Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SIGHTS & ACTIVITIES
Soave
Barely 20km from Verona, Soave is nestled in a landscape of gentle green hills and vine-
yards. The DOC quality-controlled zone includes the parishes of Soave, Castelcerino, Fittà,
Castelletto and Costeggiola. Head up to Fittà on a sunny day and you'll have a splendid
view of the Val d'Alpone that channels the mountain meltwaters down to Soave and, in the
process, feeds its abundant crop of cherries.
Soave itself is a charming medieval town, mapped out along the Roman axis of Via
Roma and Via Camuzzoni. Notable buildings line the route, culminating in the Venetian
Gothic Palazzo Scaligeri, now the Town Hall. May, June and September are the liveliest
times to visit, when the wine festival, cherry season and harvest are in full swing.
CASTELLO DI SOAVE
( 045 768 00 36;
www.castellodisoave.it
; admission €6; 9am-noon & 3-6.30pm Tue-Sun Apr-Oct, 9am-noon &
2-4pm Oct-Mar)
Built on a medieval base by Verona's fratricidal Scaligeri family, the Castello
complex encompasses an early-Renaissance villa, grassy courtyards, the remnants of a
Romanesque church and the Mastio (the defensive tower apparently used as a dungeon):
during restoration, a mound of human bones was unearthed here. Be sure to make your way
to the upper ramparts for fine views of the town and surrounding countryside.
HISTORIC BUILDING
AZIENDA AGRICOLA COFFELE
( 045 768 00 07;
www.coffele.it
; Via Roma 5, Soave; 9am-12.30pm & 2.30-6.30pm Mon-Sat & by appointment)
Across from the old-town church, this family-run winery offers tastings of lemon-zesty
DOC Soave Classico and nutty, faintly sweet bubbly DOCG (guaranteed quality) Recioto
di Soave. The family also rents out rooms among vineyards a few kilometres from town in
Castelcerino di Soave.
WINERY
SUAVIA
WINERY
( 045 767 50 89;
www.suavia.it
; Via Centro 14, Fittà; 9am-1pm & 2.30-6.30pm Mon-Fri, 9am-1pm Sat & by ap-
pointment; )
S
Soave is not known as a complex white, but this trailblazing winery, run
by three of the Tessari daughters, is changing the equation. Using sun-ripe Garganega
grapes the often light Soave is transformed into something altogether more complex in Le
