Castiglione delle Stiviere

It is immediately evident that it held an important role in the past. It has a small but charming historical centre, with the castle, and with elegant squares, mansions, monuments and fountains that follow one another. Here the Gonzaga family had their summer residence, here Saint Luigi Gonzaga was born and here is the International Museum of the Red Cross.

Castiglione delle Stiviere is located in the province of Upper Mantua Mantua, in the ‘amphitheater of the hills. The soil is composed of glacial pebbles, sand and gravel, deposited here in the Ice Age and that explain the formation of wetlands and lakes, and these are generated by springs and springs in the area due to the easy flow of water underground. The highest point of Castiglione resort Belvedere (202 m). The wavy shape of the area creates a landscape of unpredictable beauty and variety, with the succession and alternation of hills, meadows and forests, lakes and cultivated plans. A paradise for lovers of walking, cycling and equestrian. Thanks also to the proximity of Lake Garda, Castiglione enjoys a mild climate all year round, even in winter, offering the spectacle of crystalline landscapes.

HISTORY OF CASTIGLIONE DELLE STIVIERE

Castiglione is of Etruscan origin, was subject to invasions by barbarians and domination by the Lombards for more than two centuries (568-774 AD). At the time of the Lords, given the centrality of the land, was often the subject of dispute between the Visconti of Milan, the Gonzaga of Mantua and the Scala of Verona, but in 1478 start to emerge, led by Ferrante Gonzaga, as an independent fief. In this period, was born here San Luigi Gonzaga (1568), which will be proclaimed a saint in 1726 as the “saint of youth.” At the beginning of 700 the castle was destroyed by the French, which was of considerable size, during their battles against the Austrians, who settled here until 1859, when there was the Battle of Solferino and San Martino. It was this bloody battle that inspired Henry Dunant founded the International Red Cross, an event which is commemorated by the museum which is located in Castiglione delle Stiviere.

Mantua salami, wine Colli Morenici,