Borghetto sul Mincio is a small jewel located next to Valeggio and is a fairy-tale, romantic village, dating back to the sixth century AD. Given its strategic position near one of the safest fords of the Mincio river, it has been disputed for centuries by the Gonzagas, by the Scaligeri, by the Visconti, by Venice, Austria and France. Nowadays it is the destination of many travellers, who love to lose themselves in its romantic and timeless alleys.

Strolling through the streets of Borghetto you will surely stumble across Curtis Regia, a building dating back to the eighth century, with a defensive and control function where the tax collector, or the person who collected the taxes for crossing the river, was stationed. The Curtis Regia, in fact, is located right next to the point where the ford was, of which today you can still see the steps lapped by waters of the river. Continuing with your walk you will realise just how much Borghetto maintains its medieval atmosphere, almost as if it had remained suspended in time. Since the 1990s many old buildings have been restored and nowadays house restaurants, shops and bars. Borghetto is a particularly small village, but its mills and the parish church dedicated to S. Marco Evangelista, built in the 10th century, are still visible today. Inside you can admire frescoes dating back to the fifteenth century, as well as the oldest bell in the Verona area, dating back to 1300. The mills were used to grind wheat and to process rice. Three of these are still functional, and you can visit the inside to see how their gears work.

The Visconteo Bridge is one of the most impressive monuments of Borghetto sul Mincio: it is a dam built at the end of 1300 by Gian Galeazzo Visconti to defend the southern borders of Verona. Given the era in which it was built, this bridge demonstrates impressive engineering complexity. Also called Pontelungo, this structure passes over the Mincio and four other canals that crisscross the area. The construction consists of three imposing towers with large walls that cross them, which, unfortunately, have been damaged with the passing of time. Once this bridge was connected to the Scaligero Castle of Valeggio and was part of the “Serraglio Castellano”, a fortified complex that stretched for approximately 16 kilometres.

Similar to Valeggio, Borghetto sul Mincio is also known for its tortellini. Here you will find numerous restaurants offering Veronese and Mantuan cuisine. Here are some suggestions. The Osteria Al Volto in the historic centre of Borghetto offers typical 0 km dishes, including meat, platters and local wines. The Ristorante Alla Borsa is an elegant family-run restaurant located in the centre of Borghetto. Here you can enjoy various stuffed pastas, including the classic “nodo d’amore” but also roasts and braised meats. The La Cantina restaurant, in addition to local specialties, also offers fish dishes. Finally, the Re del Tortellino, in addition to being a pasta factory, is also a restaurant where you can taste the classic tortellini with meat, alongside the more innovative ones, so there is something for everyone. In addition to the first courses, here you can find typical dishes of the Veronese tradition such as cod, pike in sauce and many more besides.

Borghetto sul Mincio can be reached in various ways: taking the A4 Milan/Venice motorway and exiting at Peschiera, then continuing for around 8 kilometres until you reach Valeggio. Or by taking the A22 Bologna/Verona/Brennero motorway and exiting at Nogarole Rocca, then continuing for around fifteen kilometres.

If, instead, you are coming from Lake Garda, you should take the Gardesana Occidentale state road, proceeding to Peschiera del Garda/Bussolengo.

The Borghetto area is very rich from a tourist point of view, so once you have finished visiting this small village you will have numerous other possibilities for enjoyment. First, we recommend the Sigurtà Garden Park, one of the most beautiful and famous parks in Italy. It doesn’t matter what time of year it is, in every season you can admire a variety of blooms here, the most famous of which is that of tulips. If, instead, you prefer to relax and enjoy a holiday atmosphere, head towards the banks of Lake Garda. There are several villages that you can visit including Salò, Peschiera, Sirmione, Lazise and Desenzano. If you are travelling with children, why not visit a theme park? This area is known for its amusement parks, including Gardaland, Movieland and Caneva. You will be spoiled for choice.

If, instead, you feel like discovering new cities, lose yourself in the narrow streets of Mantua, the city of the Gonzagas, and admire its elegant buildings and lively squares.

Finally, don’t forget Verona, the city of love, where you can admire ancient monuments such as the Arena and Castelvecchio, but also buildings made known by world literature, such as Juliet’s house.