The origins

This monumental fortication probably dates back to the early 10th century, at the age of the hungarian invasions, commissioned by the Italian king Berengario I.
As Federico Barbarossa stated in a diploma, Sambonifacio were the first feudatories who owned the castle until the early 13th century.

In 1226 the fortalice’s ownership passed to Ezzelino da Romano just to become, in 1237, Greppi’s feudal family property.

Many are the war events happened around this castle, but we will simply touch the main ones.

In 1271, the castle was conquered by Mastino I° della Scala.On April 19th 1338 Florentine troops general Rolando de’Rossi da Parma, Venice’s ally, managed to seize the fortress for a short while. Following a very harsh battle, in which died more than four hundred soldiers of the Della Scala family, the castle was reconquered by Mastino II° della Scala.

The fortalice importance grew under the Scaligeri’s domination due to its strategic location: it was restored by Cansignorio who also strengthened it, in 1375, with the construction of the big boundary walls that enclose the village.

In 1387, following the fall of the Scaligeri’s seigniory, Gian Galeazzo Visconti, lord of Milan, took possession of Soave Castle in which he put as his deputy Balzarino da Pusterla.

In 1404 Da Carrara, lords of Padua, succedeeded Visconti as owners of the castle until, on June 23rd 1405, they were defeated by the Republic of Venice that declared: “Rocha Suapis utilissima nostro dominio”.

The Visconti of Milan, leaded by Niccolò Piccinino, owned the castle again for a short while in 1439.

It was the year 1509 when the army of the Lega di Cambrai, leaded by imperor Massimiliano I° d’Asburgo, defeated the fortress resistance.

From 1510 to today

Short after the castle was regained by Venetians guided by Paolo Gradenigo, but just until the spring of 1510, when the imperial troops reconquered it.

In September of the same year, Soave’s people, leaded by Antonio Marogna, revolted and after,as chronicle states, “having chopped to pieces” the imperial guards they handed over the fortress to the Venetians by opening its doors.

The struggle for the possession of the fortress never stopped: assaults, bloody battles, fightings came one after the other in the following years.

On August 3rd 1511 German soldiers attacked the fortress; the village was set on fire and 366 Soave citizens were put to the sword. On the same year, another revolt was inspired and leaded by count Guido da Rangone who took possession of Soave castle on behalf of the Republic of Venice.

After this conquest followed a period of general serenity. In 1696 the castle and the outbuildings property was transferred to the noble Francesco Gritti, whose family had had it on rental since 1556.

It can be said that from this date starts the private control of Soave Castle. Through female line the castle passed to Gritti family’s heirs from whom , in 1830, was bought by lawyer Antonio Cristiani, maternal grandfather of Giulio Camuzzoni who was the great grandfather of the current owner.

The ancient manor found in Giulio Camuzzoni, Senator of the Kingdom, a keen and generous patron: after being for long years Verona’s mayor, from 1889 he devoted himself to a meticulous restauration in which he lavished considerable energies and capitals.

Still today the current owner continues the work of the beloved great grandfather, grandfather and father with endless fondness, taking tender care of the Castle in order to preserve inaltered the magnificent beauty.