Borghetto
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By Dion Protani
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Latest update: 30 December 2023
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The little village of Borghetto is a frazione of the Valeggio sul Mincio comune of Verona Province in Veneto.
The name Borghetto translates as "little village" and there are numerous other places in Italy that carry the same name so in order to distinguish this one from others, it's often referred to as Borghetto Sul Mincio or "Little Village on the River Mincio". |
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One of Italy's most beautiful villages
Borghetto is listed as one of the "Borghi Più Belli d'Italia" (Italy's most beautiful villages), and of the collection of 300 or so that have the same award, Borghetto is one of the most outstanding.
The little village lies a couple of kilometres away from the more elevated Valeggio sul Mincio and can be best glimpsed from a bridge across the river on the main road that leads up to the town.
The bridge is called the Ponte Visconteo and originally dates back to 1395; it's been extensively refurbished in the intervening years but still maintains much of its original character which includes a turreted wall topped with Ghibelline (or dovetail) crenellations. The complex structure also features a series of stone arches and sturdy entrance gates at each end.
The little village lies a couple of kilometres away from the more elevated Valeggio sul Mincio and can be best glimpsed from a bridge across the river on the main road that leads up to the town.
The bridge is called the Ponte Visconteo and originally dates back to 1395; it's been extensively refurbished in the intervening years but still maintains much of its original character which includes a turreted wall topped with Ghibelline (or dovetail) crenellations. The complex structure also features a series of stone arches and sturdy entrance gates at each end.
Sightseeing Borghetto
It's from the gate at the eastern end of the bridge that you get the best view down to Borghetto: an idyllic village setting with water in the foreground cascading its way down a waterfall. The village isn't one where you'll go hunting for particular sights such as museums, monuments or churches although in the category of the latter there is the lovely Chiesa di San Marco Evangelista.
The sightseeing in Borghetto is more one of simply lapping up the relaxed atmosphere created by the medieval watermills as they gently move water around the village with that lovely tinkling sound. The most popular activity here is to sit and eat at one of the various waterside restaurants, some of which sit astride the watermills, and enjoy one of the local delicacies: tortellini.
The tiny centro storico is largely pedestrianised and accessed via a wooden footbridge. There are though, a series of car parks around the village that make it easy to visit.
The sightseeing in Borghetto is more one of simply lapping up the relaxed atmosphere created by the medieval watermills as they gently move water around the village with that lovely tinkling sound. The most popular activity here is to sit and eat at one of the various waterside restaurants, some of which sit astride the watermills, and enjoy one of the local delicacies: tortellini.
The tiny centro storico is largely pedestrianised and accessed via a wooden footbridge. There are though, a series of car parks around the village that make it easy to visit.
Exploring beyond Borghetto
Once you've had your fill of relaxing (or of tortellini - whichever comes first!), there are a number of places nearby that merit a visit.
The most obvious of those is just about visible from the village: look skywards to the east and you can make out the 14th century Castello Scaligero. It takes about 15 minutes to reach on foot from the centre of the village but is well worth the effort.
The main town of Valeggio sul Mincio could hardly be more different from Borghetto; a good proportion of visitors skip the larger, more modern town altogether but it does have a lovely square, the Piazza Carlo Alberto with the colourful town hall as its centrepiece.
Those visitors that skip the main town are likely to be on their way to or from the other outstanding attraction in the area. The Parco Giardino Sigurtà is one of the prettiest garden parks in Italy which can be enjoyed in a number of ways including electric buggy, on foot or best of all, electric bicycles.
The most obvious of those is just about visible from the village: look skywards to the east and you can make out the 14th century Castello Scaligero. It takes about 15 minutes to reach on foot from the centre of the village but is well worth the effort.
The main town of Valeggio sul Mincio could hardly be more different from Borghetto; a good proportion of visitors skip the larger, more modern town altogether but it does have a lovely square, the Piazza Carlo Alberto with the colourful town hall as its centrepiece.
Those visitors that skip the main town are likely to be on their way to or from the other outstanding attraction in the area. The Parco Giardino Sigurtà is one of the prettiest garden parks in Italy which can be enjoyed in a number of ways including electric buggy, on foot or best of all, electric bicycles.
Borghetto - frazione di Valeggio sul Mincio
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Comune: Valeggio sul Mincio
Province: Verona Region: Veneto Elevation: 88 metres Highlights: Ponte Visconteo, River Mincio waterfalls & watermills Close by: Parco Giardino Sigurtà, Verona, Peschiera del Garda Recommended accommodation: Il Borghetto Vacanze nei Mulini |
One of I Borghi più belli d'Italia (Italy's Most Beautiful Villages)
Listing headline: Un Villaggio di Mulini sul Mincio (A Village of Mills on the Mincio River)
Listing headline: Un Villaggio di Mulini sul Mincio (A Village of Mills on the Mincio River)
