San Giovanni Ilarione
Welcome to San Giovanni Lupatoto: the Venetian city of Verona
Welcome to the city of San Giovanni Lupatoto, located about 6 kilometers from Verona, in the southeast. This city is part of the province of Verona in Veneto, and is inhabited by 25,044 people. San Giovanni Lupatoto is a city with an important historical and cultural heritage. Come and discover everything about this fascinating city!
Physical geography
San Giovanni Lupatoto is located northwest of Verona and borders San Martino Buon Albergo to the northeast, Zevio to the east, Oppeano to the south, and Buttapietra to the west. It extends into the northernmost part of the Bassa Veronese, almost reaching the foothills, and is surrounded by the Adige River. The average altitude is 42 m above sea level. The city is easily accessible via the A4 Milan-Venice highway, exiting at Verona Sud, and the SS434 Transpolesana road, which connects Verona to Rovigo and the southern towns of the province.
Origins of the name
The origin of the name of this city can be interpreted in three different ways. San Giovanni was added following the establishment of the parish, the term ''Lupatoto'' may derive from ''lupum totum'', a possible Latin name for a Roman camp during the occupation of territories along the Vicum Veronensium route in the 2nd century BC, or ''lupi ad totum'', wolves everywhere: it could date back to the presence of wild forests infested with wolves. Finally, ''lucus totus'', all woods: in the early Middle Ages, the surrounding territory was wild and therefore there were many wooded areas. The name of the municipality is found in a document from 1178 which describes the area called ''Sanctum Johannem ad Lupum Totum''. The municipal coat of arms, a wolf in a heraldic position, recalls the importance of wolves in the surrounding area.
History
From prehistory to the Roman period
San Giovanni Lupatoto has an important historical and cultural heritage, which dates back to prehistory. In the 18th century, several findings dating back to the Iron Age were made in the Raldon fraction, near the locality of ca' dei Frè, no longer present as they were lost during the Napoleonic period. In this area, necropolises dating back to the Celts have been found. In Raldon, on the lands of the Marquis Jacopo Muselli, a necropolis and a Roman house dating back to the 1st century AD were found. The necropolis was intended for the burial of plebeians, and some of the objects from the necropolis can be seen at the archaeological museum of the Verona Roman Theatre, while most of them were lost during the Napoleonic period. The Roman house was discovered in the locality of "Le Marchesane", in the farmland that extends between Raldon and the localities of Pampaluna and Scajole, near the inhabited area of Raldon.
From the Middle Ages to today
In the Middle Ages, San Giovanni Lupatoto was an agricultural village, whose surrounding territory was wild and therefore there were many wooded areas. Under Venetian domination, the territory was under the jurisdiction of the Podestà of Verona. In 1500, the church of San Giovanni was built by Benedictine monks. In 1853, the Verona-Rovigo railway line passed through San Giovanni Lupatoto.
Culture and tourism
San Giovanni Lupatoto is a city with an important cultural and tourist heritage. The archaeological museum of the Verona Roman Theatre displays objects from the Lupatotino territory, including those from the Raldon necropolis. The church of San Giovanni is the main religious building in the city, built in 1500. The main event in the city is the feast of the patron saint, San Giovanni Battista, on June 24th.
Economy
San Giovanni Lupatoto is a city in cultural and economic growth. The main activities are agriculture, food industry, and furniture production. Being close to Verona, tourism is also a growing activity in the city.
Conclusions
In conclusion, San Giovanni Lupatoto is a fascinating city with an important historical and cultural heritage. From necropolises to Roman findings, to the church of San Giovanni, there are many attractions that draw tourists to this corner of Veneto. The economy is growing, and the city is an important center for furniture and food production. Come and visit the city of San Giovanni Lupatoto and discover the treasures of Venetian culture.
