Montorio
Montorio Veronese: a corner of history near Verona
Montorio Veronese is a hamlet located in the northeastern part of the municipality of Verona. Until 1927, Montorio was an autonomous municipality under the name of Montorio Veronese. Today, the hamlet is part of district 8 and is inhabited by 6,942 people.
Nearby are the localities of Ponte Florio, Mizzole, Borgo Santa Croce, and San Michele (Verona). In this article, we want to tell the stories and origins of Montorio Veronese, and introduce the places of interest that are worth visiting.
Origins of the name
Before the Roman settlement, where the castle now stands, Rhaetian populations lived who called the hill "taurus". In the Rhaetian language, "taurus" meant mountain. The Roman civilizations who arrived later probably exchanged this term with the proper name of the place and Latinized it into ''mons-taurus''; therefore Montorio literally means "mountain-mountain".
History
Monuments and places of interest
The Castle
Montorio's best-known attraction is its castle. It is not known who built it (there was already a "castrum" at the time of the Romans), but it is known that the German Emperor Otto III donated it to the Bishop of Verona in 955 AD. It was then used by the Scaligeri.
The Castle of Montorio Veronese is still used for themed and non-themed parties, especially during the summer period where several festivals are held.
Forte Preara
Forte Preara, originally called Werk John, is an Austrian fort located in Verona. Built between 1859 and 1860 by Ludwig von Benedek, the fort was designed by the director of the Austrian Genie Direction in Verona. The fort was named after Baron Franz von John (1815-1876), a knight of the Order of Maria Theresa for his actions in the battles of Goito and Volta Mantovana. In 1866, von John would become Chief of Staff in Archduke Albrecht's Army.
The Fossi
Montorio Veronese is more than a place full of history: it also offers lush nature. One of the most appreciated natural and tourist resources are the "Fossi" springs. They depart from the Squarà pond and run like a network throughout the Montorio territory. Considered an important natural and tourist resource, they are populated by a specific fauna, particularly a small fish called Magnaron, which was caught by locals to be fried and for this reason, it was chosen as the carnival mask of Montorio: ''the king of Magnaron'' (in reality, the only Magnaron that can be seen in Montorio for years is the king of Magnaroni during the festival).
For their preservation, the "Comitato dei Fossi" (Committee of Springs) was established. One of Verona's historic environmental committees, desired by citizens and advocate for some publications on the town and activities to enhance the territory, the Committee can still boast a water wheel for plaster processing and a small pool (tondo Maggia) from the Roman era. The Committee was led at its inception by Pierenzo Saetti, to whom this little environmental treasure owes its survival and current notoriety.
Caserma "Duca"
In the Montorio Veronese area, there is the "Duca" Barracks. It is one of the largest military installations in Italy, both in terms of extension and accommodation capacity (currently about 2,000 men, but in the past even over 6,000).
Conclusions
Montorio Veronese is a hamlet in Verona full of history and places of interest. The Castle of Montorio Veronese and Forte Preara tell of the Scaliger era and the clashes Verona witnessed. The Fossi, on the other hand, allow you to enjoy nature, while the "Duca" Barracks testify to the military importance of this area. Without a doubt, Montorio Veronese is a place to visit to learn about Verona's past and enjoy the surrounding nature.
