We have often praised the great historical and cultural heritage guarded by our city walls, as well as the romance of the unforgettable villages that dot the Venetian shore of Lake Garda. Yet we couldn’t consider our repertoire complete without dedicating an article to the most beautiful villages in the province of Verona: fascinating and secluded places where time seems to stand still.

These are ideal destinations to spend a few relaxing hours, taking a break from the city center and enjoying the food and wine excellence of the area.

Soave

You will spot the village of Soave from afar as it’s dominated by the mighty walls of the Scaligero Castle, built in 1369 during the domination of Cansignorio della Scala.

The name of the village (Soave means sweet, suave) already portends a pleasant visit and a welcoming place where, among other things, you can taste an excellent local white wine. Some of the most popular Italian wines, such as Soave and Recioto, are indeed produced with the grapes of the vineyards surrounding the village.

A visit to the Scaligero Castle is highly recommended as well as a walk through the alleys of the village up to Piazza dell’Antenna, where you can admire the most beautiful buildings in Soave: the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, Palazzo Cavalli and Palazzo di Giustizia. Going from one visit to another, we can only but suggest a stop at one of the many typical wine bars and taverns.

Last but not least, several walking paths pass right through the village, making it an ideal destination to spend a day amidst history, nature, wine and good food.

San Giorgio di Valpolicella

Let’s move on to one of the most fascinating areas of Verona and a wine region par excellence: Valpolicella. Here stands San Giorgio di Valpolicella, a wonderful stone village surrounded by olive trees and vineyards. It is indeed included in the list of the most beautiful villages in Italy.

One of the most interesting attractions is the Pieve di San Giorgio, an ancient Romanesque church dating back to 712 AD, the era of the Lombard king Liutprando. The building still charms its visitors with fourteenth-century frescoes, valuable treasures and a picturesque cloister.

Fun fact: San Giorgio di Valpolicella is also known as San Giorgio Ingannapoltron (from Venetian dialect, lit. the one who tricks the lazy), because the ascent to get there is more challenging than it looks!

Valeggio e Borghetto sul Mincio

Moving just over 20 km south-west from Verona, towards the province of Mantua, you will find the charming village of Valeggio sul Mincio. The Scaligero Castle of medieval origin that dominates the entire Mincio valley is the undiscussed symbol of the village.

Don’t miss a visit to the nearby gardens of Villa Sigurtà: in the 17th century it was the seat of the Habsburg Empire in northeastern Italy and it’s also a virtuous example of the Palladian style. The wonderful park surrounding the villa is the ideal place to spend a few hours in nature.

Another must-see is the hamlet of Borghetto, at the end of the Visconteo Bridge, famous for its water mills and houses overlooking the river.

To complete the visit, include a stop dedicated to good food: the masterpiece of the local culinary tradition are the “Tortellini di Valeggio”, in dialect, “agnolin”.