Solferino – Landscape, Battle History and Regional Cuisine

Solferino combines gentle elevations with a landscape of wetlands, ponds, small lakes and peat bogs. These wetlands and bodies of water are found in lower-lying hollows; the peat bogs are remnants of former intermorainic lakes. If you would like to experience nature not only through large-scale landscapes but also through small water and marshland features, Solferino offers a clear, specific focal point for this.

Rocca, Memorial and Museums

The Rocca di Solferino was built in 1022 and is 23 metres high. The structure includes a panoramic terrace. The panoramic terrace complements the height specification with another architectural feature of the Rocca. The Rocca displays memorabilia, weapons and documents relating to the history of the Rocca and to the Gonzaga mint in Solferino. For travellers interested in culture, this site combines the striking scale of a historic building with tangible evidence of its history.

The Memoriale della Croce Rossa was built in 1959 to mark the centenary of the battle. It commemorates the idea that arose there in the heart and mind of Henry Dunant. The traditional annual Fiaccolata follows the route taken by the wounded of the Battle of Solferino, whom women from Castiglione and Henry Dunant came to help.

In the Museo del Risorgimento, the central hall is devoted entirely to the battle of 24 June 1859. The museum displays weapons, uniforms, drawings, prints and personal belongings of combatants, arranged chronologically in three halls. It was established in 1931 by the Società Solferino e San Martino. The chronological arrangement of the three halls complements the central hall dedicated to 24 June 1859 with further systematically organised exhibits from the museum. If you prefer to understand historical developments through specific objects and personal testimonies rather than individual years, this chronological arrangement offers a particularly clear approach.

The Ossuary in San Pietro in Vincoli

The ossuary is located in San Pietro in Vincoli, Solferino’s oldest church. The ossuary houses 1,413 skulls and the bones of around 7,000 fallen soldiers, without distinction of nationality or rank. The approximation regarding the bones remains important: the figure is around 7,000 fallen soldiers, while the number of 1,413 skulls is exact. Its historical purpose dates back to 1870: the ossuary was intended by the Società Solferino e San Martino as a dignified place of safekeeping for the remains of French and Austrian soldiers. The year 1870 therefore refers to the intended purpose of the ossuary, not to the battle itself.

Capunsei and the Morainic Hills

At the foot of Solferino Castle, Capunsei are considered a regional speciality of the morainic hills. These elongated gnocchi are associated with a recipe dating from the 14th century. The 14th century refers specifically to the recipe associated with the elongated gnocchi in Solferino.

Further destinations for your trip to Italy: Davini, Medole, Scorzarolo, Rivarolo Mantovano, Volta Mantovana, Buscoldo, Pegognaga and Correggioverde.

For the higher-level travel overview: Mantua.