The river Mincio flows out of the southern shore of Lake Garda: follow its course for a few kilometres and you will find yourself in Valeggio sul Mincio, a town in the lower Veronese area that hides surprising treasures.
It is a well-known secret, thanks to two attractions that attract a large number of visitors every day: the delightful hamlet of Borghetto, an enchanting corner on the banks of the Mincio, and the marvellous Sigurtà Garden Park, an elegant botanical garden that will drive anyone who loves plants and flowers crazy.
Castles and other picturesque medieval buildings add to the charm of this romantic town, while the cycle paths that start or pass through here make it an ideal destination for slow tourism in full contact with nature.
Take at least half a day to leisurely visit the Sigurtà park, explore the various recommended routes and fully savour the magical atmosphere of this man-made tribute to the beauty of plants and flowers. You have half a day left to stroll around Borghetto and visit the centre of Valeggio.
You still haven’t tasted a dish of the typical tortellini ‘nodo d’amore’ and you haven’t indulged in a walk or a bike ride along the banks of the Mincio… shouldn’t you stay at least one night? Italy’s largest lake and two cities rich in cultural attractions such as Verona and Mantua are just a few kilometres away: there’s enough to fill a whole weekend, and more!
The name of Valeggio sul Mincio is inextricably linked to that of the Sigurtà Garden Park, one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in Italy.
Studied down to the smallest detail, the Sigurtà Garden Park is a masterpiece of landscape gardening that has won numerous awards, including that of Most Beautiful Park in Italy and Second Most Beautiful Park in Europe. It was opened to visitors in 1978, but its history is much older: its origins date back to the 15th century.
The Sigurtà Park is very extensive (about 60 hectares) and the points of interest within it are numerous. Here are the attractions not to be missed:
The territory of Valeggio sul Mincio includes the historic village and four hamlets: Borghetto sul Mincio, the most characteristic and visited; Salionze, where the encounter between Pope Leo I and the Huns took place; Santa Lucia ai Monti, famous for its wine production; and Vanoni Remelli.
One can easily move from one area to another on foot, but the attractions not to be missed are concentrated between the centre and Borghetto.
Although little more than a handful of houses on the banks of the Mincio River, the small hamlet of Borghetto alone is worth a trip to Valeggio.
Rightly considered one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, it is a picturesque agglomeration of small houses, waterfalls and watermills surrounded by enchanting natural scenery. In the past it was of strategic importance due to its position, as its historical buildings (first and foremost the Visconti Bridge) show.
The element that characterises this medieval village is the presence of numerous water mills once used for milling wheat and husking rice. Some mills are still working today but most have been converted into shops, bars, restaurants and B&Bs, a fate also common to other historic buildings in the village.
Particularly pretty are the terraces of bars and restaurants overlooking the Mincio: you can sit and enjoy a coffee in the sun and have the gurgling of the waterfalls as a gentle background noise.
Borghetto sul Mincio can be easily circumnavigated in an hour, but if you have the chance, stop over after sunset: during the day Borghetto is taken by storm by hit-and-run tourists, while in the evening it empties out and becomes an oasis of peace and romance.
Another symbol of Borghetto, besides the mills, is the Visconteo Bridge, the magnificent fortified dam that joins the two banks of the Mincio. It is also called Ponte Lungo (Long Bridge) because its length of about 600 metres is much longer than that required to cross the river.
This historic construction, which has forged the identity of the town, represents the best observation point to admire the enchanting town and surrounding area.
It was built between 1393 and 1395 as an integral part of the defence system commissioned by the Lombard Visconti family; it was forgotten when the area passed into the hands of the Venetians, who concentrated their defensive efforts on the fortress of Peschiera. As early as the mid-16th century, the river was only crossed by another bridge, also at Borghetto.
In the first half of the 20th century, the central part of the bridge, originally made of wood, was replaced with the metal truss that we can still see today.
Unfortunately, the bridge is not well preserved, but the characteristic crenellated turrets are one of the symbolic images of Borghetto sul Mincio.
The Scaliger Castle of Valeggio sul Mincio has similar characteristics to other defensive constructions in the Garda area (think of the fascinating Scaliger Castle of Malcesine), but unfortunately some parts are not well preserved. Nevertheless, it is definitely worth a visit.
Perched atop a hill, it can be reached from the centre of Valeggio by a relaxing walk among Art Nouveau villas that then gives way to a steep uphill road.
The castle has a typical medieval appearance, with crenellated towers and walls. The unique horseshoe-shaped round tower is all that remains of the original core of the castle, destroyed by an earthquake in the 12th century; the other buildings are later.
One area of the castle houses an elegant private villa, which is not open to visitors; however, it is possible to visit another area called the Rocca and climb to the top of a tower to enjoy a panoramic view over Borghetto and the lower Veronese area.
Valeggio sul Mincio is a destination that has long been on the radar of cycling enthusiasts because the town is located along some of the most beautiful cycle paths in northern Italy, which in turn intersect other interesting bike routes.
The most famous is the cycle path that connects Peschiera del Garda to Mantova, a magnificent 45 km long route through the greenery that does not present technical difficulties; another route that passes through the town is the Anello delle Terre del Custoza.
From Valeggio starts the Ciclopista delle Risorgive, a 35 km route that winds through the countryside of the lower Veronese area, alternating stretches of asphalted cycle path with others of unpaved terrain. Along the route you will see particular freshwater springs typical of the Po Valley, known as resurgences.
If you prefer food and wine tourism to active holidays, the top attraction in Valeggio sul Mincio for you are the restaurants and pasta factories serving the area’s typical tortellini, still handmade according to local tradition. The classic recipe is pasta made with flour and eggs and stuffed with mixed meat, but there are many variations.
In the local dialect they are called agnolin, but they are more famous as ‘love knot‘, a name due to the legend that tells of the origins of this typical product and which has two unlucky lovers as protagonists.
There are two food and wine events that Valeggio sul Mincio dedicates to its much-appreciated tortellini: the “Festa del Nodo d’Amore”, an open-air dinner on the Visconteo Bridge (June), and “Tortellini e dintorni“, a multi-day event held in September.
However, it is not necessary to come on these dates: you can taste tortellini in typical restaurants or buy them fresh from pasta factories and cook them at home. Among the tortellinotecas in Vialeggio is the historic Pastificio Remelli5, which has been open for about twenty years.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
The hotels and B&Bs in Valeggio sul Mincio are concentrated in the hamlet of Borghetto, the most characteristic and also the most famous. They are very popular, so rooms sell out quickly: if you want to sleep here, it is advisable to book well in advance.
Another fascinating possibility is to sleep in the agritourisms and holiday homes around Valeggio: surrounded by greenery, not far from the centre, they are perfect for those who dream of a relaxing stay. If, on the other hand, you prefer comfort and services, the modern hotels in the centre of Valeggio are the best solution.
Remember that Valeggio sul Mincio is very close to Peschiera del Garda: if you can’t find a place to sleep to your liking, move to this location, where you will find a greater choice of holiday accommodation.
Getting to Valeggio sul Mincio by car is very easy because the village is only 8 km from the Peschiera del Garda exit along the A4, the motorway that crosses the entire Po Valley. For those coming from Modena along the A22 motorway, the recommended exit is Nogarole Rocca.
Those who wish to reach Valeggio sul Mincio by public transport can arrive by train at Verona Porta Nuova (Verona’s central station) or Peschiera del Garda and from there continue by local buses of the ATV company in the first case and APAM in the second; you can also arrive by bus from Mantua. Check the timetables before departure because some buses do not operate on weekdays.
The nearest airport is Verona, just 13 km away.
The Sigurtà Garden Park can be reached on foot from the centre of Valeggio or by car; there are 4 free car parks, 2 of which are only open on the days with the highest number of visitors.
What's the weather at Valeggio sul Mincio? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Valeggio sul Mincio for the next few days.
Valeggio sul Mincio is a municipality in the province of Verona, in western Veneto, a short distance from the shores of Lake Garda and the border with Lombardy.
Verona is less than 30 km away (eastbound), and closer still is Mantua (25 km, southbound); the nearest town on Lake Garda is Peschiera, just over 10 km to the north.
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