Isola della Scala: Rice Culture, History and Nature

Archaeology and Military History

The Museo Archeologico di Isola della Scala is housed in the former Sant’Antonio chapel in the Santa Maria Maddalena Auditorium. It displays archaeological finds discovered along the banks of the Tione and Tartaro rivers and in the Bassa Veronese, arranged chronologically from the Bronze Age to the Lombard period. The museum is open on the first Sunday of every month, except July and August, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The Torre Scaligera was built in the mid-14th century to oversee one of the most important roads between Verona and Mantua. It is the only surviving tower of the many towers that made up the Serraglio Scaligero. The interior of the Torre is currently not open to visitors.

Rice, Mills and the Seasons

Isola della Scala is a center of production for IGP Riso Nano Vialone Veronese rice. The rice fields transform the landscape according to the season: the blue of the water gives way to the green of the seedlings and later to the yellow of the ripe rice. In this way, rice cultivation can be experienced not only as a regional specialty but also as a visible part of the landscape.

Local rice mills and associations organize guided tours of the rice fields and historic mills. Pila Vecia Ferron is a rice mill dating from 1650 that is still in operation today and is protected as a historic monument. The rice experience in Isola della Scala also includes a risotto cooking class and a tasting.

The Fiera del Riso takes place every year in Isola della Scala and includes gastronomic evenings with themed focuses.

Wetlands and Wildlife

The Palude di Pellegrina is a wetland in the Natura 2000 network. It has been designated as an SIC since at least 1995 and as an SPA since 2003, under number IT3210015, and extends across the areas of Erbè, Isola della Scala, Nogara and Sorgà. The wetland is home to a heron colony with 400 nests and breeding populations of purple heron, little egret, black-crowned night heron, cattle egret and squacco heron.

Villas, Abbey and Religious Tradition

The Vo’ Pindemonte complex comprises a Venetian villa, a village with a fishpond, avenues lined with horse chestnut trees and a church. The Villa Pindemonte within this complex is dated to 1739–1742. The Santo Stefano Abbey complex comprises an abbey church, a bell tower, the Oratorio di San Vincenzo and the Cortesela; the abbey church was built in 1590 by the architect Bernardino Brugnoli.

The Santuario della Madonna della Bastia is associated with the Sagra della Bastia. The festival can be traced back one hundred years and is celebrated on the third Sunday of Lent.

More Destinations

If you would like to add more places to your travel plans, you can also explore Negrar, Castion Veronese, San Martino Buon Albergo, Erbé, Bosco Chiesanuova, Castelletto Di Brenzone, San Bonifacio and Garda.

For the higher-level travel overview: Verona.