Romeo’s Castle lit up at dusk above a sea of fog, with the hills of the Veneto behind

Your independent guide to Montecchio Maggiore

Montecchio Maggiore: the castles of Romeo and Juliet

On a hill between Vicenza and Verona, two medieval castles face each other across a wooded ridge, said to have inspired the story of Romeo and Juliet. Below them are Tiepolo’s frescoes, and around them Palladio’s villas, Veneto wine and day trips to Verona and Venice. Honest advice, hand-picked tours and everything you need to plan your trip.

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Why Montecchio Maggiore?

A quiet base in the heart of the Veneto

Montecchio Maggiore is a real Italian town, not a tourist resort, with a legend of its own and the great sights of the Veneto all around.

Climb to the castles of Romeo and Juliet for a view across the plain, see Tiepolo’s frescoes at Villa Cordellina, then spend your days in Palladio’s Vicenza, Shakespeare’s Verona, on Lake Garda or in Venice, coming back each evening to good food and wine at local prices.

We help you choose the right tours and day trips, find a good place to stay and get more out of every day.

2 medieval castles on the hill above the town
13 km to Palladio’s Vicenza
45 km to Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet

The square stone tower and long white walls of Romeo’s Castle on a green hilltop under a blue sky

Traveller favourites

The best tours & day trips from Montecchio

Top-rated experiences booked through GetYourGuide, from Vicenza and the Palladian villas to Verona’s opera, Lake Garda, wine tastings and Venice. Tap any tour for live prices and availability.

The white arcades and green copper roof of the Basilica Palladiana on the main square of Vicenza

Walking tour Year-round

Vicenza walking tour: Palladio’s city

2 hours
Piazza dei Signori, Vicenza

The Basilica Palladiana, Corso Palladio and the city’s palaces
The story of Andrea Palladio and his clients

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The temple-fronted Villa Barbaro at Maser, with arcaded wings and a lawn in front

Day trip March to November; some villas open only on set days

Palladian villas tour

Half a day to a full day
Vicenza or Venice

Villas by Palladio set among farmland and vineyards
Frescoed rooms by Veronese or Tiepolo, depending on the villas

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Juliet’s balcony on the old brick front of the Casa di Giulietta in Verona

Walking tour Year-round

Verona walking tour with Juliet’s House

2 hours
Piazza Bra, Verona

Juliet’s House, Piazza delle Erbe and the Roman Arena
Stories of the Scaligeri, the lords who built Montecchio’s castles

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The stone tiers of the Roman Arena of Verona glowing in the evening sun

Opera ticket June to early September

Opera at the Arena di Verona

An evening
Arena di Verona

Grand opera under the stars in a Roman amphitheatre
A summer festival that has run for more than a century

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Soave castle on its hill above vineyards at sunset

Wine tasting Year-round; best at harvest in September and October

Soave and Valpolicella wine tasting

Half a day
Soave, Valpolicella or Verona

White Soave from volcanic hills, and Amarone in Valpolicella
Cellar visits with local producers

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The town of Sirmione on the clear water of Lake Garda, with mountains beyond

Boat tour April to October

Lake Garda boat tour from Sirmione

1–2 hours
Sirmione, Lake Garda

The Scaliger castle and the Roman ruins of Sirmione from the water
Clear lake water and views of the mountains

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The long arcaded front of the Procuratie on St Mark’s Square in Venice

Walking tour Year-round

Venice walking tour with St Mark’s and the Doge’s Palace

2–3 hours
St Mark’s Square, Venice

St Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace
Hidden squares and bridges away from the crowds

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The plain brick front of the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, framed by autumn trees

City tour Year-round

Padua and the Scrovegni Chapel

Half a day
Padua

Giotto’s frescoes in the Scrovegni Chapel
Prato della Valle and the Basilica of Saint Anthony

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Where to go

Must-see places in and around Montecchio

From the castles of Romeo and Juliet and Villa Cordellina to Vicenza, Villa La Rotonda and Verona.

Castle

Romeo’s Castle

The Castello della Villa

The larger of Montecchio’s two castles, the Castello della Villa, a 14th-century fortress with a tall tower and long walls on the hilltop, linked by tradition with Romeo.

Castle

Juliet’s Castle

The Castello di Bellaguardia

The smaller castle on the hill, the Castello di Bellaguardia, with a slender tower and wide views over the plain. Linked by tradition with Juliet, it now has a restaurant inside its walls.

Villa

Villa Cordellina Lombardi

Tiepolo’s frescoes

An elegant 18th-century villa by Giorgio Massari, whose grand hall is painted with frescoes by Giambattista Tiepolo. It is used for events and opens to visitors on set days.

City

Vicenza

Palladio’s city

An elegant small city of Renaissance palaces, with the Basilica Palladiana on its main square, Corso Palladio and the hilltop sanctuary of Monte Berico, about 20 minutes from Montecchio.

Villa

Villa La Rotonda

The most copied house in the world

Palladio’s famous domed villa on a hill just outside Vicenza, with a temple front on each of its four sides, a model for houses and public buildings around the world.

City

Verona

Romeo and Juliet’s city

The city where Shakespeare set Romeo and Juliet, with a Roman Arena that hosts opera in summer, Juliet’s House, medieval squares and bridges over the Adige, under an hour away.

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Vicenza seen from Monte Berico, with villas and gardens in the foreground and mountains beyond

Where to stay

Castle-town calm, Palladian cities and farm stays

Where you stay shapes your trip. We compare four areas, with the trade-offs of each and direct hotel searches.

Montecchio Maggiore for quiet and value
Vicenza for trains and Palladio
Verona for opera and nightlife
The Berici hills for farm stays

Read the accommodation guide Search Montecchio Maggiore hotels

Stories & guides

Latest from the blog

Itineraries, legends, villas, food, wine and day trips for your Veneto trip.

The square tower and walls of Romeo’s Castle under dramatic clouds

Itineraries

One day in Montecchio Maggiore: castles, Tiepolo and a sunset dinner

October 28, 2026

A relaxed day in Montecchio Maggiore: Villa Cordellina and its Tiepolo frescoes, the walk up to the castles of Romeo and Juliet, the town museum and dinner with a view.

The brick tower and courtyard inside the walls of Romeo’s Castle

History

The Romeo and Juliet castles: the story behind Montecchio’s towers

October 27, 2026

How two Scaliger castles above Montecchio Maggiore became linked with Romeo and Juliet: Luigi da Porto, the Montecchi and Cappelletti, and the road to Shakespeare and Verona.

Villa La Rotonda behind its garden wall and cypress trees outside Vicenza

Day trips

The Palladian villas near Vicenza: which to visit and how

October 26, 2026

A guide to the villas of Palladio and his followers near Montecchio Maggiore and Vicenza: La Rotonda, Valmarana ai Nani, Villa Godi, Villa Barbaro and Villa Cordellina.

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Plan like a local

Free Montecchio Maggiore travel guides

Verona’s old town and the Ponte Pietra bridge on a bend of the Adige river, seen from above

Tours & Tickets

Our pick of tours and day trips from Montecchio Maggiore: Vicenza and the Palladian villas, Verona and its opera, Lake Garda, wine tastings, Venice and Padua.

A long platform at Vicenza railway station under a curved canopy

Getting There

Airports, trains to Vicenza and Altavilla, buses, driving and the A4, and getting around the Veneto from Montecchio Maggiore, explained.

One of Montecchio’s castles rising above autumn trees and a sea of fog over the plain

Travel Guide

Weather, seasons, festivals, money, safety and etiquette: what to know before you visit Montecchio Maggiore and the Veneto.

Plan your Veneto trip

Romeo’s castle, Palladio’s villas and Venice by train

Climb to the castles of Romeo and Juliet, see Tiepolo’s frescoes, walk Palladio’s Vicenza, catch an opera in the Arena of Verona or take the train to Venice. Compare tours and book in a couple of taps.

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Good to know

Visiting Montecchio Maggiore: your questions answered

Is MontecchioMaggiore.com the official website of Montecchio Maggiore?

No. MontecchioMaggiore.com is an independent travel guide. We are not the Comune di Montecchio Maggiore, a tourist office, the owners or managers of the castles or villas, or a tour operator. When you book a tour through our links, you book with our partner GetYourGuide and the tour operator, who handle your booking, changes and refunds.

Where is Montecchio Maggiore?

Montecchio Maggiore is a town of about 23,000 people in the province of Vicenza, in the Veneto region of north-east Italy. It is about 13 km west of Vicenza, 45 km east of Verona and 80 km west of Venice, beside the A4 motorway. See getting there.

Are these really Romeo and Juliet’s castles?

The castles are real medieval fortresses, and local tradition links them with the story. Luigi da Porto, who first told the tale of Romeo and Juliet in full around 1530, lived nearby, and it is said that the two castles facing each other inspired him. Shakespeare set his play in Verona. Read the story of the castles.

How many days do I need?

Half a day covers the castles and Villa Cordellina. Use Montecchio as a base for three or four days to add Vicenza, Verona and a day trip to Venice or Lake Garda. Start with our one-day itinerary.

When is the best time to visit?

April to June and September to October bring mild weather, green or golden hills and fewer crowds. July and August are hot but bring the Verona opera season and outdoor events. Winters are cold and often foggy on the plain. See when to visit.

Is Montecchio Maggiore safe?

Yes. It is a quiet, prosperous town and the Veneto is a safe region to travel in. Take normal care with bags in crowded places such as Venice and Verona, and check your government’s current travel advice before you go.