Castello di Soave

You can go to the castle on foot, from Piazza dell’Antenna in the center of the medieval burg, or by car, using the road that climbs up from the north side of the town. The main entrance is on the north, equipped with a drawbridge protected - according to medieval uses - by a powerful carrying a sculpture of Saint George. When you pass the drawbridge you enter the first courtyard, built of the Republic of Venice in the 15th century. The courtyard contains the remains of a small church with three apses that probably dates back to the 10th century and the time of invasions by the Hungarians.

As you climb up you enter the second courtyard, the first of the ancient Castle for those coming up from the plain and also the largest, called “ della Madonna”, The entry gate opens up under a tower which carries, on its walls, a fresco of the Virgin Mary. The painting is dated June 1st , 1321. The last courtyard, the highest, is also the smallest. Here the Keep of Tower rises up. This was the last and most strenuous defensive barrier and was also probably used as a prison and for torture, witnessed by human bones that were found here during recent restoration works. A fresco dated 1340 is to the left of the door and shows a shield with the four-step Scaliger stairs supported by two rampant mastiffs and, in the background, a warrior followed by a troupe of soldier with the Scaliger flag. As well, as old as the castle itself, is located in the middle of this courtyard.

The castle palace arises to the south with the guardhouse at its ground floor. Indications of the former existence of barracks for soldiers can be found both in the inner and in the middle courtyards. An external staircase climbs up to what were, in the castle, the residence of the Lord or his representative. Here we have a well preserved medieval house. The staircase leads to the central room called “La Caminata” because of the large fireplace it contains. One door in the “Caminata” leads to the bedroom which contains an important fresco from the 13th century showing Christ, the Madonna and Magdalene. The other room is the dining room. Benches and chairs line the wall and the glass case on the sideboard exhibits fragments of dishware found in the necropolis in the zone. As we proceed we enter a room where the walls carry five portraits: Mastino I, founder of the Della Scala fortunes; Cangrande, the most illustrious person of this noble family; Dante Alighieri, the divine poet; Taddea da Carrara, wife of Mastino II who succeeded Cangrande; Cansignorio della Scala who had the merit of restoring and enlarging the castle and who also surrounded Soave with walls and built the Hall of Justice and the Scaliger Palace. We leave though a narrow and, climbing a few steps, come to the “rounds” that let us reach the keep, the highest point, from which we can admire one of the most admirable panoramas of the Lessini Mountains and the Po Valley.