Valpolicella.
– Castelrotto
Time is our friend
Valpolicella is so small that it can be held in a fist, it comprises only five historic municipalities – San Pietro in Cariano, Fumane, Marano, Sant’Ambrogio, Negrar. The hamlet of Castelrotto lies right on top of the central hill, embracing with its gaze the multicolored vineyards of the entire classic Valpolicella, offering a unique and complete perspective of the valley.
The medieval hamlet of Castelrotto
Castrum Rotari
In the most panoramic point of Valpolicella, Castrum Rotari was built in the 7th century, a military fortification that over the centuries has hosted prominent figures in history, such as King Rotari II, King Berengar (10th century) and King Frederick of Swabia II, King of the Germanic Empire, known as Barbarossa. It was precisely in Castelrotto Castle that Rotari II wrote his first Edict in 643 with the aim of protecting the vineyards and inflicting severe punishment on those who damaged them.
King Rotary II
Castrum Rotari
In 905 AD. King Berengar issued a further decree protecting the vineyards.
King Berengario
Valpolicella is born
Later in 1177, again in the Castle, Frederick of Swabia II issued a decree by which he changed the name of the area from Valle di Veriago to Pruviniano in Valpolicella.
King Frederick of Swabia II known as Barbarossa
Castelrotto
However, it was on 23 May 1405 that, with the destruction of Castrum Rotari, that the locality known since then as Castelrotto, today a hamlet of San Pietro in Cariano, was destroyed.
