A 50‑kilometre loop that winds through vineyards, medieval walls, ancient wool paths and world‑class fossil sites was officially opened this weekend in the province of Verona. The “Soave Magic Trail” (Itinerario Magico di Soave) – a joint venture of the municipalities of Soave, Cazzano, Illasi, Tregnago, Badia Calavena and Selva di Progno – promises to turn the gently sun‑kissed hills of eastern Verona into a year‑round pilgrimage for wine lovers, history buffs and nature enthusiasts alike.
“This is more than a tourist itinerary,” declared President Zaia. “It is a living museum that stitches together our geological heritage, our centuries‑old viticulture and the stories of the people who have walked these hills since the Lombards first arrived. By making the trail accessible, we are giving Italy’s cultural and natural wealth a new, sustainable audience.”
© Ph. Strada del Vino Soave
A Landscape that whispers of time
Perched on the eastern arch of the Veronese province, the Soave territory is a rare mosaic of volcanic soils, gentle slopes and a climate that “rarely knows frost”, according to agronomist Dr. Martina Bianchi of the University of Padua. Those volcanic soils, she explains, are the secret behind the signature minerality of Soave Classico wine, a white variety made chiefly from the Garganega grape.
“The terroir is a conversation between the earth and the vine,” Bianchi says. “The same tuff and basalt that gave rise to the spectacular Eocene fossil deposits also retain heat, allowing the grapes to ripen slowly and develop complex aromatic layers. It’s a natural partnership that has been refined over a millennium.”
THE THREE CORNERS OF THE TRAIL
The Soave Magic Trail is not a single straight road but a “triad of themed itineraries” that intersect at the medieval town of Soave, the trail’s natural hub.
1. Vecia Via della Lana – The Ancient Wool Path
The oldest of the three routes, the Vecia Via della Lana (Old Wool Road), traces a historic corridor that for centuries carried raw wool from the sheep‑rich valleys of Chiampo to the weaving workshops of the Veneto plain. Today, the 48‑kilometre path combines paved sections with rustic white‑stone lanes, signposted in both Italian and English, and is suitable for cyclists, hikers and equestrians.
“It’s a tangible link to the medieval economy,” says local historian Paolo Rossi, who has spent the last ten years mapping the route. “When you ride past the old stone bridges and stone‑capped farmhouses, you can almost hear the clatter of mule carts and the chatter of traders. The path also offers spectacular views over the Lessini foothills, which are a UNESCO Global Geopark.”
The trail begins at Soave’s Porta Aquila, winds past the Sanctuary of Bassanella and the Soave Castle, and continues through Carcera, Cazzano and San Felice (Illasi). Signage indicates the original stopping points where wool would have been weighed and taxed, and several small museums along the way exhibit ancient tools, from loom shuttles to hand‑spun yarn.
2. Via dei Fossili – A 50‑Million‑Year Journey
Perhaps the most scientifically intriguing segment is the Via dei Fossili (Fossil Route), a 40‑kilometre excursion that transports visitors back to the Eocene epoch, roughly 50 million years ago. Starting at the Geo‑Paleontological Museum of Roncà, the trail leads to the famed Bolca Fossil Museum – home to one of the world’s richest deposits of exquisitely preserved fish fossils – and the adjacent Cava della Pesciara, where more than 100,000 specimens have been excavated.
“The Bolca deposit is often called the ‘Lazarus of the Eocene,’ because it preserves an almost complete snapshot of a tropical marine ecosystem,” explains. Silvia Marroni, director of the Bolca Museum. “Visitors can compare the ancient fauna displayed in glass cases with living relatives swimming in our two on‑site aquaria – one Mediterranean, one tropical – and grasp how dramatically life has changed and yet how some lineages persist.”
A key stop on the route is the basalt column formation at San Giovanni Ilarione, a striking vertical wall of volcanic rock formed during the middle Eocene. Geologists describe the columns as a natural laboratory for studying rapid cooling of lava, a phenomenon that helped shape the soil profile that now nurtures Soave’s vineyards.
The fossil trail culminates in the Monti Lessini Regional Park, where guided tours of the Cava della Pesciara and the Monte Postale outcrop showcase the delicate fish scales, crocodile jaws and even rare insect imprints that have earned the site “exceptional scientific interest” from the Italian Ministry of Culture.
3. Soave Wine Route – The Heartbeat of the Hills
The third and most popular leg is the Soave Wine Route, a culinary odyssey that starts in the medieval town’s piazza, where a network of historic wine bars (enoteche) invites travelers to sample Soave Classico, Soave Superiore and the sparkling Lessini Durello. The route then swings eastward through Colognola ai Colli – a hamlet renowned for Valpolicella red wines – onto Illasi, where the region’s PDO‑certified extra‑virgin olive oil is produced.
“The wine route is the connective tissue that binds the other two,” says Alessio Bianchi, president of the Consorzio del Vino Soave. “Our aim is to offer a seamless experience: a glass of crisp white at a medieval cellar, a bite of locally cured ham at a vineyard terrace, a tasting of chardonnay‑style sparking wine made from the indigenous Durello grape, and then an excursion into the world of ancient fish fossils. It’s a story told in scent, taste and sight.”
© Ph. Strada del Vino Soave
Highlights along the wine route include:
Castello di Soave – the 12th‑century fortress that now houses a tasting room with panoramic views over the vineyards.
Enoteca della Porta – a historic wine bar where the owner, Maria Lombardi, serves a “Soave Riserva” aged for five years in oak barrels.
Cascina del Vigneto – a family‑run agriturismo in Cazzano that offers a tasting menu paired with a selection of local cheeses, cherries (in June) and a glass of sparkling Durello.
Val d’Alpone – a scenic valley famed for its cherries; in late spring, tourists can pick fruit directly from the trees and enjoy a fresh‑pressed cherry juice.
© Ph. Strada del Vino Soave
Soave, ultimately, is more than a territory. It is an experience built on a perfect, unforced triad: the profound, mineral-driven elegance of its wine; the palpable weight of history in its castles and ancient paths; and the breathtaking, ever-changing beauty of a land sculpted by fire and water. It is, as the name suggests, a truly pleasant wonder—a magical landscape where every road leads to a story, and every story is best enjoyed with a glass of the local vintage in hand.
