Valeggio sul Mincio

Valeggio, with its majestic Scaliger Castle standing on a hill, is primarily known for Parco Giardino Sigurtà. This magnificent park is open to the public from March to November and is a dreamlike place to immerse yourself in nature and be enchanted by the wide variety of flowers and plants that inhabit it. The park, which was recognized as the most beautiful park in Italy in 2013 and the most beautiful park in Europe in 2015, hosts numerous natural and historical attractions. This green paradise was originally created as an accompaniment to Villa Sigurtà, also known as “Villa della Quercia.” The villa was built in the late 17th century in a neoclassical style and became the headquarters of the Austrian Emperor Francis Joseph in the 19th century and, subsequently, of Napoleon Bonaparte.
In other words, Valeggio boasts a history of illustrious visits. Equally noteworthy is its most famous traditional product, the tortellino. If you find yourself in this area, be sure to stop at a restaurant and savor a plate of Valeggio tortellini, a masterpiece of local gastronomic tradition. These tortellini are rigorously handmade with thin pasta dough and a savory meat filling. This dish is tied to a fascinating legend set in the late 14th century, written and illustrated by the master goldsmith Alberto Zucchetta. Known as the “Legend of the Love Knot,” it tells the story of two lovers, the nymph Silvia and Captain Malco, who leave a yellow silk cloth knotted as a pledge of their complicated love on the banks of the Mincio River.