Lakes, mountains, hills, and rivers: the hu Altomincio Village is perfectly placed to reach the heart of the adventure in the blink of an eye and return to base just in time for a refreshing dip in the pool and an aperitif before dinner.
From Mantua to Peschiera by bike
The Mincio cycle path runs right outside the hu Altomincio Village along the banks of the River Mincio, linking Peschiera to Mantua. It is a completely flat, 43-km long asphalted cycle path that will take you along the banks of the Mincio river and through fields. It is car-free, 100% safe and also suitable for children. With an electric bike, you can enjoy a relaxing ride, stopping if you want a break or to check out places of interest. We suggest that you set off in the morning in the direction of Mantua. With the river on your right, you will cycle through green countryside to the incredible village of Borghetto sul Mincio. If you set off early from the HU Altomincio Village, the shops and restaurants will probably still be closed when you arrive in Borghetto, so enjoy the magic of the village in perfect solitude. On the way back, leave time to stop off and stroll through its bustling streets, then pick up your bike and return to the Mincio cycle path. At 23 km from the HU Altomincio Village stop at the fantastic Chiosco dei Mulini, a place right in the middle of the river where you can enjoy a pleasant breakfast, lunch or dinner and where you can recharge your batteries The Chiosco dei Mulini, which is the starting point for other cycle paths, makes it a great destination for your journey. You can rest here under the trees and have an aperitif while your children play safely, then return to the HU Altomincio Village, perhaps stopping to visit the beautiful Sigurtà Park. Otherwise, carry on towards Mantua. From here, the Mincio cycle path runs through fields up to the lakes of Mantua, from where you can start a whole new set of adventures.
Adventures on the Lakes of Mantua
Up until the 18th century, travellers to Mantua would have been greeted by a city-island completely surrounded by the waters of its four lakes, until one of these, Paiolo, was drained to allow the city to expand. Although they seem to have been there forever, the three surviving lakes are man-made: in 1190 the engineer Alberto Pitentino from Bergamo dammed the flow of the River Mincio, preventing it from flooding Mantua and turning it into a swamp. Lake Paiolo was the only natural lake of the four; but was filled in in the 18th century to make the air healthier and allow the city to grow beyond its ancient boundaries. Lake Superiore, the largest and most interesting, is connected to Lake Mezzo by the Vaso di Porto. This dam was once called the Ponte dei Molini (Bridge of the Mills) because, before the bombing in 1944, it housed 12 watermills, each one named after an apostle, which were powered using the difference in water levels (about 3 metres) with Lake Mezzo. Since 1984 , the lake has been part of the Valli del Mincio Nature Reserve and, thanks to the ‘lotus fairy’, Maria Pellegreffi, who transplanted some the lotus flower rhizomes into the lake in 1921, in the summer it ‘explodes’ into magnificent floating flower beds of white and pink. Lago di Mezzo is the smallest and deepest, up to 15 m in some places. It is separated from the Lago Inferiore by a dam and the Ponte di San Giorgio (San Giorgio’s Bridge), from which there is a splendid view of the city. On sunny days, Mantuans enjoy relaxing, fishing and picnicking along the shores of the city’s three lakes. The buisiest is usually the Lago di Mezzo, where the open-air Science Park welcomes adults and children with interesting scientific experiments. Lake Superior is quieter with reed fringed banks populated by wading birds, while the shores of Lago Inferiore offer stunning views. To photograph the most classic view of the city, go there in morning (in the afternoon it is completely backlit), cross the San Giorgio bridge and take the dirt road on the right that leads to the Centro Canoa Sparafucile: the panorama will take your breath away. View Mantua from the water or reach destinations such as Ferrara and Venice by taking one of the many organised tours, all with tour guides on board. Navi Andes and Motonavi Andes Negrini also organise lunches on board.
Boating through the city
Have you ever considered a city sightseeing tour on board an inflatable boat? This is what’s on offer from Adige Rafting who provide a guided descent of the Adige River through the city of Verona, all in complete safety. The excursion is enriched with the stories about the city’s relationship with the river through the ages as well as an entertaining competition between the different crews.
Between waterfalls and prehistoric caves
Located in region bordering the stunning Valpolicella region, a land of great wines, and Lessinia is Breonio, a stone village in the northern area of the Lessinia Regional Natural park. The village’s charming wood and stone church of San Marziale is almost always open and welcomes visitors to adimre its beautiful frescoes. On the way to Breonio, stop off at Molina, where you’ll discover one of Valpolicella’s most enchanting treasures: the Molina Waterfall Park. The central feature of the natural park is a torrent that creates spectacular waterfalls. Explore trails, which range from a 30-minute to a two-hour walk, surrounded by stunning flora punctuated by old mills. At the heart of the park there are suspension bridges, swings that seem to float mid-air and vertiginous cliffs that make for a unique and unforgettable experience. After your hike, take a stroll through the village of Molina to be enchanted by the reflection of the white stone village houses on the water. The village boasts a winery, the Terre di Molina, where Agostino will enthuse you with his history of the Ardarì wine, an example of heroic viticulture, and where you can buy a bottle as a souvenir. Returning to the lower area of Valpolicella, don't miss a visit to the Fumane Cave, one of the most important prehistoric archaeological sites in Europe, that is an extraordinary testament to the life, economy and spirituality of 40,000 years ago.
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