몬테키오 마조레 최고의 워킹 & 하이킹 경로

Beautiful

The evocative Alpini Church stands between Juliet's Castle and Romeo's Castle. Its construction was the result of a vow made by an Alpine soldier who survived the Russian Campaign in 1942: the soldier promised that, if he returned home safe and sound from the war, he would dedicate a small church to the Madonna dei Castelli. Construction began in October of that year, and the chapel was blessed on October 4, 1945. The project was entrusted to architect Ferdinando Forlati, who had already been involved in the restoration of the castles in 1939. The result was a simple building, constructed of local stone, inspired by the medieval style, perfectly integrated into the landscape and the ancient fortresses.

The first mention of this fountain dates back to 1540, but it is likely even older. After the Black Death of 1348 decimated the population, with the demographic recovery, the surrounding wooded area was once again cultivated under the name 'terra nova', hence the name of the fountain. It fed the aqueduct of the basin near the bell tower of St. Peter's, but was forgotten at the beginning of the 20th century, when the municipal aqueduct came into operation. It was faithfully restored in 1982: it consists of a (closed) tunnel that protects the spring and channels the water to the small external basin. The water is not subject to control.

uphill rural road passable only on foot or MTB. Leads to the castle of "Giulietta" and the hypogeum complex "Le Priare".

small church with a steep access staircase and a beautiful panoramic terrace

Location to enjoy beautiful views

A medieval fortress, destroyed and rebuilt several times over the centuries, built on the hills of Montecchio Maggiore for its strategic position along the Via Postumia, controlling the passage between Verona and Vicenza. A previous fortification likely existed in Roman times. It is known as "Juliet's Castle" by tradition and folklore: Luigi da Porto, a military leader and man of letters, retired from military life and wrote the first story of Romeo and Juliet in 1531 in his residence in Montorso, overlooking the two castles. In the 19th century, at the height of Romanticism, legend arose that the two castles, so close yet so far away, inspired him to imagine them as belonging to the rival families of the Montecchi and the Cappelletti. Shakespeare later drew inspiration from his work to make the tragic love story famous. Today, the castle houses a bar/restaurant, and admission (free) is open during its opening days and hours (see link); From the panoramic terrace, you can enjoy a magnificent 360° view of the surrounding valleys and hills, covered in greenery and cultivated fields. https://www.prolocoaltemontecchio.it/cosa-vedere/castelli-di-giulietta-e-romeo/ https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castelli_di_Romeo_e_Giulietta

An extremely evocative and interesting site, hidden and unexpected, almost surreal: it surprises with its vastness and the slender square columns supporting the titanic ceiling... it feels like being inside a temple in ancient Mesopotamia or in the mines of Moria from Tolkien's memory! The Priàre (from 'pria', meaning stone in the Venetian dialect) are a complex of underground quarries and tunnels for the extraction of the renowned "soft Vicenza stone," active from Roman times until the mid-20th century. During the bombings of World War II, the quarries were used by the inhabitants of Montecchio as a refuge; between 1972 and 1985, they were exploited as a mushroom farm, thanks to the humidity and constant temperature throughout the year; Afterwards, they were abandoned until their redevelopment and safety measures in 2000. Vicenza Stone is a highly prized material, always highly appreciated and sought after in architecture and construction: beyond its aesthetic appeal, it is soft and malleable when freshly quarried, but upon contact with air, it "seasons," hardening and becoming extremely resistant over time. This rock was used to build the Montecchio fortresses and by Andrea Palladio for his works. It has always been quarried strictly by hand, using the same technique for millennia, in square blocks; this is why the quarries have such a geometric appearance. Open Sunday afternoon; entry is only possible with a (very interesting) guided tour lasting about 40 minutes; admission is €3. Please note that payment by POS is not possible due to the lack of signal. https://www.prolocoaltemontecchio.it/cosa-vedere/le-priare/