Thinking about the bicycle, we often associate it only with the idea of sport, or perhaps we only appreciate it for its quality of being a "greener", environmentally friendly vehicle. These are certainly some of the defining characteristics of this means of transport, but they are not the only ones. Sometimes we forget that pedaling allows us to more calmly observe the territory in which we find ourselves and to fully appreciate it. By bike we practice a full-fledged active tourism, because we have the opportunity to experience landscapes, sounds, colors and scents: we live the place where we are at 360 degrees.

Everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy Valpolicella through the lenses of cycling, given this we have decided to offer you e-bike tours organized by our partner OUTDOOR ADVENTURE ASD for different difficulty levels!

VALPOLICELLA PEACH TOUR – VALPOLICELLA TOUR DEI PESCHI
Low/medium difficulty

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VALPOLICELLA OLIVE OIL AND WINE TOUR – VALPOLICELLA TOUR DELL’OLIO E DEL VINO
Medium/high difficulty

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VALPOLICELLA CHERRY TOUR – VALPOLICELLA TOUR DEI CILIEGI
Medium/high difficulty

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AMONG THE MOUNTAINS OF CAMPOFONTANA WITH SNOWSHOES

Travel time 3- 4 h

The Campofontana area offers mountain lovers the possibility of suggestive excursions on the snow with snowshoes on their feet, along fascinating routes, far from city traffic.

Starting from the parking lot of the cemetery in the town located in the municipality of Selva di Progno, go uphill on the track that leads to Malga Porto di Sotto, in the Vicenza area. The itinerary continues towards the southern slope of Mount Formica, bypassing which it continues along a scenic stretch to the buildings of Malga Porto di Sopra at an altitude of 1550 meters.

Continuing, the Madonna delle Scalette, an ancient stone stele representing the Madonna with Child, and, after a downhill stretch, the Croce della Lobbia are worth a stop. Alongside the Nordic ski slope you reach Malga Lobbia. The return to Campofontana allows you to observe other peculiarities such as the famous sculpture of the Madonna della Lobbia and some glimpses of the Pagani district.

WESTERN LESSINIA

Travel time 3- 4 h

Leaving the car at Passo delle Fittanze, in the municipality of Erbezzo, you go up the eastern slope of Monte Cornetto, recognizable by an artifact about 10 meters high on its summit, also visible from the plain below.

Continuing on the northern side and following the path, you skirt the remains of numerous trenches from the First World War ending near the Liana Pass, between the valley of the same name and the thirty Val Fredda. From this pass, continue westwards along a small road that leads first to Malga Preta di Sopra and then to Malga Fanta, overlooking the Val d'Adige.

A last slight climb allows you to reach the summit of the Corno of Aquilio where there is a high iron cross and a boundary stone from the early twentieth century.

Continue returning for a few hundred meters along the path of the outward journey, to then descend towards a valley where you can see the opening of the Cobbler's Cave, which in the winter season presents spectacular ice conformations.

You resume the journey alongside the famous "Spluga della Preta", a vertical cave that reaches a depth of one thousand meters, and then resume, near the border between Malga Fanta and Malga Preta di Sopra, the outward path and then return to step of the Fittanze.

ROUTE ONE

Pescantina West

The first route starts out from Piazza San Rocco, the historical centre of Pescantina, surrounded by little lanes, porticoes, courtyards and a few old houses in which traces of murals can still be seen.

Leaving the little church of San Rocco (1) behind you and following the flow of the Adige westwards, go down a few steps and take the route that runs along the old towpath.

On the right, before the new bridge, you can see a water gauge dated 1909, and just after it, at a height of a few metres, you can admire a high relief by the sculptor Giovanni Giacopini.

Next to the second bridge along the road is an important building, unfortunately now abandoned, that was once the headquarters of the Regia Guardia di Finanza, the Italian Royal Finance Police (2).

Continuing on towards the Cathedral, emerging from the vegetation on the left, you can see the base of a water wheel built in brick and shaped stone (dated around 1900).

Looking onto the square on the right is the magnificent church of San Lorenzo (3). After the church, go around the Mandella neighbourhood, where there was once a furnace and a restara (at number 18), a sort of station with lodgings and a stable that could be used by the boatmen and the draught animals, featuring the coat of arms of the Salvi family, who owned these buildings during the 18th century. On the walls of number 10, you can see traces of a sacred image from the 16th century, and on the riverbank, significant traces remain of the small landing stage that made it safer for boats to dock here.

The path continues along between the river and the boundary wall of a large stretch of farmland, until the bridge that connects the village of Arcé (4) with the right bank of the river.

Here on the right, you can see two of the towers that mark off the grounds of Villa Albertini-Da Sacco (5).

Visible at the mouth of the bridge are some interesting paintings of the Madonna with saints, and at number 11, a fine fresco dated 1519 depicting the Madonna, San Lorenzo and San Rocco, as well as a coat of arms of the Salvi family.

Just after that, a little lane takes off to the right and winds its way through centuries-old walls to the little Romanesque church of San Michele (6).

Further on from here are the remains of an irrigation channel with high pillars, which when it was in use was supplied by a water power system equipped with four wheels.

After the little Murette neighbourhood, the route continues towards Rovejago, where the bed of the Adige widens; another partial stretch of irrigation channel marks this part of the route.

After a brief stretch, on the right you can see the picturesque Tegnente neighbourhood, surrounded by a large orchard and an imposing arch, the remains of another water power system that marks the point where a mill once stood on the ground, featured on maps dating back to the 18th century.

To reach Santa Lucia (7), continue along a clearly marked path, and once you come off the towpath and enter the little village, it is worth taking a moment to admire the little church built centuries ago and dedicated to Santa Lucia (8).

Back on the path again, you can immediately see, on the right, the pillars of a water power system from the second half of the 19th century; a particularly beautiful stretch of path that meanders through the lush vegetation continues until Ponton (9), and this last stretch of the itinerary is classified as a nature oasis.

ROUTE ONE - NOTES

(1) The church of San Rocco is a building of modest dimensions, featuring a bell tower with battlements. Visible inside, behind the Baroque altar, are traces of the wall decorations, while the foundations of the earlier church can be noted under the floor of the apse.

(2) The large building has a simple facade that looks right onto the towpath. Probably of seventeenth-century origin, and reconstructed in the 19th century, it features two interesting heads sculpted on the keystone of the entrances, depicting Umberto I of the house of Savoy and Queen Margherita.

(3) The magnificent church of San Lorenzo, built in the second half of the 18th century, is Neoclassical in shape, with Baroque elements; walled into the base of the 80 m high bell tower on the left is the lid of a sarcophagus from the Roman age. Still standing next to the parish is the old Romanesque-Baroque church, inside which is the ethnographical museum entitled “Work and traditions along the Adige river”.

(4) In the charming little hamlet of Arcé, time almost seems to have stood still, and the stone material found here from the Roman age confirms its ancient origins.

(5) Villa Albertini-Da Sacco is a strikingly attractive complex, with the large noble building and its decorated ceilings preceded by the gardens, the outbuildings and the chapel of Sant’Anna. Along the boundary wall of the gardens are a number of decorative towers featuring a variety of styles.

(6) The church of San Michele stands alone to the west of the village, and was built between the 11th and the 12th century. The inscription on the south door is a palindrome “sator arepo tenet opera rotas” (it reads the same from left to right and from right to left). Still visible inside are pieces of the fresco, the most significant of which features San Michele, painted in the conch of the apse.

(7) Santa Lucia, in a secluded location in farmland by the Adige river, was first indicated as a vicus (village) as early as the 9th century.

Two mills were located on the land in the 19th century, and the area is today renowned for the spa centre established here.

(8) The old church of Santa Lucia is a small building with a gabled facade, dating back to the 12th century. Inside, you can admire late-mediaeval mural paintings and others from the 17th and 18th centuries.

(9) Ponton was once a river port from which marble and wine from the Valpolicella was transported. The name probably derives from pontone, a particular type of barge.

ROUTE TWO

Pescantina East

This route begins by leaving behind the centre of the village with the church of San Rocco, and continuing alongside the river towards the west, past the Le Grotte neighbourhood with its little lanes and steps.

From here, a steep slope of stones climbs up towards a group of old houses known as the Castello courtyard.

From this point of the towpath, splendid views can be had right across the bend of the Adige river; further ahead sits a farmhouse with the outline of a large mural painting on one side. Near the river, hidden away among the vegetation, are the ruins of a mill.

At this point, the towpath runs close to the Adige, flanked by the boundary walls of the fields, until you reach the secluded neighbourhood of Tremolé, from which the route continues along through black locust and willow trees.

The route changes near the mill known as “del Progno”, built directly on the Adige next to the waterway it takes its name from: Progno di Fumane.

Just a few metres later, the path takes off to the east, sandwiched between a wall marking the boundary between a field and the Adige. It soon reaches a stretch of asphalt road near the village of Settimo (10), which from this perspective is preceded by the striking irrigation channel that crosses the orchard of Villa Bertoldi.

The construction is made up of some twenty pillars and arches in brick that support the actual channel itself, which is made of stone.

The old houses of the Porto neighbourhood feature a number of interesting construction elements, such as the stone plate that marks the level reached by the waters of the Adige in 1882. From here, heading inwards, you can quickly reach the three villas that bring a touch of prestige to the village of Settimo (11).

Back on the river bank, half a kilometre along the route lies Sabbioni, with just one dwelling, embellished inside with decorative elements from the late 19th century. Further along is the neighbourhood of Ramon, where, at the side of the path, there is a milestone marking the 40 km distance between here and the border with the Trentino region. This part of the river is particularly attractive, due to the rich vegetation that grows along the banks.

Further on from here is the Colombina courtyard located close to the river (12); further along still is Nassar, where there was once a hostel for travellers. The village contains a number of old buildings featuring interesting architectural elements, such as the old mill, which is now a housing complex.

The towpath continues towards Parona and then on to Verona.

ROUTE TWO - NOTES

(10) Between the 16th and 18th centuries, Settimo, whose name derives from the seventh (settimo) milestone along the Claudia Augusta Roman road, was chosen as a holiday location by a number of noble families from Verona, who built richly decorated residences and gardens here.

(11) Villa Sparavieri is a construction of 15-16th century architecture, with a portico and an elegant loggia with columns; particularly interesting are the chimney tops.

_Villa Vascone-Bricci, now Villa Manni, is composed of a noble building with stone steps on both facades and featuring wings, porticoes and dovecots.

_Villa Bertoldi took on its current appearance in the 18th century, and underwent a number of changes in the 19th century. Inside the simple, linear building are some interesting furnishings, and the construction is surrounded by land, outbuildings and gardens. There is also a beautiful chapel dedicated to Sant’Antonio of Padua, and a centuries-old votive shrine to the Madonna Addolorata.

(12) In an isolated position, the “Colombina” (formerly Villa Morandina) is a group of houses built around a square courtyard. Preserved in some of the rooms are wall paintings of some interest.

NEGRAR

DISCOVER THE CLASSIC VALPOLICELLA

3 routes that can be easily traveled on foot through which you will touch the main points of interest in the historic center of the municipality of Negrar di Valpolicella and the most interesting points of the east and west sides of the valley.

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WALKING AMONG VILLAS AND VINEYARDS IN FONDOVALLE

An itinerary recommended also for families and children, for an excursion that will surely thrill you, walking among the Amarone vineyards and the villas steeped in history and culture.

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WALKING ON THE PATHS OF SAN PERETTO

A couple of hours on a path that touches the lesser known places of the Negrarese and Valpolicella territory, to discover districts that will transport you back in time!

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SAN PIETRO IN CARIANO

THE GREEN PATH OF BURE

A circular route that will make you discover villas and places with a unique charm. Accessible to all and recommended all year round, it has a length of 8.99 km and is 70% on asphalt and 30% on dirt.

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SANT'AMBROGIO DI VALPOLICELLA

A unique territory that gathers history, culture, traditions, typical products, Venetian villas, churches, Austrian fortifications, nature trails, cellars and examples of high-level catering, and bed & breakfast. The nature trails cross this variety of environments and landscapes; meet springs, streams and fountains, run along the Adige, rise to the heights from which you can see Lake Garda, mingle with vineyards, olive groves and cherry trees, penetrating through woods and, flanking dry stone walls, leading to majestic stone quarries.

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PESCANTINA

WALKING IN VALPOLICELLA ALONG THE ADIGE

Two paths to do on foot or by mountain bike that wind along paths and cart tracks along the left bank of the Adige. Here the landscape shows multiple physiognomies and in the stretches far from the houses it maintains the original ecological balance.

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SANT'ANNA D'ALFAEDO

ON FOOT ON THE PATH OF SANT'ANNA

The surroundings of the village of Sant'Anna d'Alfaedo offer numerous ideas for beautiful walks and excursions

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TREKKING BETWEEN PASSO DI ROCCA PIA AND HORN OF EAGLE

A light trek through woods, pastures and caves on the peaks of western Lessinia to breathe the pure mountain air, immersed in the green of nature. For lunch, stop to taste the typical dishes in one of the many Lessinia huts!

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THE FOUNTAIN VILLAGE PATH
Sant’Ambrogio di Valpolicella

The path starts in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II where the local market takes place on Sunday mornings and where, in the past, large wagons gathered, carrying the stone from the nearby quarries to the yards and the ports on the Adige river. The stone was loaded onto the burchio, a boat that sailed downstream and returned upstream pulled by oxen or horses along the towpath or cavallara.
An imposing stone staircase in seregna stone leads upwards from the square to the town hall. The frescoes on the building depict the points of interest of the town and the surrounding hamlets and a nursing Madonna (mural painting from the 14th / 15th century). At the base of the staircase is the monument to the Stonemason, recalling the history of the stone workers. On the rear side of the Town Hall the road has been restored: Via Lastrari, referring to the stone slabs (lastre) quarried locally, leads to the Romanesque church of San Zeno in Poia (12th century), surrounded by cypresses and with a wonderful view of the Valpolicella valley. Returning down towards the town, you come across the Old Fountain, a charming oasis of peace with its stone seats under a huge secular plane tree. A narrow lane between two high stone walls leads down towards the historic town centre, which preserves some ancient houses, such as the 15th century Casa Panteo with its portico and wooden balcony, hidden courtyards, arches, gates and niches dedicated to the Crowned Martyr Saints, patrons of the marble workers, and to the Madonna. Further down, before reaching the square and the parish church, you reach the Villa Veneta (historical Venetian Villa) Brenzoni-Bassani with its virtual wine museum and park, an imposing centuries-old cedar and numerous sculptures by local and internationally renowned artists.

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THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VILLAGE IN ITALY PATH
Locality of San Giorgio di Valpolicella

The village, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, lies on stone and is also made of stone. The Lombard-Romanesque church stands majestically on the square with its bell tower, cloister, chapter house and museum / antiquarium. The Pieve (Baptismal Church) is the oldest in the province of Verona and the Village has over time been a strategic religious and administrative centre.
A few routes start and arrive in San Giorgio. From Sant’Ambrogio you can reach the Pieve square by following a narrow road that starts behind Villa Brenzoni-Bassani and climbs through the Coali vineyards up to the stone staircase set in the rock. From the square you can reach the Via Crucis of the stone masons, majestic stone books describing the Calvary of the stone cutters in the course of their emigration throughout the world. Continue onwards to the Fountain of Caranzano, passing through the Porte neighbourhood. You will then reach the old ruins of Gilda’s House. Descend through the grove, keeping slightly to the left, and emerge at the spectacular panoramic point overlooking the entire plain below. The path then returns to the Village passing near the Monument to the Stone Cutters, who tragically died in 1927, and the nearby fountain.

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THE AMARONE VILLAGE PATH
Locality of Gargagnago

There are several paths that start in the Village, renowned for the production of Amarone wine, leading to the Vajo (valley) de l’Armaron, to the hills of Traversagna with its olive groves and vineyards, to the pine forest and through the village courtyards and ancient buildings around the parish church and in the Monteleone neighbourhood.
In Gargagnago there are important historical residences, such as Villa Serego Alighieri, where the descendants of the great poet Dante Alighieri still reside today.

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THE VILLAGE ON THE ADIGE PATH
Locality of Ponton

The path here winds along the Adige river. It is the ancient towpath or cavallara, used since Roman times and until the beginning of the last century. Merchant barges were towed by horses or oxen from Verona and the Adriatic Sea or to the northern provinces. Having lost its function, the path today offers pleasant walks immersed in a generous vegetation. Shortly after the departure from the parking lot of the Ponton cemetery, the descent towards the village is flanked by the walls surrounding Villa Nichesola, a Venetian Villa of considerable interest (the Villa can be visited only by reservation). A little further on you reach the towpath and walk southwards along the Adige. After a few kilometres you leave the river path and turn up to the left, returning to the starting point following narrow lanes through cultivated fields.

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THE VILLAGE OF THE FORT PATH
Locality of Monte

Monte is a historic village with its ancient courtyards and stone houses, located on the southern slopes of the Pastello Mountain. Its position has always been strategic, but especially so in the mid-1800s, when the Austrians, who governed this part of Italy from 1815 till 1866, built four forts to protect the passage to the Adige Valley, including the Fort of Monte or Fort Mollinary (now inaccessible). The Fort towers above the Chiusa (natural lock) of Ceraino and is connected to the town of Monte by a military road. Today this district is still strategic for those who want to descend towards the Adige Valley or to climb up Mount Pastello or even, as this itinerary suggests, appreciate some points of interest. Starting from the Parish church square, after three hundred meters you will reach a bottleneck: turn into the narrow road on the left which rapidly descends among vineyards, olive trees, cherry trees, woodland spots and former quarries of Rosso Verona and Nembro marble. When you reach the road that once led to the quarries, turn right, go up leaving Fort Mollinary on the left and pass by the old wash house, where in the past women used to gather to do their laundry. From here it is advisable to follow the track downloadable with the QR code, taking into account that from here onwards the paths lead through the woods and return to the village square, passing through the Calcarole neighbourhood.

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THE PATH OF THE STATION VILLAGE
Locality of Domegliara

From the central square of Domegliara, home to the local Wednesday market, you go along the main road of the town towards the station and take the cycle path in Via Sotto Sengia. After about 2.5 kms, leave the cycle path and go up the hill by a steep track that will take you past the La Grola Ca’ Verde, where people practice rock climbing, and the sengie, a series of steep crags typical of this part of the territory. Immediately after, you leave the historic farmhouse Cà Verde on the left and go up to the Grola, the former provincial sanatorium, where there is a panoramic point. The area is surrounded by vineyards where the Recioto della Grola is produced, and rocky cliffs where Rosso Ammonitico marble is quarried. The road then gradually descends towards the village and towards Villa Rovereti-Zurla, a Venetian Villa now transformed into a private residence with a park and swimming pool, located at the foot of the Montindon hill. Leaving the Villa on the right you return to the starting point, passing in front of the parish church.

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A special thanks to the Running Group of Gargagnago and to all citizens, associations and groups who have taken care of our historical and natural heritage with love and dedication.

The route develops starting from the car park north of the parish church of San Martino, descending from the paved road until reaching Villa Buri-Avanzi; turning left towards Ambrosan (where remains of an ancient Roman villa have been found, with annexed ruins of what is supposedly a building dedicated to the drying of agricultural products) you reach Villa Consolo-Girardi then right along the wall that delimits the brolo of the villa, following the homonymous street and on the right again via delle Ruine which brings us back to Villa Buri-Avanzi. Then following the indications,
cross a residential area and join the sports facilities after a crossing, you will reach the historic Piazza San Giuseppe in the capital (TANGENZA POINT WITH ITINERARY 1).

Continuing uphill along via Chiesa you reach the neoclassical Villa Cristani-Trezza-Cometti, passing in front of the parish church go down to the right towards Cariano and from here, following a road through the vineyards, you reach (after a second crossing) the village from Bure.

After passing a washhouse in local stone and some restored courtyards, a road that then becomes a sheep track leads us to the core of Bure Alto. Here we pass through a rural courtyard flanked by the ranks of old houses; we follow to the right the panoramic road that brings to intercept the municipal one that climbs to the locality Montenar where it introduces him in
its splendor the villa Montanari-Bonamico; at the capital we turn left using the passage in the wooden fence; the path that climbs partly along the brolo of the villa takes us to the highest point of our route on the border with the municipality of Fumane.

Our route descends with a splendid view first on the north side and then on the south eastern side of Valpolicella; from here you can grasp the landscape of the valley very well, where the fine vineyards alternating with rural settlements are evident. Walking along the stone walls, among vineyards and olive trees, you then descend to the parking lot and to the starting point

Villa Buri: is a private property that cannot be visited. It was given as a fief to the De Buris family in 1200, after being owned by the Abbey of San Zeno. The oldest part is a Roman tower which has remained intact over the centuries and has been restored several times. The door is very high and allowed the entry of men on horseback. Together with the tower, this detail made us think that the function of the building was that of a lookout. The walls and round windows visible from the porch are medieval. "

Villa Cristani-Trezza-Cometti: it is a private property that cannot be visited. The building is of neoclassical style and can be dated between the late eighteenth and mid-nineteenth centuries.
A high wall surrounds the property and for a stretch runs alongside the public road. The complex consists of a central stately building, from which two concave wings open. The main building has a central forepart, in which the entrance opens, with an arched door. Above the entrance runs a frieze on which the loggia of the floor rests
noble. This loggia takes up the structure of the temple in antis: two fluted columns, between two wings of the wall, also fluted, which extend the side walls of the cell. This forepart, beyond the eaves ledge, ends with a soft stone gable, without pediment, which takes up the work of the frieze.
On the sides of the main building, two concave wings run, embracing the small one
front court. Lower than the central building, they end with a pediment.
On the back, the villa gains one floor, thanks to the slope of the land, then from the classic three floors, ground, noble and attic, it passes to four. Although it is present on the main floor
a semicircular terrace, the back of the building remains rather anonymous. It is on this side of the complex that the garden and the vineyard extend.
The interiors are decorated with typical elements of the late eighteenth century, early nineteenth century: stuccos, geometric, floral and naturalistic representations

Villa Montanari-Bonamico: it is a fourteenth-century structure, which cannot be visited either. At the north-west corner a rustic dovecote tower hinges, in which the oldest nucleus of the complex that in the Scaliger era was part of the system defensive sighting and warning of danger around the city of Verona ..
The sixteenth-century rebuilding is in all probability attributable to the Montanari, who in the first sixteenth century succeeded the Buri in the possession of the lands belonging to the church of San Micheletto.
In the first decade of the nineteenth century, the villa was still owned by the Montanari family, but was subsequently passed on to the Austrian state, then to the Bonamicos. It is now owned by the Nicolis wine entrepreneurs.

Discover through 3 easy routes on foot the main points of interest in the historic center of the municipality of Negrar di Valpolicella and the most interesting points on the east and west sides of the valley.

* ITINERARY 1

Pojega- Villa -Castel -Rovereti

duration 1h30 ', distance 4.20 km, difference in height 108m

Turning your back on the Negrar Town Hall, turn right and go over the bridge on the "progno" (watercourse), taking Via San Martino on the left and then the tree-lined avenue for Pojega on the right.

To the left of Villa Rizzardi begins the dirt road that ends in Villa (on the right). With your back to the large arched portal, descend briefly and take the paved road uphill to the left; at the crossroads, turn left and continue to Castel.

Take the slightly downhill dirt road that starts in front of the large wooden door of the complex. You enter a short stretch cemented and then left in via Calcarole up to a crossroads characterized by a column. On the lower left you can see the church of San Peretto.

Continue straight on via Rovereti, first on asphalt and then on a downhill path, until the walls of Villa Rovereti, to be skirted to the right until the end. Return via via degli Alpini or one of the other two parallel avenues.

* ITINERARY 2

Pojega- San Peretto- Villa La Sorte-Rovereti

duration 1h30 ', distance 4.70 km, difference in altitude 130m

Turning your back on the Negrar Town Hall, turn right and cross the bridge over the "progno" (waterway), going along via San Martino on the left and then the tree-lined avenue on the right to Villa Rizzardi in Pojega. Climb right on via Guglielmi and via Calcarole to the crossroads with a stone column.

Going straight down Via Crosetta and immediately turning right at the wall (lawn and then steps), you reach the Church of San Peretto. At the bottom take left for about 250m. and, at the curve, continue straight uphill (asphalt then dirt) to Villa La Sorte (on the left). Go back on the same road to the center of San Peretto and go up on the right in via Crosetta.

Once at the crossroads at the top of the hill, take via Rovereti on the left, first on asphalt and then on a downhill path, up to the walls of Villa Rovereti to be skirted right to the end. Return via via degli Alpini or one of the other two parallel avenues.

* ITINERARY 3

Jaga - Villa Spinosa

duration 1h15 ', distance 4.20km, difference in altitude 110m

With your back to the Negrar Town Hall, take the road next to the church on the left and go up Via Marconi. Turn left for the "shortcut" uphill (via don Piccoli). At the top, continue to go up briefly, then turn right into via Jago di Sotto, continuing straight to a historic wash house (on the left).

Continue for a few meters and cross the narrow village of Jago to the right until the sixteenth-century Villa Pigari-Dall'Ora outside which there is another nice washhouse. Return to the same path at the crossroads and continue keeping to the right until the Villa Spinosa complex.

Take the path, partly in concrete and partly in the ground, which starts from the stone slab wall of the gate of the villa and which, with a circular, flat and slightly downhill path, crosses the vineyards and comes out at a crossroads with a sink to the left. Go straight and turn left in via Salgari to the center of the town.

SEE THE MAP HERE

Continue our way into territories full of history. Abandoned the soft lines and subtlety of Valpolicella, we will dock in Valpantena, a land of ancient memories, dominated by lush and more austere vegetation. The grapes, then, from the valley lead us to the beautiful pastures of Lessinia and the meeting with the Cimbrian community. A sweet stop between mountain authentic flavors and wonderful nature trails, where the eye and the mind of the traveler loses himself  to recover, before further down to the last horizon of the land of Valpolicella. The second route starts from Negrar and reach San Mauro di Saline, passing through the towns of Grezzana and Cerro Veronese.

Route details

• Negrar
• Grezzana
• Cerro Veronese
• San Mauro di Saline

Abandoned the heights of Lessinia, our road goes ever more East, to the last horizon of the Verona area. The third route starts in San Mauro di Saline, the last leg of The Middle Earth (2nd route). It ends in Montecchia Crosara, on the border, passing through Mezzane di Sotto, Tregnago and Cazzano di Tramigna. Among vineyards, olive trees and cherry trees, the wonderful landscape tells a long history of extraordinary encounters between culture and nature

 Route details:

• Mezzane di Sotto
• Tregnago
• Cazzano di Tramigna
• Montecchia di Crosara

An itinerary to discover Valpolicella also from a cultural and not only landscape point of view, a way to get in touch with a Valpolicella that reveals its architectural jewels touching several centuries, this is our cultural itinerary.

We start from Villa Mosconi Bertani, located in the heart of the Classic Valpolicella area in Novaie ad Arbizzano.
The villa was commissioned to the Veronese architect Adriano Cristofali by the Fattori family around 1735, the building developed alongside the pre-existing sixteenth-century cellar, and had the purpose of giving an aristocratic touch to the building having a clear self-celebratory purpose. It was then sold incomplete to the Mosconi family in 1769 who completed its construction by adding a magnificent English-style romantic park as well as expanding the wine business, which became known throughout Northern Italy.
Absolutely not to be missed is a visit to the Muse hall, the park and the cellar.
The park faithfully reproduces the fashion of the moment of the romantic garden. Inside there is in fact a small lake, fed with springs in the property, with a central island. The islet, adorned with exotic trees, can be reached via a wooden bridge. Inside the park, a coffee house inspired by the construction of northern Europe.
Here there is also an icehouse built at the end of the eighteenth century and used until the last century.

We take the car and continue our itinerary arriving at the Pieve di San Floriano, in San Pietro in Cariano, and we pass from a construction of the 700 to a beautiful example of Romanesque architecture.
The church that can be admired today, built on the remains of an ancient Roman cemetery, dates back to the Romanesque period (11th-12th century), but there are sources that tell of the presence of a Lombard parish church in the same place as early as the year 905. restoration works have been carried out over the centuries, especially in the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries in the internal part, causing the progressive disappearance of its Romanesque character.
Only restorations that took place in the last hundred years, necessary to restore solidity to the almost dilapidated church and now on the verge of ruin, have brought to light the original characteristics of the Romanesque period. Noteworthy is the majestic bell tower, whose base is in light stone. The rest of the tower develops in height in alternating rows of tuff and terracotta blocks, ending with the only terracotta at the level of the bell cell.

Let's move on now to see another sacred building: the parish church of San Giorgio in Sant'Ambrogio di Valpolicella, also called deception, so defined because it seems easy to reach and close, but in reality it is located in a perched position and therefore not so easy to access for those who are lazy! Here, in addition to visiting the historical building, it is a must to stop on the panoramic terrace of San Giorgio to admire the wonderful panorama! San Giorgio was an important religious center already in pre-Roman times and where the parish church stands today, in pre-Roman and Roman, there was a temple dedicated to the Sun of which few imposing remains are clearly visible in the churchyard. The current building dates back to the 8th century, making it one of the oldest places of worship still in use throughout the Veronese area. Unlike other city churches, San Giorgio has maintained its austerity and archaic beauty. The Lombard ciborium is worthy of note, a sort of finely carved stone canopy with Celtic knots and zoomorphic and vegetal figures.

Now let's head to Volargne in Dolcè, along the banks of the Adige and let's talk about a Villa: Villa del Bene. The Villa dates back to the fifteenth century and enlarged by the Bene family in the sixteenth and represents one of the best examples of sixteenth-century architecture of the Veneto. Beyond the sixteenth-century portal attributed to the architect and urban planner Michele Sanmicheli, you find yourself inside the first courtyard called Sunday which gives access to the noble and oldest part of the Villa. Subsequently there is the courtyard of the well, the spatial center of gravity of the villa and finally a park. Unique are the frescoes found inside the Villa, which include the stories of the Apocalypse in the central room, stories of the Old and New Testaments in the three side rooms and in the loggia a complex plot of pagan and hermetic subjects. of the paintings, not entirely clarified, it is attributed to Domenico Brusasorzi and to the brothers Giovan Francesco and Giovanni Caroto. The private chapel includes six ovals painted with the quick and light touch of Rococo painters.
And at this point enjoy a nice walk along the banks of the Adige and savor the diversity of the landscape in this corner of Valpolicella.

First day: Discovering "green gold" and Durello

The day begins just a few kilometres north of Verona, immersing tourists in the hilly scenery of the Valpolicella and Lessini Durello denominations, a territory rich in excellent food and wine, with its strong historical, cultural and naturalistic values. Our route takes us to a winery producing Lessini Durello and Monti Lessini, with tasting and a chance to buy produce on the estate, followed by a visit to the Wine Museum, with exhibits showing how vineyards were tended and wine was produced during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Afterwards, lunch in a typical restaurant in the area of Colognola ai Colli, where the hilly territory, still largely untouched, offers unique views. The afternoon is devoted to discovering "green gold", namely the DOP Veneto Valpolicella variety of extra virgin olive oil, with a visit to an oil press to learn about the techniques of production and processing. At the end of the visit, guests have the chance to buy produce inside the point of sale/estate outlet. The day ends with dinner at a local restaurant serving dishes typical of Verona and its culture. To conclude on a high note, an overnight stay in one of the splendid facilities nestling in the picturesque hills of Val d'Illasi, with the accent on relaxation and wellness.

Second day: Verona, UNESCO World Heritage Site and surroundings hills

On the second day our tour continues, from the eastern part of the Valpolicella denomination, leaving the hills of Cazzano di Tramigna, Illasi, Colognola ai Colli and the entire Valpatena, crossing San Martino Buon Albergo, heading for the wonderful city of art and UNESCO World Heritage Site: Verona. A walk to discover the historical city centre, known the world over thanks to the Shakespearean tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, and the majestic Arena. Our tour includes the points of greatest historical, artistic and cultural interest in the city. For lunch, we move on to the beautiful hills of Valpolicella to approach one of the "Most beautiful villages in Italy": San Giorgio di Valpolicella. After lunch, our tour takes us to the old village centre, where you can visit the Pieve and the Antiquarium, where its archeological finds bear witness to the ancient history of this area. Dinner is left free, giving visitors the option to stay in the Valpolicella hills or return to the city with its vibrant atmosphere. Our overnight stay is in one of the facilities on the hills of Verona. 

Third day: Amarone: special grape drying and the much appreciated Ripasso

In the morning we leave the city en route for the Classical and Historical area of Valpolicella, heading north-west, where we reach the five municipalities which together form the Valpolicella or Val Polis Cellae: valley of the many cellars. Here Fumane, Marano di Valpolicella, Negrar, San Pietro in Cariano and Sant' Ambrogio di Valpolicella together constitute the Classical area, where the morning includes a visit to a winery to discover -as the growers so passionately explain- the production techniques of Amarone with its special "appassimento" or a grape dying process, and also the way in wich Valpolicella Classico and Valpolicella Ripasso are produced, to appreciate their distinct characters in a series of guided testings. After testing, visitors have the chance to buy produce at the point of sale/estate outlet. Lunch is provided in a typical local restaurant, featuring typical dishes of the area, in combination with Valpolicella wines. In the afternoon, you can take a walk among the vineyards, sorrounded by nature, visit an organic winery, and learn about the most natural production technique for Valpolicella wines. Tasting follows, with the chance to buy produce on the estate. The day ends with dinner at a restaurant or "osteria" serving typical dishes, including some of the oldest traditional recipes from this area. To conclude, on a high note, your overnight stay is in one of the splendid facilities nestling in the Valpolicella hills.

Fourth day: From the sweet Recioto della Valpolicella to the freshness of Molina

Our last day includes a visit to a wine cellar which makes the most traditional and unique Valpolicella wine: Recioto. A wine produced even in Roman times, little known but capable of leaving unique and unforgettable sensations in the memory of all who taste it. The production method, similar to Amarone, makes it special in the eyes of those who are fortunate enough to discover it. Our visit to the winery, with tasting, concludes with the chance to buy produce at the point of sale/estate outlet. After lunch in a typical local restaurant, our route climbs up from the valley, into an increasingly mountainous territory, with breathtaking views of the valley, to end the afternoon at the waterfalls of Molina. Our food and wine tour concludes with a trip into nature, as we prepare to leave, taking home the sweet flavour of a unique territory, rich in excellence which deserves to be discovered and tasted.

Initiative sponsored by the Rural Development Programme 2007-2016 for the Veneto region, Axis 4 - Leader.
Responsible Organism of information: Valpolicella Wine Route
Managin authority: Veneto Region Management Plans and Programmes of the Primary Sector.

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The name Negrar seems to derive from the late Latin negrariu meaning "place with black earth". Human presence in the area goes back to prehistoric times: flint artefacts found here date back to the early Paleolithic, and the remains of Bronze and Iron Age fortified villages (castellieri) can be found on many hilltops.

In Roman times the territory belonged to the Pagus Arusnatium, while the discovery of inscriptions dedicated to Jupiter and a villa confirm that there were settlements here also in the Imperial period.

The whole valley is dotted with ancient dove towers (colombare), either isolated or integrated amongst the buildings of court and villa complexes. The municipality includes the neighbourhoods of Arbizzano, Santa Maria, San Vito, San Peretto, Montecchio, Fane, Mazzano, Prun and Torbe.

Did you know?

Negrar is the birthplace of writer Emilio Salgari, football player Damiano Tommasi, golfer Matteo Manassero and Giuseppe Zamboni, inventor of the dry pile. 

This route, about 25 km long, can be done by car or by bike (for experts) ans starts in the neighbourhood of Arbizzano, where you will find Villa Mosconi Bertani in the picturesque Novare valley with its many streams and sun-kissed slopes. The majestic villa of the mid 18th century was built by Gaetano Adriano Cristofoli, commissioned by the owner Giacomo Fattori who later sold it to the Mosconi family, in 1769. 

The building, privately owned and not always open to the public, consists of a main body with two lower projecting wings linked by railings with obelisks and vases. Inside, a large central hall, three stories high, is decoreted with allegorical frescoes. Part of the estate surrounding the villa consists of vineyards through which a wonderful path will take you past the Valpolicella grapes, on foot or by bike.

Back in the car, turn right at the roundaboat of Santa Maria and take the road to Negrar. Installed on the second roundabout you can see a monument of contemporary art, the Sundial, work of Giuseppe Ferlenga, that tells the exact the solar time, the true noon in Negrar, the summer and winter solstices, the equinoxes and the wind direction.

In the centre of the town you can park and have a look at the pieve, the church dedicated to St. Martin, first mentioned in 1067 but totally rebuilt in 1809. The Romanesque bell tower was built in tuff and red limestone. On the southern side of the bell tower an iscription dating to 1166 is preserved, concerning a series of usufruct contracts between the parish church of Negrar and the citizen of Verona Ribaldino. The inscriprion consists of 64 lines in capital letters.

Return to your car and take the main road northwards. Not far from the town is Villa Rizzardi in Pojega, which has a scenic garden you can visit in the summer. The garden was laid between 1783 and 1796 according to a prject by the famous architect Luigi Trezza (1752-1823), commissioned by Count Antonio Rizzardi.

Trezza conceived a synthesis between an Italian and a romantic garden with "green" architectural compositors, such as the grove with the Circular Temple, the Nymphaeum, the Secret Garden, the Oval Lake, the Parterre and the Green Theatre. A sublime Belvedere completes the scene. A copius series of mythological statues decorates the garden, livening the pathways witha rich and complex iconography.

Once on the main road again, continue towards Sant'Anna d'Alfaedo with a short detour to the neighbourhood "Villa", so called because in 1887, during farm works the remains of a floor mosaic of a 3rd century AD Roman villa were found (now preserved at the archaeological museum of the Roman theatre of Verona). The villa belonged to the urban-rural typology. In 1922 other fragments of the flooring were discovered, thus enabling four rooms to be identified, adjacent to the room brought to light in 1887: three of them open onto a porch facing northwards. However, nothing has been left in situ. 

A few kilometers before reaching Sant'Anna, take a look at Forte Tesoro, on the left. The Italian fort controlled the area of the nearby Valpantena, which explains the slits facing southeast. It has three floors and was surrounded by a moat for protection. An embankment covered the roof. 

Further on, just as you enter the territory of Sant'Anna d'Alfaedo, beneath the neighbourhoods of Crestena and Giare, is the famous Ponte di Veja (Veja Bridge), the most impressive and majestic geological monument in the entire Lessinia. It is a huge natural arch, with a span of about 50m, formed thanks the evolution of an original karst cave. Over millions of years water penetrating from the outside eroded the underground layers of limestone rock, eventually causing the roof to collapse, leaving only the entrance lintel standing. At the bases of the bridge's pillars are two caves frequented in prehistoric and Roman times. Some of the finds dating to the Lower and Middle Palaeolithic are on show in the Prehistory Museum of Sant'Anna d'Alfaedo. Some other caves are filled with yellow-brownish ochre (a natural pigment) quarried since ancient and used until the 1950s.

Tradition has it that Dante Alighieri was inspired by the landscape here and based his description of the eighth circle of Hell, the Malebolge (Canto XVIII), on the conformation of the bridge. Furthermore, Andrea Mantegna, the famous painter, depicted the bridge in the frescoes of the Bridal Chamber in Palazzo Ducale, Mantua. You can explore the whole area, part of the Regional Park of the Lessini Mountains, following the many footpaths, taking into account that after dusk there is no artificial lighting. 

After this breathtaking wonder you must turn back downhill this time taking the road that passes through Prun and by the awesome quarries of Pietra di Prun or Pietra della Lessinia, the lcoal limestone, which has always been the main building material in Lessinia, not only beacuse it's easy to extract but also for its versatility: roofs, walls, sinks, enclosures, courtyards, pavements are a clear testimony.

The more recent quarries are open air, but up to the Second World War the mining areas were underground and galleries were supported by pillars of rock.

Underground mining was abandoned in the 1950s and today the old quarries, similar to primitive rock architectures, are places of great visual and emotional impact.

You leave the northern ring road following signs to Fumane (4187 inhabitants) which lies in the valley of Progni, the local name for the many streams that run through this area. The origin of the name Fumane is still unclear but is probably due to the expression le fumane referring to the smoke (fumo) from charcoal making or perhaps to the low clouds that, after a storm, envelope the hills. The municipality includes the villages of Mazzurega, Cavalo, Molina and Breonio.

The area has been inhabited since prehistoric times, but it was when the Romans arrived that it started to flourish, thanks to the administrative autonomy granted by the Empire to the Pagus Arusnatium (the territory of the Arusnati) to which it belonged, according to three ancient inscriptions now preserved in the Maffeiano Museum in Verona.

From the 15th century onwards the town gentry decided to build villas and churches in Fumane. A splendid example is Villa della Torre. Giulio Della Torre inherited the property from the Maffei family in 1560 and added to the existing structures, following a project attributed to Giulio Romano.

Inside the villa there are open courtyards, a fish pond and a small oratory, attributed to Michele Sanmicheli. The rooms inside are renowned for the scary stone masks which frame the fireplaces, by Giovanni Battista Scultori.

In Fumane you can also visit the Shrine (Santuario) of Our Lady of La Salette, accesible form the town centre either on foot (30 minutes) or by car (10 minutes). The view across the valley from the terrace repays you for your effort. Leaving the village, after 9 km along the road to Molina (follow the directions) you will reach the prehistoric site of Grotta di Fumane (Fumane Cave), once also called Solina rocks shelter (Riapro Solinas) in memory of its discover. The cave was inhabited from 90,000 years ago, first by Neanderthals (Homo sapiens), Archeological excavations in recent years have recovered important information on the technology, subsistence strategies and the symbol behaviour of our Neanderthal cousins, who became extinct about 40,000 years ago.

The so-called Shaman painting on a slab of stone, found here and now preserved in the Paleontological Museum of S.Anna of Alfaedo is considered the oldest in Europe (more than 35,000 years old).

A few hundred metres back down the road you can follow a path that leads to Molina in about an hour's walk (one way). Make sure you have the appropriate walking shoes and clothes. Before you get to the village you will pass by the entrance to the Waterfall Park, opened in 1973 and classified by the European Union as a Site of Community Importance. It takes a couple of hours to walk along the well-marked paths and admire the stunning waterfalls and caves surrounded by a lush, green wood. 

The name Molina is linked to the ancient milling business (Molino means mill). Recently restored and opened to the public are the malga and two old mills, Molino dei Veraghi and Molin de'Lorenzo, where you can assist respectively to the production of cheese and the milling fo corn.

You can also get to Molina by car, and then continue to Gorgusello, which has maintained the appearance of a typical village of stone, and Breonio, where you can see the ancient church of San Marziale (13th century), the old malga, a hut where cheese was once made with local milk, now the headquarters of the Pro Loco (a cultural-community association) and the lavatoio, a characteristic community outdoor stone washbasin. The last stop we recommend is near Cavalo: the old church (chiesa vecchia), built in the 13th century and renovated between the 15th and 18th centuries. From here you can see the nearby Monte Pastello in all its beauty.

Back down to Fumane, and returning towards Verona, is the town of San Pietro in Cariano (12996 inhabitants), only 14 km from the city. Cariano perhaps takes its name from the late Latin Carilianus, namely land of Carilius.

In the neighbourhoods of Pedemonte, San Floriano, Corrubbio, Castelrotto and Bure there are some important monuments and while you are in the area you will also take in some enchanting views.

This territory has been inhabited since the Neolithic period and there are also many Roman and medieval remains, testimony to when Verona was ruled first by the Scala Family, then by the Republic of Venice. The beautiful, fertile land lead the Veronese patricians to build many villae here, since the 1st century BC. In 1983 a Roman country house was found under a vineyard. Known as Villa dell'Ambrosan, it had a system of underfloor heating, called Hypocaustum.

Mostly in private hands are some other mansions: the 17th century Villa Pullè Galtarossa in San Pietro in Cariano, the late 15th century Villa Giona Fagiuoli in Cengia near Pedemonte and finally Villa Serego Alighieri in Santa Sofia, Pedemonte, partially built according to a project of Andrea Palladio, 16th century. 

Not far from the last two villas is the village of Castelrotto, an ancient Lombard fort. From the top of the hill you can see the valley's vineyards and fruit trees while you sip a glass of wine.

Back down in San Floriano you cannot miss the Romanesque church (pieve). Built over a Roman temple, we know it already existed in 905 AD. If you look at the bell tower you can see the various building stages.

At the pieve we take the junction leading to Marano di Valpolicella (3113 inhabitants). The name comes from the Latin Marianus (Mario), that hints to a Roman origin. The major neighbourhoods are Valgatara and San Rocco. The hilly environment is characterized by orchards, olive groves and vineyards. We can suggest two itineraries for you to enjoy: one goes to Monte Castelon and Santa Maria Valverde, the other is a walk to the Tibetan Bridge that joins Valpolicella and Lessinia.

Monte Castelon is a hill in a very strategic location, an attractive site for human settlements from the Bronze Age to the Middle Ages. There have been several important archaeological findings, including a Roman temple dedicated to Minerva (hence the toponym Minerbe), destroyed probably in the 4th century AD during the era of Christian persecutions. Right on the top of the hill are the remains of a castle, hence the name Castelon, built in the 11th century, which became important during the rule of Federico della Scala and was destroyed in 1325, when Federico II dell out of favour. 

In the southern sector of the hill is Santa Maria di Minerbe, also called Santa Maria della Vaverde. The church was built in the 12th century, but the current structure dates back to 1682. For lovers of folklore, every year (the first Sunday after the 25th of April) a procession takes place from the church to the top of the hill where the trombini (similar to muskets) are fired.

The second suggestion for the day is a rather demanding path that leads to the Tibetan Bridge (52 m high and 70 cm wide) crossing the Rio Mondrago in the Valsorda. A unique piece of work, the bridge was sponsored by the municipalities of Marano and Sant'Anna d'Alfaedo and the Mountain Community of Lessinia with the aim of redeveloping the territory and boosting tourism. 

By car, you have to reach the locality of Girotto (having passed the village of San Rocco) and look for Malga Biancari, where there is a large car park. Not forgetting your hiking boots and appropriate clothing, a path starts here that will lead you to the bridge (a couple of hours there and back). Cross the bridge and enjoy the exciting bird's eye view of the gorge. Descending to explore the wooded gorge itself is another great experience.

The itinerary is mostly by car, but some short walks will take you to see a few off-route sights. Colognola ai Colli (8505 inhabitants) owes its name to the Latin Coloniola, small colony. After 148 BC when the Via Postumia was built, the eleventh legion of veterans Claudia Pia Fedele settled here, establishing a Roman vicus. The town is 14 km east of Verona on the provincial road to San Bonifacio, at the beginning of the Val d'Illasi. The municipality has six neighbourhoods: Monte, Villa or Piano, San Zeno, Cadellara-Pieve, Strà and San Vittore.

A twenty-minute drive will take you to Tregnago (4902 inhabitants). In the Val d'Illasi, inhabited by the Rheti, an ancient population from the Eastern Central Alps, in prehistoric times. The Roman settlement was situated on the Cardo Maximus of the ancient centuriation of the Veronese ager atesino (territory crossed by the river Adige) and near the Via Postumia that connected Genoa and Aquileia: the name Tregnago, in fact, seems to come from the Latin terminiacus, meaning boundry or border. In the Middle Ages a castle was built and was mentioned in documents dating to 1259. It was fortified during the Scala domination and donated to the town by Cangrande della Scala, Lord of Verona between 1291 and 1329. The building is now in poor condition, but the gateway and some towers are still visible. The Church of San Dionigi also belongs to this period, a small Romanesque building renovated with gothic elements in 1369 by Domenico Murar. The church, which preserves precious frescoes of the 14th century, was originally part of a monastery, dependent on the monastery of San Zeno in Verona, and is now incorporated in Villa Cuzzeri, formerly Erbisti.

The most outstanding religious building of Tregnago is the Romanesque church of San Martino or Chiesa della Disciplina (Church of the Discipline). The exterior is simple and free of decorative elements, with the exception of the prothyrum above the doorway. The frescoes inside by the famous painter of Verona Nicolò Giolfino and a painting partly attributed to Felice Brusasorzi are particulary interesting.

Apart from religious buildings, in Tregnago you can also visit the 18th century Villa Pellegrini, now the Town Hall, which houses works of the Veronese painter Andrea Porta. Here and there in the town some washbasins in local stone still survive. They were still in use in a recent past and also served as meeting places. The oldest one is close to the ancient parish church Santa Maria Assunta, built in 1879, in replacement of the old parish church dedicated to Santa Maria, quoted by Eugene III's papal bull in 1145. Other basins are in Via Rì, in Marcemigo, in Scorgnano and in Cogollo.

If you take the Strada dei Ciliegi (Cherry Route- Provincial Road 37/a), a beautiful natural setting, you will reach Cazzano di Tramigna (1565 inhabitants). The name Cazzano could be reffered to the gens (Roman family line) Cassia. According to another theory it come from gadum,  wooded hunting area, or cadianum, place of mutatio (change of horses) along the Roman road Via Postumia. Tramigna is the name of the small stream that comes to surface in the centre of the village. t

In Roman times Cazzano was part of the aforementioned ager atesino, as testified by various inscriptions discovered in the area. Some interesting places to visit here are the Romanesque sanctuary of San Felice (9th-10th century) that preserves inside numerous frescoes by maestro Cicogna and which hosted Pope Lucius III in 1185; the Parish Church of San Giorgio Martire, built in the late 19th century on a partially preserved existing building, the Romanesque church of San Pietro in Brian (early 16th century). Finally, if you stop in the main square of Cazzano you will find a fountain called Lago della Mora, referring to a particular variety of cherry cultivated in these areas.

This long journey ends in Montecchia di Crosara (4433 inhabitants), less than 20 minutes drive from Cazzano. It is located in the middle of the Valdalpone (from the river Alpone), about 33km from Verona.

The municipality includes the villages of Albarè, Castello, Grumolo, Meggiano, Tolotti. The name Crosara comes from its geographical position, a crossroads of the variuos highways and waterways of the area. At the end of the 10th century the territory became a fief of the son of Umberto Maltraversi, lord of Padua and Vicenza, then of the Scaligeri, dominators of Verona in the 12th century.

During the Scala period the town was the scene of violent clashes between Guelphs and Ghibellines and heavily looted. The castle that protected the area was finally demolished by Vinciguerra Bonifacio in 1222. Montecchia was then dominated by the Visconti of Milan and the Venetian Republic, and became an autonomous town in 1745.

Architectual gem of the town is the church of San Salvatore, in the neighbourhood of Castello, a name that refers to a fortified structure built by Maltraversi in the 10th century. The church, built perhaps on the ruins of a pagan temple, was built in the 11th century, but was later heavily reworked. Inside there are frescoes painted between the 14th and 16th century.

The neighbourhoods of Casette, Marcellise, Mambrotta, Case Nuove and Ferrazze are part of the municipality. If you want to have a better look at the area, you can go for a two walk at the end of the trip and visit the districts of Marcellise, Borgo Casale, Cao di Sopra, Casale di Tavola, Monte Garbi di Sotto, Casale and Marcellise.

In Marcellise, 5 km from San Martino, is Villa Girasole, designed by engineer Angelo Invernizzi. The villa can rotate 360°, following the sun to save energy. Its motors, which currently are not functioning although a restoration project is being carried out, enabled the house to rotate on itself in 9 hours and 20 minutes.

Another noteworthy villa is surronded by precious Soave and Valpolicella vineyards, nestled in the foothills of the Lessini Mountains: La Musella, from the name of the first owners (Muselli), cloth merchants. The complex of villa and gradens was built in the mid-17th century, but the main restoration was carried out by the Veronese architect Giacomo Franco in the 19th century.

Entering the Valley of Mezzane we first reach Lavagno (8404 inhabitants). The old vicus (term used in the Middle Ages to indicate a village) and the castrum (fortified structures) were granted by Conrad II to the bishop of Verona in the 11th century and later by the diocese to the Scaligeri, to the Visconti and to the Serenissima (Republic of Venice).

The hillsides of lower Lessinia are covered with cherry trees and vines and here and there with villas, mostly 15th century. One of these is Villa Verità, also called "Il Boschetto" (The Grove).

Built for Girolamo Verità by Domenico Curtoni (student of Michele Sanmicheli), the villa contains frescoes by Filippo Maccari and Giorgio Anselmi. It is surrounded by hanging gardens, fountains and a fish pond.

A little more than 5 km away is the village of San Briccio, already inhabited during the Neolithic, where you can enjoy a spectacular view over olive groves and vineyards. Taking a short walk through a green thicket, you reach a fort, recently reopened after restoration. It was built after the annexation of Veneto to Italy and was meant to defend the eastern flank of Verona and the valleys of Illasi and Mezzane, preventing a possible return of the Hasburgs. The architect was an Italian, Enrico Rocchi, although the project is based on a type of structure conceived by the renowned Austrian military engineer Andreas Tunkler (1820-1873).

The fort of San Briccio was built in 1882 in masonry and brick and then covered with masses of turf to cushion the impact of any gunfire. It is surrounded by a rampart and a moat and it is situated in a dominant position, served by military type access roads. However, during the First World War this area was not at the centre of the fighting and the fort has survived virtually intact.

Back in the square of San Briccio, we recommend a stroll along one of the many scenic walks in the Mezzane valley. Before leaving the village, stop at teh 14th century Gothic church of San Giacomo di Grigliano. The frescoes inside were painted by a master of the school of Altichiero, perhaps by Martino da Verona.

Back in the car, descend southwards. You can choose to head towards Illasi (10 min) or towards Mezzane (10 min), important places for the history of eastern Verona.

If you decide to go to Illasi, you will reach the village (5343 inhabitants) which names the valley. This area was inhabited between the end of the Copper and early Bronze Age and was also an important centre during the Roman period. The main symbol of the town is the castle built at the time of Ezzelino III da Romano (12th century). Now reduced to little more than a ruin, it is still quite awesome. Right at the foot of the castle hill are the stately homes of the Pompei, counts of Illasi: the 18th century Villa Perez Pompei Sagramoso and, closer to the centre, Villa Pompei Carlotti, first built in the 17th century by the architect count Alessandro Pompei, and later renovated in te 18th century, as stated by 1737 inscription on the porch.

Unfortunately neither the villas nor the castle can be visited inside. However, if you take a 30 minute walk up to the top of the hill you can see over the beautiful valley and enjoy all these wonders from above.

If you reach the nearby Valley of Mezzane, you will find Mezzane di Sotto (2508 inhabitants) with its hilly neighbourhoods of Mezzane di Sopra, to the east, and Castagnè, to the west. The area was inhabited in prehistoric times, when around the second millennium BC ancient Veneti populations settled here, later giving way to the Romans. Through the centuries many aristocratic families have built their summer homes here, attracted by the amenity of the surroundings and the lush greenery. Among these are Villa Roja Schiavon, Villa Maffei Benini, Villa Giuliari Erbici and Villa della Torre. The first is at the beginning of the town. It has an 18th century layout, and is owned by the Sorelle della Misericordia (Sisters of Mercy) congregation who have turned it into a hospice. The second is in the centre of the town and is the seat of the municipal administration. The latter is an elegant construction of the early 18th century. 

Commissioned by Count Carlo Maffei (1706), with frescoes by the Veronese painter Andrea Porta (1719-1805) and is surrounded by a large garden full of statues and a beautiful magnolia grove. Continuing on the main road north to San Mauro, you can see some more beautiful villas, unfortunately not easily accessible to the public. Among them Villa Giuliari Erbici, built in different periods: the porch and turret are 15th centur, the main building, which has a fresco by Paolo Farinati in a hall on the ground fllor, is 16th century, and the tower on the right wing is 18th century. Finally we find Villa della Torre (now Tommasi), which acquired its present Palladian features during the 16th century. The building houses extraordinary allegorical and mythological frescoes, works of Polo Farinati and his sons Orazio and Giambattista, commissioned by Alvise della Torre, and beautiful stuccos by Bartolomeo Ridolfi.

The grounds are unique, with their botanical garden, winter garden and fishpond.

The symbol of the town is its Romanesque tower, originally the bell tower of the old 12th century church which once stood right here. Another important building in town is the parish church Santa Maria Assunta, built between 1871 and 1889 and designed by Angelo Gottardi. Inside are paintings by Antonio Girola, Claudio Ridolfi, Giovanni Caliari and Girolamo Dai Libri.

You have entered the land of the ancient Cimbrian community, originally from Bavaria, who settled in this area on the 13th century. Many local place names derive from the old Germanic language they brought with them. The route starts in Grezzana and reaches San Mauro di Saline, passing through Cerro Veronese (a total of 40 km you can do in a one day's drive).

The village of Grezzana (10,856 inhabitants) is located approximately 7 km north of Verona. It's one of the main centres of the Valpantena foothills. Other neighbourhoods of this municipality are Poiano, Quinto, Stallavena and Marzana. The territory of Grezzana, just like the rest of Lessinia, has been inhabited by man since the Lower Paleolithic (at least 200,000 years ago). In Stallavena, at the foot of a rocky cliff wall of white limestone, is the so-called Riparo Tagliente, a prehistoric archaeological site discovered in 1958 by Francesco Tagliente, a settlement of the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic (60,000 to 10,000 years ago).

Not far away, on the opposite side of the valley, you can see the Torre (tower) di Falasco, most likely a medieval structure linked to a legend of bandits, abduction and abuse. (Private property).

In the heart of Grezzana is the ancient church, Pieve di Santa Maria e Elisabetta, documented already in 1145, which houses masterworks ranging between the 17th and 18th century by Felice Brusasorzi, Santa Creara, Prospero Schiavi and Michelangelo Spada. Next to the church is the bell tower (1213), which still maintains its original Romanesque appearance.

Proceeding up the valley, just where the foothills begin and the Valpantena valley narrows, we find another ecclesiastical gem, San Micheletto in Tavigliana, San Micheletto was a meeting place for shepherds during the transhumance period, before climbing to the mountains and on their return. In 1630, during the terrible Balck Death, it was used as a hospital for those affected by the disease.

Another stop-over, a must for art lovers, is villa Allegri Arvedi, on the slope of a hill. Built in the 13th century, the villa acquired its present form around the middle of the 17th century thanks to the Veronese architect Giovanni Battista Bianchi (1631-1687). It was commissioned by the Allegri family, who in 1824 sold the property to the Arvedi family. The singular frescoes inside the villa were painted by the famous French painter Louis Dorigny, Paolo Farinati and Sante Prunati. The villa is privately owned and used as a historical setting for special events.

Grezzana is part of the Mountain Community of Lessinia and belongs to the Lessinia Regional Natural Park. About 7 km from Grezzana is the Educational Wildlife Park al Bosco, where a natural mountain habitat has been re-created, home to hundreds of wild animals, accustomed to human contact. 

Nearby is the Mulino dei Bellori, a 16th century water mill turned into a museum. Fallen into disrepair, it was restored thanks to a contribution of the Town of Grezzana in 1981 and is now working and used for educational purposes.

Follow the road until you reach Cerro Veronese (2504 inhabitants), 17 km from Verona. The current name (Cerro, Quercus cerris) is related to the majestic, secular Austrian oak, next to the parish church. Nearby you can visit the octagonal Cappella del Redentore (Chapel of the Saviour) on the Monte Croce, where the view of the Lessini Mountains is spectacular; the Giasàra (local term to indicate the ice house for preserving food) dei Carcereri with the adjoining Ergology Museum, established in 1990, which houses illustrations and descrptions of the now abandoned activities concerning the production and the sale of ice.

After Cerro continue left towards Bosco Chiesanuova and leave the main provicial road almost immediately, following the signs to Roverè. Look for the indications to a cave, Grotta di Roverè Mille on Monte Capriolo. The cave is also called Coale del Mondo (after its owner, Edmondo) and is located in the Vajo (gorge) della Carcareta, from the term calcara (lime kiln) once present in this area. The Grotta, of relevant geological importance, is an ancient karst cave in the limestone levels of Rosso Ammonitico. Its wealth of stalactites and stalagmites, flowstones and other fantastic shapes are amazing, formed by the deposition of limestone and other minerals over many millennia. 

Last stop on the route is San Mauro di Saline (560 inhabitants). It owes the first part of its name to the twenty-eighth bishop of Verona, elected in 612, who apparently retired to live as a hermit in these places. The second part of the name derives from the dialect assaline the flintlocks of old rifles, obtained from flint (chert), a widespread resource in this area. Not far from the town, a visit to the Church of San Mauro or San Moro, actually dedicated to Saint Leonard of Limoges, will reward you with a scenic view over the surrounding lush pine forest.

If you want to discovers the defence system on the hills by foot you can leave your car in teh free-parking lot of the Don Mazza Insitute in Via San Carlo, or calculate two hours in the municipal parking lots nearby. If you prefer to go by car, it is advisable for those coming from Valpolicella to begin in Via Ippolito Nievo, which starts at san Giorgio in Braida. Either way, before visiting the walls art lovers can look around two important churches: San Giorgio in Braida and Santo Stefano.

San Giorgio built in the late 15th century, boasts a 16th century bell tower by Sanmicheli and a 17th century facade on which you can still see the bullet holes left by the French artillery when they fought the Austrians to conquer the city in 1805.

But the real gem is the interior, which has a wealth of unique paintings. Goethe called it a "gallery of good paintings". The artists are Jacopo and Domenico Tintoretto, Francesco Montemezzano, Felice Brusasorzi, Giovanni Francesco Caroto, Romanino, Paolo Farinati, Girolamo dai Libri, Moretto da Brescia and Paolo Veronese who painted the Martyrdom of St. George. 

Santo Stefano, not far away, is one of the Early Christian basilicas of Verona. It was probably built around the 5th century just outside the Roman walls. In the church there are numerous valuable paintings, including those of Alessandro Turchi, known as Orbetto, frescoes by Brusasorzi, by Martino da Verona and by Giovan Francesco Caroto. The characteristic and Eye-catching octagonal lantern tower (an architectural element which encloses a dome) houses six bells.

Along the hairpin bends leading to the top of the hill the views are striking. Continue along Via Castel San Felice, following signs for the camping area, turn right under the entrance arch to the complex of Castel San Pietro, the former Austrian military barracks built on the ruins of the ancient Visconti Castle, where you can park.

From here you can enjoy a wonderful view of the city of Verona. The Lamberti tower and the bell towers of Sant'Anastasia and the Cathedral stand out for their magnificence.

You can make out the ancient Roman layout of the city and its buildings by the orderly grid of narrow streets of the centre, the Roman Ponte Pietra (Stone Bridge) rebuilt just as it was after being in 1945, and the Roman Theatre, built in a natural valley and still used as a theatre. Returning to the entrance arch of the complex of Castel San Pietro you then take the footpath that runs along the bulwarks on the left of the Adige. The walk will take you about an hour and a half. 

The defensive system of Verona is over 9 km long and covers an area of about 100 hectares. It consists of bulwarks, forts, entrenched camps, warehouses and barracks. It was built by the Austrian Empire, integrating and completing the previous system of fortifications of the Venetian Republic, between 1833 and 1866. General Radetzky was the main supporter of the construction of the forts on the right and left of the Adige when Verona was chosen as the main fortified area of the Hapsburg Quadrilatero (1848). The military architect Franz von Scholl was the creator.

The first thing you meet along the route is the Rondella della Bacola (Bacola round tower). Returning to the walls, proceed towards Castel San Felice and then descend, passing by many medieval Scaligeri towers until you reach the Rondella della Grotta and the Rondella di San Zeno in Monte, outside the walls. When you reach the church of San Zeno in Monte, you will see the Rondella Casamatta Austriaca. Proceed to the Batteria di Controscarpa. 

Once back inside the walls, on the left is the Santa Toscana Bulwark and just ahead Porta Vescovo (Bishop's Gate). This dates back to the Scaligeri period, but was remodelled during the 16th century under the rule of the Republic of Venice (Serenissima Repubblica) and i the 19th century by the Austrians. The route proceeds along the Bulwark of the Maddalene, the Campofiore Gate and the Habsurg's Stabilimento della Provianda (supplies store) "Santa Marta", home today to the University of Verona, then onward to the Campo Marzio Bulwark.

Finally, near the gate Porta Nuova Vittoria on the banks of the Adige you will find the buttress of the Catena inferiore (the chain which in the old days was drawn across the river to prevent sailing during the night) built by Antonio della Scala. Another 20 minutes walk along the river will take you back to Ponte Pietra, where some steep steps will lead you back up to Castel San Pietro.

If you would like to see more, go by car, take Via Marsala, to the four casemate towers, called Maximilian towers in reference to the towers of Linz designed between 1831 and 1833 by Archduke Maximilian of Hapsburg-Este. The ones of our walls are the Archduchess Sofia Tower, the Forts of San Mattia and San Leonardo, this last one turned into the Sanctuary of Santa Maria di Lourdes in the 20th century by a religious congregation, the Stigmatines.

The itinerary we suggest can be done by car or bicycle (for experts), starting in Gargagnago and reaching San Giorgio. Those who are really fit can proceed to Mazzurega, Cavarena di Sotto and Fontanelle, returning to Gargagnago at the end. The total distance is 9 km. You can also walk to San Giorgio in about 45 minutes-each way-taking a path off the main road not far from the church of Gargagnago which winds through the woods in the vajo Ragnino up to San Giorgio, 375m above sea level, and then enjoy a splendid view over the Valpolicella valley and Lake Garda.

By car or bike, starting in Gargagnago, you go past the parish church of Santa Maria della Misericordia (1378), which owes its Neoclassical features to Bartholomeo Giuliari (1820), and the Palladian villas will come to mind. After several hairpin bends you will reach San Giorgio di Valpolicella or Ingannapoltron. 

The local name traditionally refers to the fact that the town deceives (inganna) the lazy (poltron) because its location, on the summit of a hill, appears to be quite close while you're approaching, but in fact the road to get there is long and winding. Actually the term in ganna is an ancient word for "heaps of stones" and refers to the evident availability of limestone in the area.

The main feature of this beautiful hamlet is its early medieval pieve (parish church) which existed as early as the 18th century AD. This is testified by the inscription engraved on the columns of the ciborium above the altar. The church is made of local stone and has a monumetal bell tower and an exquisite cloister. Archaeological excavations have revealed a prehistoric settlement and a Roman sanctuary in this area. In the nearby Antiquarium you can see some of the finds and some inscriptions relating to the Arusnates, a population probably of Etruscan origin who manteined their own traditions and worshiped their own gods even after the arrival of the Romans. 

After your tour, take a moment to enjoy the panorama that sweeps from the vineyards on the underlying slopes right over to Lake Garda. The extent of the local wine production (Valpolicella Classico DOC, Amarone della Valpolicella, Recioto classico DOC), of the local limestone quarrying and of and the industrial plants for working marble from all over the world will be quite clear. In Sant'Ambrogio there is an exhibition area, initially built for a major marble exhibition, Marmomac and a so-called a School of Marble, founded by count Paolo Brenzoni in 1863.

San Giorgio is also famous for a fair which takes palce the second Sunday of November, Festa delle Fae, a local term for broad beans. Every household in the town receives a portion of a soup prepared with these legumes, onions, potatoes, lard and flour. The ritual distribution of this soup is already mentioned in the pastoral chronicles of the bishop of Verona Ermolao Barbaro in 1460. It is linked to the symbolism of broad beans, often associated with the dead and symbol of immortality.

If you want to visit the immediate surroundings on foot, look for the panels in village which display the various nature trails and their different grades of difficulty, time and distance. We suggest a long but interesting walk (2 hours round trip) on the eastern side of Monte Solane leading to the village of Mazzurega, birthplace of the poet Bartolomeo Lorenzi (1732-1821) and his brother Francesco, a student of the famous painter Gianbattista Tiepolo, and also the family town of Antonio Badile (1480-1560), teacher of Paolo Veronese. If you left the car in San Giorgio we advise you to return to the parking lot. If instead you left it in Gargagnago (3 hours round trip), 1 km after leaving the village you will get to a dirt road leading to an old abandoned house. Turning left you will reach the neighbourhood called Cavarena di Sotto, an area of quarries. After crossing a pine forest stop in Ca' Fontanelle, where there is a natural spring. Descend to Gargagnago to end your round trip. In this village you can have a good look at the local architecture with its barns courtyards with arched entrances.

This route connects the settlements in Valpolicella that lie along the river Adige.
Parona, today part of the municipality of Verona, was an independent municipality until 1929, the first one in Valpolicella for those coming from the city. Nature lovers can walk, ride or cycle along rhe towpath, the track on the riverbank once used by horses or oxen to tow boats upstream towards Trento. 

PESCANTINA, so-calledperhaps because the settlement once had a river port and therefore "fished" (pescava) in the water. Today the name is refferred to the peach (pesca) trees planted extensively and an important economic resource for the area. Once Pescantina was an important hub for trade with the Trento area. Typical river boats, barges and paniciani, were built here. 

If you are interested in a local culture, we recommended a visit, in the neighbourhood of Mandella, to the parish church of  San Lorenzo Martire (St. Lawrence Martyr), built in 1753 in a Neoclassical style by Alessandro Pompei, enriched by the bell tower more than 80 meters high designed by Giuseppe Barbieri in the first half of the 19th century. San Lorenzo was built on a pre-existing Romanesque church whose remains are still visible on the east side. 

Other the riverbank neighbourhoods with interesting artistic features are Settimo, with its villas, Arcè, which has a Romanesque church with frescoes, dedicated to San Michele (San Micheal) and Ponton, home to Villa Nichesola, attribuited in the past to Sanmicheli and more recently to Giulio Romano, with magnificent frescoes of Paolo Farinati. 

If you make the journey northwards by car you will reach Volargne,  in the municipality of Dolcè. 
Here you will find Villa del Bene, a complex divided into several buildings that was completed in 1560. The main entrance, in line with the mooring on the river, is perhaps the work of Michele Sanmicheli. The villa is decorated inside by Domenico Brusasorzi, Gian Francesco Caroto, Nicola Crollalanza and Bernardino India with frescoes extended throughout themain floor. 

The territory of Dolcè in this area is characterizied by impressive Austrian fortification, vestiges of the Empire's domination here until 1866. These structures were built between 1849 and 1852 to protect the Brenner route and the access to the Adige valley. 

The Austrian border barrier of Rivoli-Ceraino consisted of four strongholds: Chiusa Veneta and Hlawaty in Ceraino, Mollinary in Monte di Sant'Ambrogio and, on the right bank, Wohlgemuth in Rivoli. The first three, on the left bank of the Adige, can be reached by the main road towards the Brenner. 

The first one is 2km after Volarge, in the spectacular gorge (Chiusa) of Ceraino: the Chiusa Veneta fort, right next to the eponymous hotel (with parking space). You can visit the ruins, although they are partly covered by vegetation. The Hlawaty and Monte forts are more difficult to reach (only by foot), located along a steep, narrow track of which climbs up the cliffs of the gorge. It starts in the nearby village of Ceraino. Follow the signs for Forte Hlawaty and Forte Monte.