7. Bastione San Marco

The Bastione San Marco, still perfectly preserved in its military technical structures, can be accessed via Porta Verona.

When you enter the square of the Artillery Barracks, look to your left: there you will find a stone staircase. Ascend it, and it will take you directly to the Bastione San Marco.

The Bastione San Marco is one of the most imposing structures of the Peschiera del Garda fortress. Built in 1553, it is the second most important bastion of the Venetian pentagonal fortress. Despite the centuries that have passed, it still retains its precise and functional military technical structures. Walking along the bastion’s curtain — the upper edge of the walls — you can enjoy a suggestive and panoramic walk. This route leads you to the walkway above Porta Verona, a strategic observation point.

From this elevated position, you can oversee the entire eastern front of the fortress, an area once critical for military defense. Continuing south along the curtain, a view steeped in history unfolds before you. This stretch of the fortification played a major role during all the sieges that occurred in the Napoleonic and Risorgimento wars.

Every assault endured by Peschiera del Garda has left its mark on these historic walls.

Ahead of you is a bridge, rebuilt after the heavy bombings of 1944, which destroyed part of the infrastructure. Today, this bridge connects the Milan-Venice railway tracks, symbolizing the revival of the area.

If you look carefully, you can also spot the rear side of the Ponte dei Voltoni. In the distance, the Bastione Cantarane stands out, located on the far side of the fortress.

Once you leave the square, turn immediately to your right to enter through Porta Verona. But first, take a moment to shift your position and admire the stunning view to the south — it’s a sight you wouldn’t want to miss.