3 Stage – GOITO – MANTOVA

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GOITO – MANTOVA

17.5 km

4.30 h

2 m

7 m

Parcheggio a 0,7 km > indicazioni

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Goito – Mantova

From the Monument to the Grenadiers of Sardinia, to the gates of the city of Mantua

The third stage of the Via Carolingia in the Mantua section has a sense of fulfilment, but also of discovery. It starts in Goito, from the square that houses the Monument to the Grenadiers of Sardinia, next to the Ponte della Gloria: a place that tells stories of courage and freedom. From here, the route follows the course of the Mincio river, immediately entering the silent greenery of the Bosco degli Arimanni. This strip of nature, loved and cared for by the inhabitants, takes its name from the ancient Lombard and Carolingian warriors, guardians of the land and its soul.

The cycle/pedestrian path leads to the small village of Sacca, then opens onto a vast, rural landscape dotted with farmhouses and neat fields. Passing through the tiny hamlet of Bell’acqua, you continue towards Rivalta sul Mincio, a riverside village bathed in the light reflected from the water. A stop at Corte Mincio is a must: the park’s visitor centre and ethnographic museum tell stories of rural life and crafts linked to the river, including fishing nets, marsh reeds and everyday objects that today speak to us with the simple power of memory.
From Rivalta, the route offers two possibilities. You can board an eco-friendly boat and cross the Mincio Valleys, a labyrinth of water, water lilies, reeds and reflections. Alternatively, you can continue on foot for another 3 km to Grazie di Curtatone, a lakeside village with a spiritual atmosphere.
Here stands the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Grace, with its fascinating and surprising interior, filled with ex-votos and votive statues, among which the enigmatic figure of a stuffed crocodile stands out. Every year, the churchyard is coloured with the ephemeral works of madonnari, who pay homage to the Virgin with chalk drawings of poignant beauty.
From the sanctuary, you can choose to continue sailing through the valleys until you reach Mantua, the Belfiore Gardens or the Ponte dei Mulini, where the sunset over Lake Superiore offers unforgettable moments. The last few steps wind along the cycle path that runs alongside Lake Mezzo, with Mantua gently approaching, reflected in the water like an ancient dream.

What to see along the way

Goito: Bosco degli Arimanni Small but evocative, it tells ancient stories of warriors and deep ties to the land and the river.
San Lorenzo: Church of San Lorenzo A rural brick church with a rose window and ancient frescoes, immersed in the silence of the countryside.
Rivalta sul Mincio: Ethnographic Museum Tools, objects and memories of rural and river life: a small treasure trove of local identity.
Grazie di Curtatone: Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Grace popular spirituality and art intertwine in a unique place, a pilgrimage destination and the heart of Mantua’s devotion.

The natural landscape

This stop is a plunge into the most vibrant biodiversity of the entire Mantua area. The Mincio Valleys open up like a water theatre, where flora and fauna express themselves in all their variety.
Water lilies, hibiscus, lotus flowers, marsh irises, sedges and orchids dot the canals and banks. The path crosses an ecological corridor of European importance, where herons, cormorants, grebes and kingfishers nest.
In spring, the landscape comes alive with calls, flights and buds. The reflections on the water change with the hours of the day and the light caresses the willow groves, the damp woods and the water meadows.
Every step is accompanied by the breath of the river and the voice of nature.

What to see in Mantua

Cathedral and Diocesan Museum
Ducal Palace and Archaeological Museum
Basilica of Sant’Andrea with the Holy Vases and Rotonda di San Lorenzo
Church of Gradaro and Carolingian Garden

Mantua welcomes travellers with its cultured beauty, palaces, cloisters, sky-scraping domes, hidden gardens and rich history. It is a city to be experienced slowly, letting yourself be guided by the cobblestones, the scent of lime trees and the silence of its most intimate corners.

For those who walk

This stop is an important resting point along the Carolingian Route. Mantua, with its historical, architectural and landscape heritage, offers travellers the opportunity to take a meaningful break before continuing on to their next destinations. The city, overlooking the waters of the Mincio, is a crossroads between cultural and spiritual itineraries, allowing walkers to deepen their knowledge of the area and its identity. In this sense, each stage is not only a point of arrival but also part of a wider journey, in which the walk continues in the continuity of the landscape and the experience.
Welcome to Mantua. Welcome to the heart of the journey along the Via Carolingia.

Alternative routes and variants

From Goito to Soave and Mantua through Bertone Park and Bosco Fontana, among history, storks and ancient forests
Naturalistic Variant Peri-urban Park from Grazie to Mantova along the lakes, among storks, woods and naturalistic observation points
Medieval Variant short but striking urban stretch to discover Mantua at a leisurely pace