5 Must – See Medieval Towns in Veneto

It is commonly known that Veneto is multifaceted and full of attractions: cities of art are the most popular destinations, followed by mountains and Lake Garda. And yet, for those who are willing and determined to go discover more, Veneto will slowly and continually reveal many other points of interest.
Among the most amazing destinations are its picturesque medieval towns, that could preserve their traditions, proctect their landscape from the passing of time and grow with love their local products.

Here’s a list of the 5 most beautiful venetian hamlets, that you can che potrete visitare in giornata partendo da Frassanelle:

Arquà Petrarca (PD): a charming town nestled among Euganean Hills, whose celebrity is mainly due to the fact that one of the most known italian poets, Francesco Petrarca, spent here the last years of his life and eventually died in Arquà in 1374. His abode has been turned into a museum that displays the milestones of his career and life.
But Arquà is also a small centre that seems to be shining of some internal light, dotted with stone houses and plunged into green slopes between vineyards and olive trees. The local product is “jujube broth” a very sweet liqueur obtained by jujube fruits.

Montagnana (PD): you will be welcomed by an impressive surrounding wall dating back to mid 14th century, when the hamlet was the scene of a fierce fight between Scaligeri and Carraresi; the city walls, among the best preserved in Italy, were built to these last in order to protect the population, the town and the weapons. Montagnana is small and yet offers several attractions: San Zeno Castle, the fortified tower, the so-called “Tree Fortress” and the cathedral. And to please your taste, try the local excellence: the raw ham.
Should you be there in September you cannot miss the traditional Palio dei 10 Comuni (to recall the death of the tyrant Ezzelino da Romano), which attracts loads of visitors.

Asolo (TV):  awarded as one of the most beautiful italian hamlets, Asolo is surrounded by vineyards and hills and is rich of attractions: the medieval walls, the Fortress, that overlooks the town and offers a magnificent panoramic view; the cathedral where an original painting by Lorenzo Lotto is displayed, and the Civic Museum, with a section dedicated to the famous woman who inhabited the city: Eleonora Duse, Caterina Cornaro and Freya Stark. The typical products are wine and cheese, and among the events, particularly remarkable is the antique trade market that is held every 2nd Sunday.

Borghetto sul Mincio (VR): a small pearl that lies asleep on the river Mincio, a stone’s throw away from the marvelous Parco Sigurtà and Lake Garda. The history of this hamlet goes through many centuries, staring form 13th century when its cathedral was an important Templar prefecture, till the venetian rule (from 15th to 18th century) that turned it into a production centre and mill town. Some of the old mills are still there and can be visited. A must for foodies is a taste of the superb tortellini di Valeggio.

Soave (VR): the name recalls a delicate straw-coloured wine, but Soave features much more than its “noble wine”: a charming town surrounded by ancient walls and dominated by the imposing Castello Scaligero, that dates back to 13th century. Also worth a visit are: Palazzo di Giustizia and il Palazzo Cavalli, respectively 14th and 15th century. Among the events, particularly interesting are the Medieval Reenactment at the end of May and the Wine and Chocolate Festival at the end of September.