Set off with us discovering what to see in Borghetto sul Mincio, a tiny fairy-tale village near Verona that is absolutely worth visiting!
Colorful houses that stand by the banks of the river, alleys that host cafès, restaurants and tourist apartments, a green and rich natural landscape all around and an ancient bridge, which silently crosses the waters leading to the gates of a majestic castle. No, it's not the beginning of a fairy tale, it's reality: we are in Borghetto sul Mincio, an enchanting village near Verona.
Let's set off together on this journey along the border between Veneto and Lombardy, destination Borghetto sul Mincio, to discover what to see on your visit to the village and its surroundings in a fantastic experience to enjoy by involving all the senses.
Where is Borghetto sul Mincio and how to get there
Before finding out what to see in Borghetto sul Mincio and nearby, let's discover where is it and how to get there. Borghetto sul Mincio is actually only a small hamlet within the municipality of Valeggio sul Mincio, in the province of Verona, in the Veneto region, and is famous as one of the most amazing tourist locations in the territory for its spectacular views, the beautiful attractions to visit and also his delicious tortellini.
To get to Borghetto sul Mincio starting from Verona you can choose to travel by car, driving on the SS12 and SS62 up to Villafranca, then continuing on the SP24 up to Valeggio, hence to Borghetto. Moving by public transport instead, you can choose between the bus (with direct connections to Valeggio), or take the train to Peschiera del Garda and continue from there with the bus to Valeggio. Verona and Peschiera are also the two reference points for reaching Borghetto sul Mincio starting from other cities in Veneto, including Venice.
For further information, please check out our guide on how to get to Verona.
Discover Verona with Verona Card❯Peschiera del Garda is also the fundamental crossroads for reaching Borghetto sul Mincio starting from Lombardy, in particular from Brescia, Bergamo, Mantova and obviously Milan. The most suitable means of transport in this case is the train, allowing you to get off at Peschiera and continue to Borghetto sul Mincio by bus; alternatively, if you prefer to travel by car the most important point of reference is the A4 highway, the main road which also runs alongside Venice on its route.
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Borghetto sul Mincio: what to see on your visit to the village
Here we are finally arrived in Borghetto sul Mincio, ready to discover what to see in this enchanting village south-west of Verona which caresses the waters of the river (Mincio) giving tourists a truly magical sensation, involving all senses.
The first magic concerns the sight, enchanted by the evocative and fairy-tale scenery of Borghetto with its colorful buildings on the water's surface and the signs of the restaurants and shops vicible from its alleys, on the background of an uncontaminated natural landscape where the ancient water mills stand out with Ponte Visconteo, the large bridge dating back to the end of the 1300s. The rest, well, comes by itself: hearing is carried away by the sound of the waters of the Mincio river; the smell follows the unique scents of nature, but also of good cuisine, and in particular the delicious Valeggio’s tortellini which matching with a nice glass of Bardolino make a formidable combination to excite the taste; and finally touch, the sense that reminds us that what we are experiencing in this village is not a fairy tale, but reality.
So, are you ready? Here's what to see in Borghetto sul Mincio and nearby on your next trip to Veneto.
Borghetto sul Mincio is such a small place that it takes very little time to explore it all on foot, strolling around its alleys following the course of the river and crossing its small bridges, the perfect moment to take a memorable photograph as a postcard from Borghetto!
And speaking of crossing bridges...once the visit to the village suspended on the river was done, it’s time to go to the other side crossing Ponte San Marco. Here, in Via Mantegna, it is possible to undertake the uphill route over the hill overlooking the village following the staircase that leads to the Castello Scaligero, a wonderful late-medieval fortress with high towers with Ghibelline battlements that dominates the panorama of Borghetto and Valeggio sul Mincio, the absolute protagonist of the most beautiful photographs from the whole town. Another access route to the castle is Via degli Scaligeri, an uphill road that starts from Valeggio. Onbviously, like every medieval castle worthy of this name, Castello Scaligero sul Mincio also has its own ghost legend!
Descending again to Valeggio sul Mincio after visiting the castle, we recommend that you continue your visit by exploring the town’s park, where stands one of the most evocative and romantic tourist attractions of the village: the monument in honor of Nodo d’Amore (Love Knot).
What is it about? This legend tells of the eternal love story between Malco, a captain in the Visconti army, lords of Milan, and the beautiful Silvia, a nymph of the waters of the Mincio river and icon of the monument dedicated to this myth. According to the story, she gave him a tenderly tied handkerchief as a symbol of the honest, deep and neverending feelings that would unite them; and in fact, since those remote times, the story of the Love Knot has become an integral part of the identity of Borghetto sul Mincio, considered with no doubt one of the most romantic villages in Italy.
The statue of the nymph Silvia represents one of the most authentic views of the city, absolutely worth photographing!
Going on, after a dive into the legend, it is time to visit a wonderful place, among the most beautiful natural parks all over Italy (and even Europe): we are at the Sigurtà Garden Park, undisputed icon of beauty and elegance here in Valeggio sul Mincio.
The park is large approximately 60 hectares and hosts a huge variety of plants, including Japanese maples, and above all flowers, in particular roses, tulips, irises, daffodils, water lilies, dahlias and lotus flowers. Inside the Sigurtà Park you will be able to discover many internal attractions, one more beautiful than the other: from the avenue of roses to the monumental labyrinth (made up entirely of modeled yew plants), from the water gardens to the flowering lakes, up to some suggestive buildings such as the retreat and the so-called small castle.
Do you want to discover the Sigurtà Garden Park in Valeggio sul Mincio after visiting Borghetto? Don't miss the opportunity to enjoy an incredible experience among the natural wonders of this majestic park: the park can be visited every day from March to November, therefore remaining closed in winter; the 2024 season of the Sigurtà Park officially begins on March 8, a special occasion to pay homage to women and celebrate the beauty of nature, preparing to blossom as spring approaches.
We suggest it as the perfect destination for a trip to the Mincio river between spring and summer, enjoying the beautiful sunny days, the colors and scents of the blooms!
Visit the wonderful Sigurtà Garden Park❯How best to conclude a trip to Valeggio sul Mincio? But of course with some nice meat tortellini accompanied with a glass of Bardolino! The best choice is to enjoy them in a specialized restaurant in the iconic setting of Borghetto, achieving the top of the emphasis on the sensorial experience - this time making taste the absolute protagonist!
What makes Valeggio’s tortellini so special? First of all their nickname, the Love Knots, with clear reference to the legend of the nymph Silvia. But there's more: every year, in honor of this symbolic dish of the town, the "Love Knot Festival" is celebrated on Ponte Visconteo in Valeggio sul Mincio, during which the best tortellini specialties are consumed together by thousands of diners on two tables approximately six hundred meters long across the bridge; a truly special experience that’s worth trying!
Well, our trip to discover what to see in Borghetto and Valeggio sul Mincio ends here, but we want to give you some interesting tips for other suggestive attractions and experiences to best enjoy the territory and its incredible beauty. Read the following paragraphs to check them out with us!
Borghetto sul Mincio: what to see nearby
One of the most exciting activities to do near Borghetto sul Mincio certainly refers to the exploration of the territory and its lush nature. And here the protagonist is the river for sure. Yes, because the waters of Mincio can be the perfect setting for having fun with relaxing boat trips, or for venturing into the green landscape of this region following the paths and hiking routes.
Borghetto is also crossed by the Mantova-Peschiera Cycle Path, a bike-friendly route over 40 km long that follows the Mincio river along the regional border between Veneto and Lombardy until reaching the charming town on the shores of Lake Garda, one of the unmissable attractions to visit near Valeggio sul Mincio.
Before discovering the wonders of the lake, we suggest you also visit the suggestive Sanctuary of Madonna del Frassino near Peschiera del Garda. It is a beautiful and elegant Renaissance church, built at the beginning of 1500s, richly embellished inside with Baroque architectural decorations and ornaments.
Fascinating to admire from the outside yet, and even more enchanting to visit by discovering its internal environments, including the chapels and the cloister, this sanctuary is a stage that is absolutely worth visiting on your trip to Lake Garda!
How about a spectacular boat tour on the waters of Lake Garda? From Peschiera, in Veneto, now we cross the border to discover one of the most authentic wonders of Lombardy: we are in Sirmione, among the most beautiful landscape settings in Italy.
A truly extraordinary experience awaits you here, where you can explore the wonders of the Sirmione peninsula by boat and admire its incredible castle from a closer perspective. But also: you will manage to see the house of the opera singer Maria Callas, the thermal baths of Aquaria and the ruins of the Grotte di Catullo (Catullo Caves), an ancient Roman villa. What are you waiting for? Click the button below!
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