Zevio between History, Art and the Adige Landscape

Zevio combines traces of history with the landscape along the Adige.

Historical Traces in the Town Centre

Zevio’s history goes back a long way. As early as 489, a fortification stood beside a small branch of the Adige River. On the main square, the Colonna di Santa Toscana commemorates the local history. The column bears a statue created by Grazioso Spazzi in 1842. Also located in the town centre is the Parco del Castello di Zevio, a historic green space where history, nature and remembrance come together.

Church, Bell Tower and Palaces

One of the town’s defining buildings is the parish church of San Pietro Apostolo. Its origins date back to 882, when an oratory “in fine gebitana” existed here. In 903, several clerics confirmed the church’s role as a pieve church. Its associated bell tower is Romanesque, bears the year 1488 and features elegant bifore windows, that is, two-part arched openings.

The palaces also offer an insight into the town’s prestigious architecture. Palazzo Albertini Vesentini preserves a large reception hall with a very high ceiling, two side balconies and Palladian floors. Palazzo Arrigoni Smania Giuliari houses frescoes depicting Saint George and the dragon, Diana and Actaeon, the Fountain of Youth, and a Madonna and Child between Saints Bernardino and Pietro Martire.

Nature and Paths along the Adige

Another side of Zevio can be seen in the Parco del Pontoncello. The 40-hectare protected area lies along the Adige between the municipalities of San Giovanni Lupatoto, San Martino Buon Albergo and Zevio. Nature trails and a cycle path run through the riverside vegetation. There are also picnic areas, river beaches, and paths for hikers and for people interested in birdwatching.

Art, Remembrance and Cultural Themes

“La Ricerca” is a monumental work made from thousands of stones. The stones were collected along the river over a period of more than fifty years. Maria Callas represents another important cultural focus: she was a citizen of Zevio from 1949 to 1959. The Accademia Maria Callas di Zevio preserves significant historical collections from Tanzi, Gervasoni, Pozzan, Bolzoni and Sotheby’s, and trains young artists from around the world in collaboration with the Conservatorio Dall’Abaco di Verona.

The Ecomuseo AQUAE PLANAE broadens the perspective beyond individual buildings. It is a museum without walls that extends across the rivers, landscapes and farmsteads of the Veronese plain. For planning your trip, this thematic area offers a way of discovering Zevio that considers its cultural sites and surrounding landscape together, without reducing the town to a single attraction.

Routes and Local History

The “Olympic Spirit” route begins at Zevio Castle and then leads to the Adige River, where Luigi Lineri is the central figure. The “Piera del Pesse” also represents a historic connection to the river. It can be traced back to 1383 and was a place where fishermen sold their fresh or cooked catch.

More Destinations for Planning Your Trip

Volon, Brognoligo-Costalunga, Caprino Veronese, Povegliano Veronese, Calmasino, Custoza, Castel D'azzano and Erbezzo

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