Gualtieri, the perspective village on the banks of the Po

Gualtieri, listed among the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy, has ancient roots. The toponym Castrum Valterii is thought to derive from the Lombard Gualtiero, sent in 602 by King Agilulf to conquer Mantua. Already in the 2nd century BC, with Roman colonization, land reclamation and centuriation began, traces of which remain near Brescello. First mentioned in a document of 885, the village passed over the centuries under the rule of the Sforza, the Duchy of Ferrara, and finally the Este family. Fundamental was the Bentivoglio Reclamation (1566–1618), an extraordinary work by Cornelio and Ippolito Bentivoglio with the architect Giovan Battista Aleotti. In the 18th century Antonio Greppi introduced agricultural innovations, while in the 19th and 20th centuries the Po River marked the life of the territory with disastrous floods. In Gualtieri, in 1965, Antonio Ligabue, the greatest Italian naïve painter, died.

Discovering the village

From Piazza Cavallotti, walking along Via Vittorio Emanuele II, visitors enter a fascinating perspective corridor that culminates in the civic tower. Passing through its arch, the great square space of Piazza Bentivoglio (1594–1600) reveals itself in all its harmony, described by historian Cesare Brandi as “one of the most beautiful squares in Italy.” Conceived as both a public square and an honor courtyard, it was designed by Marquis Cornelio Bentivoglio and his son Ippolito, with the ingenuity of architect and scenographer Giovan Battista Aleotti, the same who created the Farnese Theatre in Parma.

On the main side stands Palazzo Bentivoglio, today partially preserved, which houses valuable pictorial cycles and the 18th-century theatre. Next to it, the Church of Santa Maria della Neve, with Aleotti’s façade, completes the urban scenography together with the civic tower soaring into the sky. Not far away, the Oratory of the Immaculate Conception and the Church of Sant’Andrea, with the civic well of 1775, recall the medieval core of the village.

In the hamlets of Santa Vittoria and Pieve Saliceto, traces of the reclamations and 17th–18th century architecture emerge, such as Palazzo Greppi and the Sanctuary of the Annunciation, witnesses of a landscape where history, art, and water intertwine in a unique way.

Events in the village

Gualtieri is a lively and welcoming village, animated all year round by festivals and traditions. The cultural heart is the Teatro Sociale, reopened in 2009 after a long abandonment thanks to a youth association: it withstood the 2012 earthquake and today offers a rich program of shows and concerts. Among the most awaited events are the May Day Festival in Santa Vittoria, with music, parades, and good food, and the Festa del Borgo in June, heir to the historic Festa del Pozzo. Summer continues with the Festival of Violins, the Fish Festival, and the Lambrusco Festival, while in autumn tradition lives on with the October Fair, dedicated to the uva fogarina grape. The year closes with the Christmas Market and the Antiques Market, held every second Sunday of the month.

What to see nearby

Just a few kilometers from Gualtieri, visitors can discover places of great charm that blend nature, history, and culture. In Brescello, famous as the set of the Don Camillo and Peppone films, museums and squares recall the atmosphere of the beloved movies. To the north, the Po River offers nature trails, cycle paths, and evocative views of the floodplains, ideal for excursions and birdwatching. Nearby, Guastalla, the ancient capital of the Gonzaga family, is worth a visit with its cathedral and Renaissance palaces, as is Reggiolo, with its restored medieval fortress. Not far away, the city of Reggio Emilia welcomes visitors with its museums, theatres, and lively squares. The territory, characterized by countryside and river embankments, also invites exploration of food and wine traditions, from Lambrusco to cured meats and typical dishes of the Po Valley cuisine.

We have told you about it, but now it’s your turn to discover it!

Don’t miss the chance to enjoy a wonderful visit to the village of Gualtieri!

Cover photo credits: Giorgio Rossi / Shutterstock.com