Soiano del Lago

The history

The name of the village comes from the Latin word “Solianum”, that means that indicates the Roman-era agricultural estate, although some poetic and popular interpretations suggest that it comes from the Latin “Solis Ianua”, meaning “the gate of the sun”, symbolizing the panoramic position overlooking Lake Garda.

The history of Soiano has very ancient origins, it is thought to date back from the Bronze Age, precisely because of the findings of pile-dwelling villages. Over the centuries Soiano del Lago and the surrounding areas were inhabited by many populations and have been subjected to many invasions: for example, the invasion of Hungarians, which destroyed the countryside and the wide valley, attacking villages, convents and farms. 

During the Middle Ages the town was possessed by the Bishop of Verona, then in 1330 by Mastino della Scala and finally by Giovanni di Boemia. In the following decades, the country was still characterized by the passage of troops, who occupied the area. In the XIV century, Franciscans built the convent of San Rocco, along the street that connects Soiano and Padenghe. The convent, however, was damaged by the arrival of the French troops and that led to its demolition in 1816.

In 1810, Soiano lost its independence and was incorporated with Puegnago, into the municipality of Polpenazze. Soiano returned independent after a few years, but during the fascist area it was incorporated together with Moniga to the municipality of Padenghe. The autonomy of Soiano was restored only with the fall of the regime and the establishment of the Republic.