Borghetto sul Mincio: between history, active fun, Tortellini and legends

Borghetto sul Mincio, or simply Borghetto, is a graceful architectural jewel hidden between Verona, Mantova and Lake Garda, capable of conquering anyone with its attractive atmosphere.

 

In perfect symbiosis with the Mincio river, through which it is crossed, the small village is a succession of ancient fortifications dating back to the medieval period that constitute a unicum, from the urban point of view, difficult to find elsewhere.

 

It is impossible not to notice the harmonious relationship between history and nature in the centre. A mix that has remained intact over the centuries and can be breathed while walking in the midst of this handful of houses surrounded by water.

 

There is no shortage of places and attractions to transform Borghetto into a pleasant base to explore this patch of land between Lake Garda, Verona and Mantua.

Garden Visits

In the immediate vicinity is Parco Giardino Sigurtà, one of the most beautiful parks on Lake Garda and its surroundings. With its 60 hectares it is also one of the largest. Do not miss the blooming of tulips between March and April – more than a million of them – the most important in Italy and the richest in southern Europe.

The Mincio Cycle Path

This place is a hot spot for bird watchers, as birds like storks, herons and hawks nest and live in the protected area. There are also some delightful villages and farmhouses where you can try some local food.

 

The path is well-marked and has plenty of resting points with bathrooms. So hop on your bike and enjoy a scenic family ride along the River Mincio.

Family Fun Time

Offering larger-than-life dragons, fantasy rides, speed-thirsty rollercoasters, magical worlds and a jolly good atmosphere, Gardaland is a fantastic family day out.

 

Those who prefer staying in contact with nature will be delighted at the Parco Natura Viva, a large zoo located between Verona and Lake Garda. It extends over 42 hectares of wooded greenery and is home to 1,500 animals of 200 different species.

 

Not far from Borghetto, the Cavour Water Park is the ideal destination for all those seeking refreshment from the summer heat. The Water Park covers an area of ​​about 200,000 square meters, completely surrounded by greenery and covered with a soft grassy mantle, full of flowers, shrubs and centuries-old trees, with numerous shaded areas, equipped for picnics.

By boat discovering herons and water lilies

The river originates from Lake Garda between the provinces of Verona and Mantua, creating the wetland protected by the Mincio Regional Park. The boat trip with the Mincio Boatmen offers a beautiful landscape.

 

On the journey, the boatmen tell the life story of the tangle of small canals inhabited by swamp hibiscus, water lilies, water chestnuts, and herons.

What to eat

The Tortellini dish is the absolute protagonist, to which two events are dedicated, The Feast of the Knot of Love, scheduled every third Tuesday in June, and Tortellini and its Surroundings, scheduled for September.

 

Tortellini, handmade and stuffed with meat or meat-free, can be tasted in the various restaurants of the town or bought in artisan pasta factories.

At the origin of the dish, a legend set at the end of the 14th century, according to which two lovers, the nymph Silvia and captain Malco, left a yellow silk cloth knotted on the banks of the Mincio as a token of their troubled romance. Hence the inspiration for the local pasta course.