The Magico Mondo del Cosplay (The Magical World of Cosplay) returns to Italy’s Parco Sigurtà for its 16th year in 2022. Immerse yourself in the alternative reality of anime, manga, sci-fi, and fantasy with a trip to this iconic festival. Read on for your guide to the best of Parco Sigurtà Cosplay.
Parco Sigurtà, home to the famous Parco Sigurtà Cosplay event
Italy’s largest celebration of cosplay takes place at Parco Sigurtà, widely acknowledged as one of Europe’s most beautiful gardens. The park dates back to 1407 when the aristocrat Gerolamo Nicolo Contarini enclosed the original land and created a small formal garden.
Over time, woods were planted, meadows landscaped, and follies built. The park grew from humble origins to 60 hectares. Parco Sigurtà now boasts woodlands, water gardens and green lawns, as well as 18 ornamental lakes and a vast array of seasonal flowers. It’s also home to a neo-Gothic temple (the Hermitage), a small castle (Castelletto), and a grotto.
It’s hard to imagine a more picturesque setting for a cosplay day out.
Parco Sigurtà Cosplay: What to See and Do
You can be sure of plenty to see and do at this incredible Parco Sigurtà Cosplay event. The program is likely to include many of 2021’s highlights, including J-pop and K-pop performances. You can also expect parades and fashion displays, bursting with familiar faces from Harley Quinn and Batman to Disney princesses and Deadpool.
There’ll also be plenty of professional and fan cosplayers showcasing their elaborate costumes and make-up. You’ll see all kinds of adventurous and eye-catching creations. And they’re all lovingly designed in homage to compelling characters from films, TV shows, games, and comic books.
You can also find out more about animations, and maybe try your hand at making your own. There’ll be designers, cartoonists, and writers to answer questions and share inside knowledge about your favorite dramas.
Everyone is welcome at the Parco Sigurtà Cosplay event
Cosplay is famously making strides to become more diverse and inclusive, and the Parco Sigurtà event is no exception. Families are especially likely to enjoy a great day out.
Face painting is always a great hit with young and old, and one of the many family-friendly activities here. Everyone is welcome, and little ones will love the chance to see their heroes come to life. Who wouldn’t want to see Pikachu, Spiderman, or a Stormtrooper IRL?
Otaku (aficionados) are always happy to chat, share their knowledge and appear in photos. So there’ll be a good chance to capture some unforgettable shots with your favorite characters. Your souvenir snaps will bring back happy memories of your cosplay day out.
And there’s plenty of quiet space for anyone who needs a break from the excitement of cosplay. Paths wind the park’s 60 hectares, and there’s a maze planted with 1,500 yew trees. And don’t forget to visit the sundial at the Romeo and Juliet Belvedere.
How to get to Parco Sigurtà
Parco Sigurtà sits about midway between Milan to the west and Venice to the east and is easily reached by bus, car, or train.
The nearest airport to Parco Sigurtà is Verona Villafranca, just 13km north-west, and about 25-minutes’ drive by car or taxi. Parco Sigurtà has four free car parks. Electric cars – Teslas and those with a type 2 charger only – can recharge in the parking area of the Sigurtà restaurant near the main entrance.
From Verona Villafranca airport, you can take a Line 199 bus, departing every 30 minutes at busy times, to Verona Porta Nuova. This is Verona’s main railway station, and the journey should take around 15 minutes.
From Verona Porta Nuova, find the Stazione FS bus stop at the front of Verona Porta Nuova railway station. From here, take the ATV line 160 bus to Valeggio sul Mincio. This trip should take around an hour. Remember though, this service operates Monday to Saturday only.
From the Valeggio sul Mincio bus stop, walk along Via Gugliemo Marconi and turn right at the roundabout into Via Antonio Murari. It should take about seven minutes to walk to Parco Sigurtà.
For a low environmental impact, you can cycle to the park, which is 2km from the Mantua to Peschiera del Garda cycle path. This path is an easy ride for novices and children. You can ride your bike inside the park too.
Combine your trip with another attraction
Book your spot at Parco Sigurtà Cosplay in advance. Tiqets’ tickets allow entry on any day in 2022, and you can show your smartphone ticket at the gate.
For double fun, consider combining Parco Sigurtà with nearby Gardaland Amusement Park. This lakeside theme park is packed with pleasure, with rides, shows and lands for all tastes. Thrill rides include vertical drop roller coaster Oblivion and supersonic jet ride Blue Tornado. There are plenty of amusements for little ones too, with Legoland Waterpark and the SEA LIFE Aquarium.
Nature lovers can also make a trip to Parco Natura Viva and its Safari and Fauna Parks. Home to giraffes, lions, cheetahs, and chimpanzees, you can use your ticket to visit any day in 2022. And you’ll enjoy skip-the-line access to the Fauna Park.
