Discover what to do in Illasi: the Scaliger castle, a bike ride in Illasi, the ancient festival of San Bartolomeo. Want to know more? First of all…
Where is Illasi
The municipality of Illasi borders to the north with Tregnago, to the south with Colognola ai Colli, to the east with Cazzano di Tramigna, and to the west with Mezzane di Sotto and Lavagno.
The Scaliger Castle
Located in Località S. Felice (45.4694177605797, 11.19403507329227), the 10th-century fortification rises on the top of a green hill surrounded by vineyards and olive groves.
Flanked by a soaring stone tower, the thousand-year-old military complex is surrounded by part of the curtain wall covered with climbing plants.
If you are wondering what to do in Illasi, the Scaliger castle is one of the most fascinating historical, cultural, and landscape landmarks of the municipality. In the route reported below, you will find directions to reach the formidable architectural complex.
Bike Ride in Illasi
The starting point of the route is the parking lot in Piazza Libertà, 1. Leave the entrance of the town hall behind you, cross the pedestrian crossing, and proceed south along Via Prognolo, flanking the white neoclassical facade of the church of San Giorgio.
Proceed for 1.3 km along Via Prognolo and Via Giara di Sotto among elegant farmhouses and lush vineyards bordered by charming stone walls, then keep left and proceed for about 1.5 km along the dirt path that follows the gentle slopes of a hill dotted with silver olive trees. From the privileged position of the hill, you can gaze upon the boundless Illasi rural landscape, marked by the regular succession of lush rows of vines and dotted with rustic farmhouses framed by sunny wooded slopes.
At the intersection (45.44786156222476, 11.196134815001987) turn left and proceed north for 1.6 km along the panoramic road. The route winds through endless olive groves with gnarled trunks and radiant vineyards that outline the landscape of the sinuous green hills standing out on the horizon.
After passing the ancient church of San Marco, a rural place of worship immersed in a flourishing garden shaded by majestic specimens of cedars, cypresses, lindens, maritime pines, ash trees, and ginkgo biloba, continue north in Località S. Felice until you reach the ruins of the Scaliger castle of Illasi.
After visiting the remains of the medieval fortress surrounded by acacias, cypresses, plane trees, maples, oaks, and many other lush tall trees, descend the grassy hill until you reach the Sanctuary of the Crucifix of San Felice. At the Stop sign, you can turn right into Via S. Monte and take the dirt road on your left, following the signs for La Vecia Via della Lana and the Via Panoramica della Val Tramigna. From this perspective, the eye embraces the splendid bucolic landscape of Illasi dotted with olive groves resting on gentle hills that stretch as far as the eye can see.
Alternatively, at the intersection with Via S. Monte turn left and proceed for 550 meters, then keep left on Via C. A. dalla Chiesa. After 800 meters, at the intersection turn left and keep left on the bike path on Via Restel Rosso. Follow Via Restel Rosso until you reach the Wine Museum of Villa Canestrari, then turn left on Via Castello.
At the intersection turn right on Via Cadene. At the next intersection turn left on Piazza Libertà, pass in front of the sumptuous facade of Villa Pompei Carlotti and the war memorial before returning to the starting point.
The Ancient Festival of San Bartolomeo
According to the liturgical calendar, the day dedicated to San Bartolomeo is August 24. In the municipality of Illasi, the feast in honor of the patron saint also takes place in the days following this date.
The 2023 edition of the festival of San Bartolomeo took place from Friday 25 to Monday 28 August in the urban center of the town.
If you are wondering what to do in Illasi, the ancient festival of San Bartolomeo is the ideal opportunity to spend the summer season with live music and top-quality food and wine specialties in the enchanting setting of a historic village immersed in the fairy-tale scenery of the Veronese hills.
For more information about the lively traditional event, you can consult the Facebook page Pro Loco Illasi and the website consorzioveronaest.it.
