Cavriana

Set on a hill which is part of the Morainic basin of Lake Garda, Cavriana is an extremely ancient village. It was certainly during the time of the Duke of Mantua that Cavriana gained strategic importance due to its position: nevertheless, the remains of the ancient fortress date back to the year 1000. Cavriana then also became a holiday resort firstly for the Gonzagas: Ludovico II had his residence built here. Today on the ruins of the building, destroyed by the Austrians in the 18th century, stands the Villa Siliprandi. The sacred buildings in the village are very interesting and, among others, we would point out the Romanesque Church of Santa Maria della Pieve on a hill not far from the centre. The Villa Mirra is also worth a visit. Inside is the Archeological Museum of Alto Mantovano: which has finds dating back to the period between the Palaeolithic era and the Early Middle Ages. For those who are interested in other features of local culture, we would suggest first of all the strada del vino ("wine route"), a beautiful way to discover the culinary delights of Cavriana, then in February the Feast and Fair of San Biagio. The fair is an excellent occasion to taste many local specialities, including the risotto with mushrooms and salamelle or the agnoli in brodo, perhaps washed down with the good wine from the Morenici del Garda hills.