Dolcè
Greetings and Introduction
Hello friends! Today we'll be talking about a beautiful Italian commune located in the province of Verona, in the Veneto region. It's called Dolcè and has a population of about 2454 people.
Physical Geography
Dolcè is a commune located in the marvelous Lagarina Valley. The Adige River runs through the commune in a north-south direction, and its western area forms the border with the territory of the province of Verona. The town center is located about 29 km from Verona, 65 km from Trento, 120 km from Bolzano, 39 km from Rovereto, and only 18 km from Avio. The municipal territory has an area of just over 30 km² and borders Avio to the north, Sant'Anna d'Alfaedo, Fumane, and Sant'Ambrogio di Valpolicella to the east, Sant'Ambrogio to the south, and Rivoli Veronese and Brentino Belluno to the west. The area is surrounded by the Lessinia mountains, including the massive Corno d'Aquilio, Corno Mozzo, and Monte Pastello. It is crossed by the Strada statale 12 dell'Abetone e del Brennero and the Autostrada A22 del Brennero, although it is not served by any exits on it.
Etymology
The name Dolcè derives from the word ''Dulcetum'' present since the twelfth century with three different versions: ''Dulcei'', ''Dolcei'' and ''Dolcedo''. It probably comes from the Latin ''dulcis'' which means sweet, with a suffix ''-ētum'' indicating a forest. It is not known for certain which type of tree was present.
History
Dolcè has a rich history of culture and archaeological finds. There are traces of prehistoric settlements, such as the Soman shelter from the Paleolithic period. In the valley of the Arusnati there is a settlement from the pre-Roman era, while from the Roman era and the Middle Ages there is a trace of the ''Casteleto''. The historic center of Dolcè contains three noble palaces: ''Ruzzenenti-Fasanotto'', ''Guerrieri-Rizzardi'' and ''Salgari'', which currently houses the municipal offices.
In the mid-nineteenth century, the Austrian Empire began to fortify the area to protect its border. The fortifications, including Forte della Chiusa between Ceraino and Volargne and Forte Ceraino on the slope of Monte Pastello, are still visible, although now abandoned. Upon the transfer of Veneto to the Kingdom of Italy, these fortifications became the property of the Royal Army, which continued to use them.
Conclusions
And here we are at the end of our journey through Dolcè. We hope you have enjoyed this extraordinary Italian commune, which offers history, nature, and culture in equal measure. If you have the opportunity to visit the Lagarina Valley, don't miss the chance to stop in Dolcè. Have a good trip and see you soon!
