega grapes are
the town, at nearby Cuzzano, crushed and the fermented wine
is the 17th-century Baroque bottled. Cafés and wine cellars
Villa Allegri-Arvedi, which is in the town centre provide plenty
decorated with beautiful of opportunity for sampling the
frescoes by Ludovico Dorigny. excellent local wine.
To the south, in Santa Maria in The city walls rise up the hill
Stelle, is a Roman nymphaeum to the dramatically sited Rocca
(a shrine to the nymphs who Scaligera, an ancient castle
guard the freshwater spring) enlarged by the Scaligeri rulers of
next to the church (known as Verona in the 14th century. It has
the Pantheon). been furnished in period style.
P Villa Allegri-Arvedi + Rocca Scaligera
Cuzzano di Grezzana. Via Castello Scaligero. Tel 045 768 00 36.
Tel 045 90 70 45. Open for groups Open Mar–Sep: 9am–noon, 3–6:30pm The dramatic gorge of Montagna Spaccata,
only (book by phone). & 7 daily; Oct–mid-Feb: 9am–noon, 2–4pm north of Valdagno
∑ villarvedi.it daily (Jan–mid-Feb: Sat & Sun only). &
5 Valdagno
* 28,000. @ ( Tue & Fri am.
∑ comune.valdagno.vi.it
A scenic drive of 20 km
(12 miles) from Montecchio
Maggiore leads to Valdagno,
a town of woollen mills and
18th-century houses. Just
northwest is the Montagna
Spaccata, its rocky bulk split
by a dramatic 100-m- (330-ft-)
Rocca Scaligera, the ancient castle in Soave deep gorge and waterfall.

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