Rivalta sul Mincio

Rivalta sul Mincio stands on a river terrace, at the top of which is the Church of the Patron Saints Vigilio and Donato, exactly where, in the early 12th century, the fortress of Countess Matilda of Canossa once stood.

Further downstream, near the bend in the river, lie two gems of the Mantua area: Corte Mincio and the old Borgo dei Pescatori (Fishing Village). These are two places that have shaped the history of Rivalta; they are situated in an area of great scenic and natural beauty and have therefore been protected since 1984 with the establishment of the Mincio Regional Park.
These places bear witness to the traditional crafts, culinary traditions, and the ups and downs of daily life in a community of simple, genuine people, as depicted in the permanent, open-air photographic exhibition of the “Museo Diffuso” outdoor museum.

Rivalta sul Mincio is currently a key destination for local, slow and sustainable tourism, featuring walks and cycle rides, lovely, relaxing canoe trips to discover the most hidden corners, and boat trips in natural surroundings of great beauty. Corte Mincio as well as being home to the Ethnographic Museum, also hosts the main events in Rivalta: from boating events ‘Mincio in Canoa’ and ‘Pagaiando con la Luna Piena’, to the Palio delle Contrade and the exhibition of Christmas Cribs on the river, ‘Presepe sul Fiume’.

In July in Rivalta sul Mincio, at the Rivalta-style fish and pike festival organised by the local tourist association, Pro Loco, you can sample two traditional pike recipes: luccio in bianco and luccio in salsa, both included in the list of traditional recipes of the Lombardy region and recently awarded De.Co. status. 

Walking through the reed beds of Fondo Mincio
From the centre of Rivalta, a short walk towards the river leads to the Parco Fondo Mincio, a vast green space in the heart of the Valli del Mincio Nature Reserve, home to the Park Centre – a visitor centre dedicated to exploring the Valli del Mincio – the Ethnographic Museum of River Trades, and a small jetty from which boats and canoes set off.

Near the Park Centre, a nature trail with a footbridge connects the mainland to a small islet nestled among the reeds, leading to a viewing point overlooking the wetland. From this vantage point, the landscape changes: the Mincio splits into channels and small pools, while reed beds and marshland vegetation extend all around – forming some of the Park’s most biodiverse habitats. As you walk along the footbridge, your gaze shifts from the river’s course to the more secluded areas of the nature reserve, where water and vegetation come together and the sounds of the village gradually give way to those of the natural environment.

The footbridge allows you to explore the landscape of the Mincio Valleys without necessarily having to board a boat. When you stop at the viewpoint you can scan the reed beds and riverbanks in search of the animals that inhabit the reserve and admire the richness of the river ecosystem.