HOSPITALITY
Agritourism
Garganega, Rondinella, Molinara ... typical grapes from our region, which lend their name to the welcoming rooms at the Agritourism of San Leone, with its view over the Company’s vineyards.
Each room (there are ten in total) is furnished with wooden furniture and comfortable, wrought iron beds, with a private bathroom, air conditioning, a minibar-fridge and TV. Some of the rooms also have a small kitchenette.
You will find a warm welcome here, and holidays offer a peaceful rhythm, with bicycle tours, trips to Lake Garda and to the nearby tourist attractions.
Breakfast included in the price of the room: yes
Bicycle hire: yes
History and the land
Our land is centred on the Mincio River, which begins in Garda, the largest lake in Italy, and flows into the Po, the most important river. The Mincio is an essential part of the landscape and recalls its most ancient history. We only have to remember that finds have been found in the vicinity dating back to the Bronze Age and the Romans.
Legend has it that along the bank of the river, near modern-day Salionze, Attila, the leader of the Huns met with Pope Leone Magno, who had come from Rome to oppose their devastating raids. Every year, in the middle of July, this event is relived, in costume, in the centre of the town.
In 452 A.D. Attila, the famous leader of the Huns, Barbarian people who came from the steppes of Asia, had crossed the borders of the Roman Empire and reached Aquileia. After carrying out a massacre, the army marched on towards new conquests. The barbarian horde, ecstatic because of their great success against Aquileia, felt they were invincible. "To Rome! To Rome!" they cried, and Attila was already thinking of fulfilling his old dream. The Venetian peoples, terrified by the arrival of the "flagellum Dei" (as Attila was known), left the cities on dry land, destroyed everything they could not take with them and sought refuge on the islands of the lagoon. Attila continued his march across Veneto, undisturbed, but ahead of him he found abandoned areas, barren lands and semi-desert cities. He would also have had to reckon with the heat, which was particularly sweltering and unbearable that summer. The Huns, who were used to the cold of the steppe, had taken off their furs and were overcome by exhaustion. Weakened by the hardships and lack of food, often forced to drink polluted water, they had fallen prey to epidemics that threatened to wipe out the army. Attila was forced to stop and wait for better times and he chose the banks of the Mincio. The Western Roman Empire army, which was now incapable of acts of courage, was unable to offer adequate resistance, so Pope Leone Magno decided to stop Attila himself before he destroyed Italy and Rome. The leader of the Barbarians, followed by some of his horsemen, waded across the Mincio River, got out of the water and approached the old Pope. No-one knows exactly what was said, but the story goes that after their talk, Attila, broke his arrow and threw the pieces onto the ground, symbolising his refusal to fight. Legend has it that the name Salionze comes from Sancto Leontio.
The area surrounding Mincio, which was an important route for commercial exchanges in the Middle Ages, was the scene of numerous battles, going from the Scaligera seignory to the Viscontea seignory, from the dominion of Venice to the memorable clashes between the French and Austrians during the Risorgimento period, finally culminating in the battle of Custoza in 1866, after which Valeggio and Veneto were joined to Italy.
Surrounding areas to visit
The Agritourism of San Leone is an excellent starting point for a number of tourist itineraries. First, a visit to the nearby Sigurtà Park is a must. Today, this splendid garden, which covers approximately 50 hectares, is considered one of the five most incredible gardens in the world. You are advised to visit Scaligero Castle, in Valeggio sul Mincio, where a number of cultural shows and events are held inside in the summer. In Borghetto, a breathtaking, romantic medieval village, there is a cycle path that follows the course of the Mincio River, taking you north to Peschiera del Garda (about 10 km away), and south, to the lakes of Mantua (about 20 km away). The fun parks of Gardaland, Canevaworld and Movieland are also easy to reach, as well as the small town of Sirmione. Finally, just 20 km from Verona, lies the agritourism of San Leone, which is the perfect place to stay during the various fairs that are held here (for example Vinitaly and Fieracavalli) and to experience a magical evening at the Arena.