For almost ninety years, “La Fiera dell’Uva” of Soave has been cheering the September of this beautiful village in the province of Verona. On the third weekend of the month, the medieval village is filled with colours and scents to celebrate the beginning of the harvest. Garganega grape is the protagonist of this festival: wooden carts filled with golden bunches of grapes parade along the streets of the city center. Bunches of grapes can also be found hanging on the upper part of the Verona gate, the main entrance of the old town center, enclosed withinin the Scaligera walls. Even before crossing this entrance you can taste typical products of the area by strolling trough the stalls of street Covergnino until you reach the Cantina di Borgo Rocca Sveva, very peculiar because it is dugged into the hill and where you can taste and buy wines such as Soave DOC, il Recioto o Amarone.
Once past the door, the visitor passionate about antiquity can walk along Corso Vittorio Emanuele, where the antique market (which takes place every third Sunday of the month) offers an infinite amount of distractions: vinyls, books, silver candlesticks, furniture and lamps and an atmosphere of other times.
Going along the parallel street Via Roma, full of shops, you can spend some time shopping with the suggestive background of the drum or trombone of the local band, which passes through this street. Continuing in the direction of the former town hall, you can reach the church of San Lorenzo Martire, patron saint of Soave. At this height the pedestrian walk leading to the Castello Scaligero begins: in less than half an hour you will find yourself in front of the drawbridge and at this point you can visit the rooms of the fortress. After a first abandonment, the castle was restored from the second half oh the 19th century and it’s now in excellent condition, as well as the walls that will soon be made accessible.
To descend back to the centre you can take the staircase that leads to Zanella park, where the walker can relax while listening to good music: the park, in fact, hosts a series of free concerts.
The sunset gives the village a glimmer of light, the orange and the red of September make the profile of medieval battlements magical, that stands out in contrast to the pink sky. The wine fountain opens! Everyone can refill their glass and drink at this source.
It is worth eating under the Pro Loco tent or eat a tasty “frittela” at the Luna Park set up in the school square, waiting for the fireworks show. The fireworks end with the “fire” of the Castle, a play of light that makes him appear devoured by the flames.
Copyright photos 1, 2: Beatrice Cailotto
Copyright photos 3, 4, 5: www.comunesoave.it
