Valeggio sul Mincio “Borghetto”

This is an ancient romantic city located at the valley of River Mincio which is very famous for the festival call Nodo d’Amore. Even though it is small city surrounded by the River Mincio, the beauty of the place is incredible specially, during the summer season and in the evenings.

During the third Tuesday of each June in each year, the villagers celebrate the festival call Love Knots (Festa del Nodo d’Amore). This is a famous festival in Italy due to the romantic love story behind this place. In each year more than 4000 guests attend to this festival including local travellers as well as tourists. During the event, they serve handmade tortellini with lot of other dishes with meat and fish including desserts and vino bianco (white vine). Before midnight, right over the Scaligeri castle which is located at the top of a small hill, the fireworks display is taken place right.

This village is very famous for tortellini since this is where the original tortellini was born. among the local people tortellini is known as the Nodo d’Amore since tortellini symbolise the golden knotted handkerchief which was kept by Malco and Silvia before disappearing to underwater.

Today the restaurants in the village offer variety of tortellini in different tastes. There are many restaurants in this village. The prices of the restaurants range from 30 to 50 euro for a full meal. Apart from the tortellini there are many other types of dishes which do not cost that much. All the restaurants have located in beautiful surrounding near the river. In summer season, all the restaurants and the village is very beautiful with variety of flowers. It has added an additional beauty to the landscape of the village. You can climb up the small hill and go to visit the castle. It shows the beauty and its pride. To see the beauty of this place you can watch this Youtube video.

Due to the famous love story, most of the young people lock their love by using padlocks at the riverbank. Nodo d’Amore is an interesting love story which made the basemen to born tortellini. So, I would like to share this story with you.

Story behind Nodo d’Amore (Story of Malco and Silvia)

In the 14th century, the Milan Commander Giangaleazzo was former commander who led the troop against the Mantuans. Once, the commander and the troops settled down at the valley of Mincio River during this period. During those days, there was a famous rumour that there were nymphs who were living under the river, came out from the river occasionally and dance at the riverbank with the appearance of the ugly witches. This terrible appearance of the ugly witch had granted them due to curse.

One night, the Captain Malco saw these ugly witches (nymphs) were dancing at the riverbank. Then he started to approach them, but all of the sudden, they saw the captain and all of them disappeared into the water, except one nymph. The Captain captured this nymph and unveiled the coat of the ugly witch. Then he saw a beautiful nymph under the ugly witch’s appearance.

At that time, they both were fallen in love with each other and swore to love each other forever and stay together with eternal loyalty. Then, Silvia, the nymph, returned into the river. But before she left, she gave Malco a handkerchief with a delicate knot as a promise of her love. Time was passed gradually, but they were unable to kept their love story as a secret furthermore. Rumours were stated to spread about their love story.

Even though they had lot of obstacles they did not stop their relationship. One day captain invited Silvia to participate a festival. At that festival, they had to face to a tragedy. After knowing about their love story, one of the jealous ladies announced the beautiful Silvia is a witch during the festival. Then the troops tried to arrest her even though, Malco did not allow them to arrest her. Troops went against the command of Malco and then he tried protected her. But later, Malco got his punishment for his misbehaviour and as the punishment he had to go to jail. Troops came to arrest both Malco and Silvia, before troops reached to them, Silvia suggested to go to underwater with her with the name of their love. Without any regrets, he agreed to disappear under water with her with the name of their true love. But before they leave, he left the golden handkerchief with the knot at the riverbank to symbolize their love. Since then it became a tradition for the women in Valeggio to make these love knots which are tortellini with the appearance of knot of handkerchief.