Tipologia
DAY 1
The Morainic Hills
Morning
Visit to the cultural and tourism spots in Castiglione delle Stiviere, including the Red Cross Museum and the Museo Aloisiano. Lunch in a farmhouse or restaurant along the way to taste the local dishes.
Afternoon
Dedicated to softer trekking to visit the places of the well known 1859 battle and the Museo del Risorgimento in Solferino. Dinner at a restaurant or wine bar in the morainic hills area. You can spend the night at the hotel or in the camping area in the morainic hills (for caravan travellers).
DAY 2
Rice and Risotto
Morning
Head towards Volta Mantovana for a visit and then carry on by bicycle to Bosco Fontana. The “Vialone Nano” rice, the key ingredient of the risotto, staple of the Mantuan cuisine, is grown in an area stretching from Goito to Roverbella, Castelbelforte, Bigarello up to Villimpenta, cuisine capitals of this well known dish.
We recommend taking some detours along the way to see the rural villas scattered across the countryside: in Roncoferraro you will see the very peculiar Monumento alla Mondina, a monument dedicated to the paddy field female workers, as well as the impressive ruins of the 17th century Villa Favorita in Porto Mantovano and the ruins of the Villimpenta Scaliger Castle.
Castel d’Ario, home to another castle, is mainly known for the “Riso alla Pilota De.Co.” (Rice the DeCo Pilota way), as well as for being the birthplace of the car racing ace Tazio Nuvolari.
Lunch with typical dishes or risotto tasting in a local farmhouse or at the restaurants that belong to the Associazione Strada del riso e dei suoi Risotti.
Afternoon
Option A >> arts and culture
The itinerary will now lead you to Mantua, with a visit to the centre and an indoor exhibit, either the Tazio Nuvolari Museum or Palazzo d’Arco or Bibiena theatre. Option B >> relax
Relax at the swimming pool or at a spa a few kilometres away from Mantua. Dinner at a typical Mantua restaurant or in a nearby town.
You can either spend the night at a farmhouse or in the campers area.
DAY 3
The lands of truffle
Morning
Option A >> Oltrepò: the lands of truffle
Bicycle itinerary on the Bonizzo di Borgofranco embankment, visit to the Truffle Museum. You can carry on the journey up to Carbonara di Po to a restaurant for a truffle-themed lunch. Must-sees in autumn: truffle picking activity with the “trifulìn”, local truffle hunters Option B >>wine tasting at the cellar
Wine tasting in one cellar & tasting room chosen from the Strade del Gusto itineraries, in particular the Strada dei vini e sapori mantovani.
Afternoon
San Benedetto Po and Polirone monastery, followed by an afternoon break and wine tasting at the Bottega dei vini e dei sapori mantovani in San Benedetto Po.
A must see: the small town of Quingentole, just nearby, with its large, impressive square, the Nuvolato di Quistello hamlet and the ancient Matilde di Canossa church of S.Fiorentino. Bicycle lovers will find easy and fascinating paths along the Po embankments in San Benedetto (in particular the lower one).
DAY 4
Morning
Travel by car to a local dairy plant. Visit to the town of Suzzara and to the Galleria del Premio that houses all the works that won this competition established in 1948.