If you are looking for a trip to take in the surroundings of Verona, the medieval village of Valeggio sul Mincio is a must. Defined as a “city of art”, Valeggio is located between Lombardy and Veneto, not only geographically, but also in terms of language, traditions and culture. Positioned in the morainic hills, along the course of the Mincio river, Valeggio borders a number of municipalities of Lake Garda such as Castelnuovo del Garda and Peschiera del Garda, as well as some municipalities in the province of Verona, including Villafranca and Sommacampagna. Below we recommend the places and monuments that are definitely worth a visit.

The Scaligero Castle of Valeggio dominates the Mincio valley from above and is the symbol of the city. To reach it you can take a tourist train or go on foot, ascending the steps that start from the centre of Valeggio. This castle was built by the Scaligeri in 1285 for the defence of their domains. In 1345 Mastino II della Scala began work on the “Serraglio Castellano”, a fortification consisting of moats and crenellated walls punctuated by small towers that started from the Castle and surrounded Valeggio, reaching as far as the Castle of Villafranca. Its oldest part was destroyed during the earthquake of 1117, but the Torre Tonda, or round tower, can still be found, a construction in the shape of a horseshoe that, together with three others, used to form a trapezoidal fortification. The part still visible today was called “la Rocca” and would have been accessed via two drawbridges. Crossing a third bridge, the only one still visible, you would have been able to access the castle itself, of which only it remains are now evident. In summer, the internal courtyard is used to host shows and film screenings.

Not far from the castle is Villa Sigurtà, built in the 17th century and originally inhabited by local counts. In the Napoleonic era this building became the headquarters of the French and the residence of Napoleon III. Close to it is Parco Sigurtà, originally connected to it, named the most beautiful park in Italy in 2013 and the second most beautiful park in Europe in 2015. Here there are 40,000 boxwood plants, 18 streams, 30,000 roses, 1,500 yew trees and 50 varieties of annual plants. We recommend visiting this park especially in spring, when the first flowers bloom. In the months of March, April and May, you can admire varieties of tulips, irises and roses, while in summer it is the turn of the dahlias and in autumn the roses. The park is also home to a maze created from hedges from all over the world. For more detailed information about the park, read this article which you can find on our blog.

This neoclassical church will forever be characterised by its incomplete façade and its bronze portal, built in 2006 on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the consecration.

It was built in 1753 over the remains of a previous church of the 7th century. Its interior is sober and a large nave draws the visitor’s gaze towards a nineteenth-century altarpiece, the work of Saverio della Rosa, which depicts the triumph of Peter. Above the entrance door you can admire a painting by Germano Prendaglio, which portrays the expulsion of the merchants from the Temple. Also noteworthy is the pipe organ, dated 1812, by Giovanni Battista Sona, completely restored and functioning. Also worth a mention is the sixteenth-century chapel of the Oratory, located on the left side of the church, which is the oldest sacred building in Valeggio.

If you are visiting Valeggio, you must indulge in its local food, namely the famous (and exquisite!) Tortellini di Valeggio pasta, known as agnolin in dialect. They consist of a sheet of pasta made with flour and egg and a filling based on mixed meat, but you can also find versions with different fillings including ricotta and spinach, truffle, pumpkin or red radish. They can be enjoyed in broth or “dry”, with butter and sage. Walking through the city you will undoubtedly come across numerous pasta factories where you can not only taste the traditional tortellini but also buy them and take them home. There are various events related to this traditional food, the most famous of which is the Nodo D’Amore, or knot of love, festival. In fact, the tortellino gained its name thanks to a legend featuring Captain Malco and the Nymph Silvia. As their love was forbidden, the two lovers took refuge in the waters of the Mincio, leaving a knotted golden silk handkerchief as a token of love. Ever since, on national holidays, love knots are prepared in memory of the two lovers and a very long table is set up for over four thousand guests.

You might want to consider including Valeggio sul Mincio on your cycling route, if you decide to take a two-wheeled tour of the area. In fact, along the Mincio there is a 43km-long cycle path, which starts in Peschiera and ends in Mantua. Along the way you will come across various places that are worth exploring: Peschiera del Garda, Ponti sul Mincio, Monzambano, Valeggio sul Mincio, Borghetto sul Mincio, Volta Mantovana, Pozzolo, Goito and Marmirolo. The stretch from Peschiera to Borghetto is 12km long and runs along the Mincio river: here you can admire the numerous bridges that cross it and you will discover many people practising a wide variety of activities, from fishing to rowing. The stretch that goes from Borghetto to Mantua, instead, lasts 30km and has a different landscape, characterised by various canals that wind through the Mantuan plain. Mantua has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, so we suggest you visit this wonderful town and get lost in the streets of its centre.