The valley of Marano, the smallest and deepest of the 3 principal valleys of the Valpolicella, lies between the other two (Negrar and Fumane) and may be considered as the true heart of the Valpolicella.

The land covers an area with little urbanization and has therefore preserved many of the characteristic elements of the Valpolicella and the traditional landscape.
The vines and cherry trees dominate the lower and mid level slopes whilst olive trees, conifers and woodland cover the rest of the land.

There are numerous panoramic pathways that may be enjoyed on foot or by mountain bike. A fertile land which has always been inhabited and admired, Marano conserves traces of both the prehistoric times and the "scaligero" period when Federico della Scala , Count of Valpolicella, resided in the castle of Marano.

Monuments and churches to visit

 
The height of glory for the area was the period between the 15th and the 17th centuries when many villas and landowner's houses were built.

Some worth mentioning are: La Fasanara (now Guantieri) with a portico and loggia dating back to the 1400s, Villa Lorenzi at Canzago dating back to the 1700s and the spectacular Villa Porta which offers a viewpoint over the whole of the facing valley.

Amongst the sacred buildings, in which interesting musical shows are held periodically, the Romanesque church of San Marco in Pozzo and the Sanctuary of Santa Maria in Valverde built close to a pagan temple dedicated to the god Minerva are worth seeing.