Discover what to do in Montecchio Maggiore: the Valley Festival, the castles of Villa and Bellaguardia, Villa Cordellina Lombardi. Want to know more? First of all…
Where is Montecchio Maggiore?
The municipality of Montecchio Maggiore borders to the north with Castelgomberto, to the southeast with Brendola, to the southwest with Montebello Vicentino, to the east with Sovizzo and Altavilla Vicentina, to the west with Trissino, Arzignano, Montorso Vicentino and Zermeghedo.
Valley Festival
The Valley Festival takes place every year in September at the Church of Santa Maria Immacolata in Via Murialdo, 29. The 2022 edition took place from September 8 to 11.
An unmissable opportunity for food lovers, the event features large dining areas where you can enjoy delicious dishes from the Vicenza tradition. The undisputed protagonist of the event will be baccalà alla vicentina with grilled polenta slices, as well as bigoli and gnocchi with ragù that will make your mouth water.
In addition to solemn liturgical functions, the festival program includes engaging activities such as charity fishing, craft exhibitions illustrating how toys were made in the time of our grandparents, displays of vintage cars, motorcycles and bicycles, and much more.
To stay updated on this year’s event, we recommend consulting the Facebook page Sagra della Valle – Padri Giuseppini.
If you are wondering what to do in Montecchio Maggiore and want to spend the end of the beautiful season enjoying mouthwatering gastronomic specialties, wine excellence, craft beer, musical shows and dancing evenings with folk orchestras, participating in the Valley Festival will be a memorable experience!
The castles of Villa and Bellaguardia
Located at Via Castelli 4 Martiri, 721, 36075 Montecchio Maggiore-Alte Ceccato (VI), the imposing fortresses rise on a wooded hill whose summit offers a wide view of grassy slopes furrowed by lush rows of vineyards and the boundless plain dotted with tiny red roofs of distant rural houses scattered among cultivated fields interspersed with thick hedges of plane trees, poplars, willows and acacias.
Annihilated by Ezzelino III da Romano in 1243 and later renovated, the castle came into the possession of Cangrande della Scala in 1311. In the mid-14th century, Cangrande II built the grand fortification of Montecchio Maggiore, which no longer exists.
These possessions were first acquired by the Visconti, then by the Republic of Venice at the beginning of the 15th century.
From the mighty walls of the Castle of Bella Guardia, still bearing the marks of cannon shots from the War of Cambrai, dark tufts of grass sprout between the rough stones, except for the massive corner stones, polished and arranged in a more orderly and rigorous manner. Standing tall in the heart of the thousand-year-old fortress, the towering red brick mass of the keep rises behind the white walls and from its dominant position you can embrace the valley and the distant profile of the Berici mountains that fade on the horizon as if wrapped in thick fog.
If you are wondering what to do in Montecchio Maggiore, the castles of Villa and Bella Guardia are two of the most significant and fascinating historical and cultural landmarks in the Vicenza area.
Villa Cordellina Lombardi
Harmoniously set in a sumptuous park adorned with statues at Via Lovara, 36, 36075 Montecchio Maggiore-Alte Ceccato (VI), the enchanting 18th-century architectural complex consists of the Main Villa, two barchesse and other majestic rural buildings.
Vertically divided into three sectors, the south facade of the Villa is accessible via an elegant staircase leading to a pronaos punctuated by Ionic columns above which stands the triangular pediment bearing the coat of arms of the Cordellina family in the center.
For information on visiting hours and the formidable cycle of frescoes that embellish the interiors of the stately home, we recommend visiting the section dedicated to the villa on the website www.provincia.vicenza.it.
