The lovely Valeggio sul Mincio

Valeggio sul Mincio is a small town in the Province of Verona in the Italian region Veneto, located about 120 kilometres west of Venice and about 25 kilometres southwest of Verona. It rises in the beautiful landscape of the moraine hills, in the intersection between the waterway, formed by the river Mincio, and the terrestrial way, next to the small hamlet of Borghetto, less than 10 km from lake garda. It has always been a kind of cultural and commercial "cross-roads" where travellers over the ages have always found a place to rest and cordial hospitality, along with good food and wine.

Despite the prehistoric findings discovered in the area, the birth of the urban centre dates back to the Longobardic period. Since the 12th century, the monastery of Santa Maria welcomes travellers and becomes the prefecture of Templar Knights Order; later, on its ruins, the church of San Marco Evangelista is built. The great medieval fortifications or the Scaligero Castle, the Bridge Visconteo and the defence of the Serraglio are built between the 13th and 14th century. Since the 15th century, Valeggio becomes part of the Serene Republic of Venice, losing its strategic role of military defence of the borders that it had held in the previous centuries. It becomes an agricultural and milling centre, as well as an important silkworm market. During the Age of Risorgimento, the territory finds itself at the centre of the battles of the First, Second and Third War of independence that will lead to the birth of the Kingdom of Italy. The suburb of Salionze has it historical importance as well for the meeting that takes place in 452 between Attila King of the Huns and Pope Leone Magno, who has come from Rome to stop the Huns’ devastating raids; such meeting is recalled every year during the festival of the village in the middle of July.

The village of Valeggio is dominated by the Scala Castle, still intact with all its formidable towers. The castle built in the fourteenth century can be visited. From the high keep you will enjoy a breathtaking view over the southern lake Garda. People of Valeggio say that in the castle there is the ghost of Andriolo da Parma, lord of the castle of Valeggio. Andriolo da Parma was unfairly accused of treason by Giacomo da Carrara, in the turmoil which characterized the end of the rule of the Scala Family over Verona territories. Many people swear that in nights of full moon they saw the evanescent figure wondering among the walls and battlements of the castle.

Borghetto is an hamlet of Vialeggio, a lovely and ancient water mills village. The village retains a medieval atmosphere, with its walls and battlements, the bell tower of the small church of St. Marco, and the ancient water mills. The background is dominated by the sight of the famous Visconti Bridge, a fortified dam build in 1393 by Gian Galeazzo Visconti, the Duke of Milan, in order to protect the Eastern borders of his possessions. The bridge was linked to the overlooking Scala Castle through a series of walls so it became fundamental part of the Serraglio, an extraordinary defensive system which ran along 16 kilometers on the plains between Lake Garda, Verona and Mantova. The bridge is 650 meters long and 25 meters wide.

The typical dishes of Valeggio are deeply linked to the tradition of the territory, with great attention to the quality of the ingredients and their genuineness. Among these, the tortellini di Valeggio and some dishes based on freshwater fishes such as the pike with sauce (luccio in salsa ). In particular the famous tortellini di Valeggio: strictly home-made, very thin dough, meat filling, they are perfect with melted butter and sage. You can buy them in many pasta factories of Valeggio sul Mincio and Borghetto. They are linked to an old legend and honoured by a great festival, for more informations

Castello Scaligero - Valeggio sul Mincio

37067 Valeggio Sul Mincio VR, Italy

Ponte visconteo di Valeggio sul Mincio

37067 Valeggio sul Mincio, VR, Italy

Parco Giardino Sigurtà

Via Cavour 1, 37067 Valeggio sul Mincio, Italy

Palazzo Guarienti Valeggio sul Mincio

Via Antonio Murari, 27, 37067 Valeggio Sul Mincio VR, Italy

Borghetto sul Mincio

Piazza Sant'Antonio, 11, 25087 Salò BS, Italy