Montecchio Maggiore

Comune in Veneto, Italy

Montecchio Maggiore Montécio Majore
Comune
Comune di Montecchio Maggiore

Coat of arms
Location of Montecchio Maggiore
45°30′N 11°25′E / 45.500°N 11.417°E / 45.500; 11.417
Country	Italy
Region	Veneto
Province	Vicenza (VI)
Frazioni	Alte Ceccato, Bernuffi, Ghisa, Santissima Trinità, Sant'Urbano, Valdimolino, Carbonara
Government
• Mayor	Gianfranco Trapula
Area ^[1]
• Total	30.67 km² (11.84 sq mi)
Elevation	72 m (236 ft)
Population (30 November 2017)^[2]
• Total	23,315
• Density	760/km² (2,000/sq mi)
Demonym	Montecchiani
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	36075
Dialing code	+39 0444
Patron saint	San Vitale
Saint day	February 8
Website	Official website

Montecchio Maggiore (Venetian: Montécio Majore) is a town and comune in the province of Vicenza, Veneto, Italy. It is situated approximately 12 kilometres (7 miles) west of Vicenza and 43 km (27 miles) east of Verona; SP 246 provincial road passes through it.

Montecchio Maggiore borders the following municipalities: Altavilla Vicentina, Arzignano, Brendola, Castelgomberto, Montebello Vicentino, Montorso Vicentino, Sovizzo, Trissino, Zermeghedo.

History

The land of Montecchio Maggiore has been inhabited since the late Stone Age, though it was invaded and occupied many times. Two castles built about 975 are claimed to be the inspiration for the Romeo and Juliet legend. Luigi da Porto of Vicenza set the story here in his novel of 1552.

Main sights

Villa Cordellina Lombardi, is a masterpiece of neo-Palladian architect Giorgio Massari, with 18th-century frescoes by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo.
Museum Zannato, founded in 1922 by Giuseppe Zannato, its first curator. It has sections devoted to archaeological and paleontological finds. Some of these contain materials found in the late-Roman necropolis of Carpanè. There is also an important gemological section.
Castle Bellaguardia (called "Castle of Juliet")
Castello della Villa (called "Castle of Romeo")

International relations

Montecchio Maggiore is twinned with:

References

^ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
^ "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
^ "Alton Town Twinning Association". Hampshire County Council. May 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-09-13. Retrieved 2013-07-25.