25. Feltrin Bastion

Bastione Feltrin in Peschiera del Garda, visible from Porta Brescia, offers a unique view and a fascinating journey through the city’s history

In the western part of the fortress of Peschiera lies Bastione Feltrin, one of the oldest structures in the Venetian defensive system.

The Bastione Feltrin in Peschiera del Garda was in fact the first bastion ever built, marking the beginning of the city’s impressive fortification works along the lake. Although today it is partly hidden by buildings in the town center, it remains clearly visible from the bridge of Porta Brescia. From there, visitors can appreciate its strategic position, designed to control access to the city and its canal.

A distinctive feature of Bastione Feltrin is that part of its structure is missing: one section was lost in 1934. The collapse occurred during maintenance work on the canal, as documented by a historic photograph displayed along the route. Because of that incident, the canal had to be drained and urgent restoration work began. However, a full reconstruction of the collapsed walls proved too costly, and the bastion was never restored to its original form.

Instead, the remaining wall was reinforced, and terraces were built from the embankment surrounding the walls.

Today, these terraces serve a scenic function, offering a striking view of the surrounding area. In the Museum of Fishing and Local Traditions, you can see historic photographs showing the bastion before and after the collapse. These images carefully document the transformations the structure underwent and how its role evolved over time.