Solferino
Discovering Solferino: history and geography
Solferino is a municipality located in the province of Mantua, Lombardy, primarily known for the Battle of Solferino and San Martino that took place there in 1859. The area is part of the moraine amphitheater of Lake Garda, situated in the northern foothills of the Po Valley.
The Battle of Solferino and the birth of the Red Cross
On June 24, 1859, Solferino was the site of the Battle of Solferino and San Martino, the final conflict of the Second Italian War of Independence. More than 234,000 soldiers fought for around 12-14 hours, leaving around 29,000 casualties on the field, making it one of the bloodiest battles of the 19th century. Following the battle, Swiss businessman Jean Henri Dunant committed to creating a new organization able to provide assistance to the wounded and sick of armed conflicts. In 1863, the Red Cross was founded, now present in over 190 countries worldwide.
What to see in Solferino
In addition to the Rocca, also known as the "Spy of Italy" for its dominant position, Solferino offers the opportunity to visit the Parish Church of San Pietro, Palazzo Fantoni, the Solferino and San Martino Civic Museum, and the Field of Remembrance, where urns containing the ashes of Italian soldiers killed in service, donated by Italian citizens, are kept. Moreover, Solferino is a municipality awarded for the quality of tourism and environment with the Orange Flag, conferred by the Italian Touring Club.
How to reach Solferino
Solferino is easily accessible from several directions. It is located just 40 kilometers from Verona, around 30 kilometers from Desenzano del Garda, and about ten kilometers from the Desenzano-Brescia motorway junction of the Brenner Motorway.
Conclusions
Solferino is a municipality of great historical and cultural value, whose name is inextricably linked to the battle fought there in 1859. The Rocca and the Parish Church of San Pietro are just some of the points of interest that can be visited in Solferino, surrounded by a suggestive landscape that tells the long history of the Po Valley.
