San Martino
Welcome to San Martino Buon Albergo
Hello everyone! Today we will talk about San Martino Buon Albergo, a municipality in the province of Verona with a very interesting history.
A strategic location
San Martino Buon Albergo is located just 4 km from the San Michele Extra district of Verona and about 10 km from the city's historic center. It is situated in the Veronese foothills, and some hills in the northern part of the municipality welcome visitors. The area south of the municipality, on the other hand, is completely flat and is bordered by the Adige River. There are highly urbanized areas here, but there is still space for beautiful walks and cycling and pedestrian paths.
The history of the name
The name San Martino Buon Albergo is believed to date back to the year 1146, but the town was already known in ancient times for its importance as a passing center. The presence of a church dedicated to San Martino, which has existed since the ninth century, coupled with the appellation "Buon Albergo," gave rise to the name of the town. Indeed, it is thought that in this area there was already an ancient fortified army encampment or an inn for resting and changing horses. Near the church of San Martino, in a writing from August 26, 1146, we find the name of the town mentioned for the first time: ''"Ecclesie sancti Martini, in loco ubi dicitur Bonum Albergum".''
A bit of history
San Martino Buon Albergo does not have its own independent history, as its birth and vicissitudes are closely linked to the history of Verona. It is believed that the area was inhabited since the beginning of the second millennium BC and that towards the end of the eighth century BC, it was inhabited by the Veneti. In 489, Theodoric the Great defeated Odoacer first on the Isonzo and then at the gates of Verona, in a battle that was fatal for Odoacer and that was fought on September 30 between San Martino Buon Albergo and San Michele. From 1146, San Martino Buon Albergo began to become a "territorial entity" in its own right, thanks to the "deans" of Lavagno who donated some land to the Church of the town and confirmed the right to use authority and administration as many other existing associations.
Events and Culture
San Martino Buon Albergo is a very lively municipality that hosts numerous events throughout the year. In summer, for example, the Beer Festival is held, where you can taste many craft beers from local wineries and beyond. The town also hosts the San Martino Festival in November and the Ancient San Martino fair, one of the oldest markets in the area, established in 1750. The municipality is also home to several museums, such as the National Archaeological Museum of Verona, the Museum of the Risorgimento of Verona, and the Civic Museum of Natural History of Verona, all just a few kilometers away.
Visiting San Martino Buon Albergo
San Martino Buon Albergo is a municipality that is well worth a visit. You can start with a visit to the Church of San Martino, a beautiful Romanesque building with a thousand-year-old history. Walking through the streets of the historic center, you will come across various artisan shops and grocery stores where you can buy local products such as the famous Amarone. If you like hiking, you cannot miss the Lessinia Regional Park, a few kilometers from San Martino, where you can take beautiful walks in the mountains. And if you feel like a bike ride, I recommend renting a bike and traveling along the Adige cycle path that passes through the town.
I hope this virtual tour has made you eager to visit San Martino Buon Albergo. We are looking forward to welcoming you!
