Monte Tondo Winery
Soave - Via San Lorenzo, 89
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The Italian dictionary defines ‘soave’ as something pleasing to the senses because of its delicacy, inducing feelings of serenity and tender abandonment. A name that fits like a glove: this is in fact Soave, one of the most beautiful walled villages in the Veneto, nestled in an enchanting landscape and famous for a white wine that is delicate in colour and fragrance.
Nestled in the hills between the Lessini Mountains and the Adige Valley, this small town with a medieval appearance but much older origins is dominated by a magnificent castle atop a hill. Its perfectly preserved walls descend to embrace the historic centre of the town: a breathtaking view that will make you want to visit this iconic building inside to discover its long history.
Centuries of history also characterise the production of wine, Soave’s typical product par excellence. It is a long tradition that is today recognised by no less than four DOC awards and represents 40% of the DOC production of the province of Verona, the Italian province with the highest wine production. Record numbers, in short: if you love wine, sooner or later a visit to the Soave cellars is a must.
Perfect for a day trip from Verona or Venice, Soave is a romantic destination that delights the eye and the palate.
The historic centre of Soave is small and can be easily explored on foot. Here is what to see in Soave before setting off on a tour of the wine cellars in the surrounding area!
Soave’s top attraction is the town’s iconic castle, which dominates the old town from the top of Monte Tenda. Don’t miss it, it is one of the most beautiful castles in the Veneto region.
It was erected in the 10th century to protect the town from foreign invasions; it changed function several times over the centuries but never became a lordly residence, which is why we can still admire its typical structure of a fortified medieval castle with a defensive function.
The castle complex comprises a keep, 24 towers and a wall forming three courtyards on different levels. The walls were added in the second half of the 14th century and enclose the historic core of Soave; four gates open along the walls.
The castle is currently privately owned, but is open to visitors. It can be reached on foot from the historic centre along Via del Castello, or if you do not want to make the effort, you can easily reach it by car.
One building that stands out in the centre of Soave is the Palazzo di Giustizia, built in the 14th century and with a typically medieval appearance. Still today, the upper floor houses some offices of the Verona court; the lower floor, decidedly more inviting, houses a famous wine shop.
The most interesting religious building in Soave is the Cathedral of San Lorenzo Martire, characterised by a neoclassical façade reminiscent of Palladio’s style. The church we admire today dates back to the mid 18th century, but was built on top of an earlier church and modified several times over the centuries.
Zanella Park is Soave’s city park. Make a note of the name, it may come in handy for a refreshing break or for a nice view of the castle from below.
It is usually only open during daylight hours, but in the summer months it is often used as a location for cinema forums, concerts and other events in the evening.
In the summer months it is possible (and recommended!) to combine a visit to Soave’s cultural attractions with a relaxing afternoon by the pool. Just 7 km from the centre of Soave is the ‘Terme di Giunone‘ thermal park, an establishment immersed in the greenery of an English-style meadow that can be accessed along a tree-lined lane.
The park comprises an ancient and a modern area. In the ancient area one can bathe in the Cavalla and Brentella pools, two thermal pools of medieval origin immersed in a wood of centuries-old trees and fed by water flowing from natural pools: an oasis of peace in the green, ideal for forgetting stress.
The modern area includes five pools for the enjoyment of adults and children: a wave pool, an Olympic pool for free swimming, a pool with water slides, a junior pool with slides for children from 5 to 10 years old, and a pool with a rain effect, whirlpools and other water features. There are also beach volleyball, beach soccer and tennis courts.
It is undeniable that a large portion of tourists are drawn to Soave by the fame of the area’s wines more than by the cultural attractions. These are Soave DOC, Soave Classico DOC, Soave Superiore DOCG and Recioto di Soave DOCG.
You can taste them in the wine shops of the historic centre, but if you are a wine lover, do not miss the opportunity to visit the cellars where they are produced. Among the most renowned are Cantina di Soave6, Rocca Sveva7, Monte Tondo8, Pieropan9 and Corte Adami10.
You can easily find these and other wine cellars by following the Soave Wine Route, a route of about 50 km created by an association that brings together wine producers, wine shops, institutions and associations, hotel facilities and other local entities interested in promoting the area.
Follow the brown arrows with the Strade del Vino logo and you will find yourself following a fascinating itinerary by car that allows you to admire a landscape of gentle beauty and visit enchanting historic villages. The route winds its way through four enchanting valleys squeezed between hills planted with vines: Val di Mezzane, Val d’Illasi, Val Tramigna and Val d’Alpone; there are 13 municipalities along the way.
Soave wine is of course the star of the itinerary, but there is no shortage of opportunities to taste other typical products such as Valpolicella wine, Recioto di Soave grappa, olive oil from the Veronese hills, Soave crudo, Veronese soppressa and Monte Veronese cheese.
You can follow the entire itinerary or opt for one of the shorter variants: the ‘Tra i castelli’ (31 km) or ’10 capitelli’ (10 km) itinerary; there is also the possibility of a flat route of around 40 km from Soave to explore the lower Val d’Alpone.
Another possibility is to take part in a guided tour of Soave’s wine cellars with tastings: the presence of an expert guide will help you appreciate the qualities of the area’s wines.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
Soave is a small village and is often visited during the day, so the amount of accommodation is not so great. However, if you want to sleep in the centre, you can choose from charming b&b’s, modern flats and prestigious residences.
If you prefer a stay in the countryside, move a few kilometres and you will have a good choice of agritourisms, wine hotels and luxurious villas in the countryside.
The easiest and quickest way to reach Soave by car is to take the A4 Milan-Venice motorway, exit at Soave-San Bonifacio and from there follow the signs for the historic village.
Alternatively, you can reach Soave by taking the SS11 Padana Superiore (Milan-Venice), the SS62 Della Cisa (Verona-Parma) and the SS434 Transpolesana (Verona-Rovigo).
The nearest railway station is San Bonifacio: it is about 6 km away and is connected by local buses; it is only served by regional trains. Another possibility is to take a train to Verona and from there a bus to Soave, but it is good to enquire about the timetable beforehand because the runs are not very frequent.
The nearest airport is Verona, about 40 km away.
What's the weather at Soave? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Soave for the next few days.
Soave is located in south-western Veneto. From an administrative point of view, it is a municipality in the province of Verona, located just 20 km from the provincial capital, 30 km from Vicenza and 80 km from Venice.
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