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12. L’antico porto
Discover the Antico Porto of Peschiera del Garda and Its Urban Evolution: From the Venetian City Walls to Architectural Transformations
In this display panel, you can see a detailed depiction of the ancient port of Peschiera, as it was structured in the 19th century.
The scene portrayed offers valuable historical insight into the city of Peschiera del Garda, helping to understand the urban transformations that have taken place over time. In the foreground, you can observe the city walls—an important feature that defined the defensive layout of the city during the Venetian era. This wall structure, visible in the photo dating back to the late 1800s, no longer exists: it was completely demolished between 1910 and 1911. The demolition was necessary to allow for urban expansion works, which affected much of the town center of Peschiera del Garda.
A very significant element of the fortification was located on the northern façade: the effigy of the Lion of Saint Mark.
This symbol of the Republic of Venice, carved in stone, represented its authority over the city and surrounding territory.
After the walls were torn down, the effigy was saved and relocated in order to preserve its historical and artistic value. Today, it can be admired at the entrance of the Town Hall, where it has been placed in clear view for both citizens and visitors. Its current position allows for a visual and symbolic connection to the city’s Venetian past.
This sculptural relic is one of the few surviving physical reminders of the original fortification. Observing this historical representation helps to appreciate just how much the city has changed—and how different it looked just a century ago. The panel, therefore, is not merely an image but a true window into the past, deserving of attention and respect. It helps keep alive the memory of an important era in the architectural and cultural history of Peschiera.
