A comfortable stay at the Relais Corte Guastalla, in Sona in the district of Verona offers the chance to visit historical places such as Lazise, Valeggio sul Mincio, Villafranca di Verona.
Lazise, enclosed within massive walls
Coming from the wonderful Relais Corte Guastalla, in Sona (VR) you can visit Lazise, which is a small Municipality in Veneto in the District of Verona.
Lazise, the origins of which date back to the Roman Age during the X Century was one of the richest trade centres of the whole territory. It was enclosed by thick walls, built in the XIV Century by the Scaligeri, and its old town obviously shows medieval marks. Of great interest are the Castle, built before 1000 A.D., and the Venetian Customhouse from the Fourteenth Century.
A must-see is the Church from 1200, dedicated to the Saints Zeno and Martino, and the Church of St. Niccolò from Bari, built during the XII Century. Some more glimpses of Lazise are its marina and the lovely Vittorio Emanuele square.
Lazise view
Valeggio sul Mincio and its marvelous Villa Sigurtà
Valeggio sul Mincio from Lombard origin in the district of Verona shines among the many hamlets spread all over the Region of Veneto, it is easily reachable from Relais Corte Guastalla, which is located in Sona in the district of Verona. It is peculiar because of the many and interesting testimonies from its past, such as just to mention a couple of them Scaligeri Castle from the XIII Century and the Visconti Bridge from the XIV Century.
Also there are interesting examples of religious architecture, such as the Church of St. Pietro in Cattedra (XVIII Century) and the Church of St. Marco Evangelista from the XVII Century, which was Emperor Francesco Giuseppe’s headquarters (in 1859), Mansion Guarienti, from the XVII Century as well as Villa Portalupi. The Park Giardino Sigurtà is a must-see too, it extends over more than sixty hectares and it has been stated as the most beautiful Italian Park in 2013.
Visconti Bridge Valeggio sul Mincio
Villafranca di Verona, cradle of Risorgimento
Another pleasant tour in Veneto could be the one through Villafranca di Verona (VR) which is few minutes from Relais Corte Guastalla located in Sona (VR).
Most likely Villafranca di Verona had been in its origins a Roman camp. Before the battle of Arcore, Napoleon moved there with his headquarters. Villafranca di Verona, due to is geographical location, had been involved in all the main steps of the Risorgimento.
The Duomo, St. Giovanni della Paglia, the Oratory of the Christ as well as the Church of the Visitation, and the Church of St. Rocco offer several points of interest. Another historical place is Mansion Bottagisio, where Austrian and French signed together a famous truce in 1859, and the famous Cafè Fantoni, founded in 1842, which represents a building where the Risorgimento was actively felt. The Scaligeri Castle from the XIII Century and its defensive walls (called Serraglio, XIV Century) definitely are worth a visit. Other important places to visit are the Risorgimento Museum and the Nicolis Museum, which exhibits a rich collection of vintage cars.
