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Montecchio Maggiore

Description

The town's name derives from the Latin word "monticulus" (small mountain). Municipality in the province of Vicenza, located in the Agno Valley, a mostly flat area, dominated by hills to the north, in which are located the famous castles of Bellaguardia, of della Villa and of Montecchio Maggiore. It is a town linked to the industrial and agricultural activities and is famous for the its production of fine wines.
The area was inhabited since the late Stone Age, as evidenced by the artifacts found, while other findings prove the presence of a Roman colonization in the II century B.C., a period in which the Via Postumia was built. After the Fall of the Empire, the territories submitted the Barbarian invasions and a subsequent period of Lombard domination.
It was assigned to Ezzelino da Romano and later belonged to the Della Scala. Cangrande I, in the XIV century, and later, Cangrande II conquered the territories of Vicenza, and had built fortifications with important strategic defensive functions. This domination was followed by a period of rule of the Visconti, while in the XV century, the lands with voluntary submission were granted to the Republic of Venice. Between the XV and XVI centuries the country was directly involved in the events that interested in Venice, including the battles of the Lega of Cambrai. The subsequent history is similar to that shared by all the other localities of the entire region.

Attractions:
- the XVI century Church of St. Peter, which has been modified several times over the centuries. Inside it preserves sculptures that date back to a period between the XV and XVI centuries and a precious early XVI century altar, depicting Our Lady of Wisdom, by the artist Buonconsiglio;
- the Castle of the Villa (or "of Romeo"), was built in 1354 at the behest of Cangrande della Scala. Built as a private fortified residence, with the castle of Bella Guardia has inspired the writer of Vicenza, Luigi da Porto and later Shakespeare in immortalizing the characters of Romeo and Juliet;
- the Castle of Bella Guardia (or "of Juliet", was originally built for military purposes;
- Villa Cordellina Lombardi, built by the architect Massari in the first half of the XVIII century, is a complex consisting of a major manor, barns and stables, all protected by a series of watchtowers. The central part is preceded by a beautiful porch with four columns supporting a pediment, surmounted by statues, which bears in the center the coats of arms of the Cordellina Family. Inside are preserved frescoes by the artist Tiepolo;
- Villa Lorenzoni;
- the Civic Museum.

Map

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