The Scaliger castle of Malcesine is a medieval castle (although the original fortress seems to be of more ancient origin) in whose center stands the tower with a bell at the top. At the top of the tower you can enjoy a breathtaking view of Lake Garda.
In addition to the museum dedicated to Goethe, a natural history museum of Garda and Baldo and a fishing museum have also been set up in the castle.
Source: Tarsì
In the early 1920s, Gabriele d'Annunzio bought and transformed, with the help of the architect Gian Carlo Maroni, the Villa of the German historian Henry Thode in the current Priory, which is surrounded by a charming park, winner of the award Most beautiful park in Italy in 2012. The Vittoriale is made up of several buildings, streets, squares, an open-air theater, gardens and waterways. It represents a casket of treasures and it was built in memory of the "inimitable life" of the poet-soldier and the exploits of the Italians during the First World War. Nowadays, the Vittoriale is a foundation open to the public and visited every year by about 180,000 people. The Vittoriale degli Italiani Foundation has dedicated itself daily to the protection and enhancement of the wonders that this monument holds inside, since 1937. Fun fact: 2016 ended with 233,402 visitors.
Source: Garda Musei, translation by Chiara
It is located at the entrance to the historical center, it represents one of the characteristic features of the locality. This a castle completely surrounded by water, whose main nucleus is the courtyard characterized by the three corner towers and the donjon, which is the higher tower. The castle was built approximately between the 14th and 12th centuries B.C. and then it was restored from the 1860.
From its top is possible to enjoy a spectacular view over the center of Sirmione and the whole Garda Lake.
Source: Tarsì, translation by Chiara
This is the largest island among the Garda islands, open to tourist visits since 2002, it is also known by the name of Borghese Island. The island area was inhabited since ancient times, as evidenced by the findings in 1864, which consist in ancient houses and the remains of stilts; the island was abandoned in the centuries of decline of the Roman Empire and became a refuge for pirates. In 1220 St. Francis of Assisi visited the island and considering it the ideal place for a community of friars, so he convinced the owner to give him the area. In 1227 the hermitage welcomed Saint Anthony of Padua and in 1304 Dante Alighieri, who remembered this enchanting place in the Divine Comedy.
The Villa
A building surrounded by greenery in Venetian neo-Gothic style, designed by the architect Luigi Rovelli in the early years of the last century; it looks like an imposing building, rich in architectural details, which houses inside a beautiful 18th century painting by Carlo Carloni.
Moreover, at its foot it has terraces and Italian gardens.
The Gardens
On the central terrace in front of the Villa, there is a garden in a classic Italian style: with modeled hedges representing various figures, including the coat of arms of the De Ferrari family, creator of the garden. Next to the villa, palm trees from the Canaries grow, while on the lower terrace, by the lake, there are fruit trees such as: lemons, olive trees, oranges; in addition, various types of roses, bougainvillea and many other plants of rare beauty are also cultivated.
The park
The most evocative and wild part is found in the flat area of the island, where there are cypresses, oaks, cedars, and more typically Mediterranean shrubs. This park still remains a well-kept secret, recently opened to the sensitivity of visitors.
Source: Garda Island, translation by Chiara
A characteristic port, rich in history and one of the most representative of the Garda Lake. At the time of the Serenissima it was at the service of the grain market. Several buildings overlook the port, among which the arches of Todeschini's Palace stand out, which was originally the Town Hall. Leaning against the last column there is the stone "of the failed", where the auctioneers but also those convicted of bankruptcy climbed. The Port is closed by a Venetian bridge, which was realised in the 30s of the last century, from which is possible to enjoy a romantic view to the south of the old port and to the north of the new one.
Source: Tarsì, translation by Chiara
The old port of Lazise is rich in history. The 12th century Romanesque church, the Dogana Veneta, which represents the old arsenal of the Republic of Venice and the old town hall with the inscription: "Lazise, first municipality in Italy" overlook it. Today the Dogana Veneta is an important cultural and social center.
Source: Tarsì, translation by Chiara
The Tower
The historical Tower was built in memory of King Vittorio Emanuele II and those, who fought for the italian unification. At the entrance to the tower, whose height is of 64 meters, there are the statues of the protagonists of the italian unification, while the frescoes along the ramp depicteded the episodes of the Renaissance. The tower rises on the highest hill of San Martino, where was fought the bloodiest phase of the battle of San Martino (II war of independence). From its terrace you can enjoy a wide view.
The Ossuary
The ossuary, housed in the noble chapel of the Treccani earls, collects 1,274 skulls and bones of 2,619 soldiers, who fought in the battle of San Martino, during the second Battle of Indipendence.
On the access road to the chapel there are some memorial stones of the units that took part in the clashes.
The Museum
The museum, a branch office of the Renaissant Museum in Solferino, is dedicated to the Renaissance, with particular focus on the finds related to the battle of Solferino and San Martino. The museum displays weapons, memorabilia, documents and items commonly used by soldiers.
Source: Tarsì, translation by Chiara
The high and massive pentagonal-shaped walls surround the historic center of Peschiera del Garda, a real jewel of art, culture and architecture. Unique of its kind, this locality characterized by canals, bridges and imposing military buildings, offers a suggestive environment to be discovered.
Peschiera Bastions
Starting from the south we find the Cantarane Bastion built in 1551, which rises on the Mincio river; then along Campo Sportivo Street we can admire the Feltrin Bastion, the first to be built, where the Austrian powder magazine is located; after the bridge we can admire the Tognon Bastion built in 1552. The Tognon and Feltrin Bastions are connected by a path that today allows you to admire the whole Fortress. The northern part has the Querini Bastions of the 1552 near the port, once a fixed point of the Navy and the San Marco Bastion built in 1553 just outside Porta Verona.
Source: Municipality of Peschiera del Garda, translation by Chiara
The wall was built after the 1077 and represents a peculiar element of the Municipality, with its six towers and three entrance doors, it surrounds the historic center. At the beginning there were seven towers, then after the First World War, the tower near the Dogana was demolished to for the building of the monument dedicated to the fallen. The presence of the three doors is also an element that was added later, thanks to the restoration by the Scaligeri, in the second half of the 14th century.
The Tower "Torrazzo"
It was built in the 10th century and represents the last tower of the first wall. It was transformed into a bell tower in 1777. Later, with the construction of the cemetery, it became a private funerary chapel. Further important elements are the arches with geometric decoration and the Crucifix, an excavated graffiti depicting a man with open arms.
Source: Municipality of Lazise, translation by Chiara
After the Royal Decree of 5 May 1887, the port of Desenzano was restored and was built the first section of the dam and the lighthouse tower, in addition to some consolidation works. Before then, from the 1843 the port area was illuminated by some oil lamps, which were regulated by an employee paid by the Municipality, who turned them on, taking also into account the phases of the moon. The lighthouse lantern, running on petroleum, has worked until 1903, when electric lighting, introduced in the town of Desenzano since 1899, replaced it. In fact, in 1902 the mayor asked to Salò Electric Company to replace the oil lamp of the lighthouse tower with a 50-candle lamp to improve the brightness.
Source: Municipality of Desenzano del Garda
The historical center has developed during the 16th century thanks to the works of the Brescian architect Giulio Todeschini. In the middle of the arcades stands the palace of the Venetian Provveditore, which represent an unfinished building projected by Todeschini. On the square stands the monument to the saint patron of the city, Saint Angela Merici, ralised in 1782.
Malvezzi Square
The monumental complex of Malvezzi Square is formed by the perimeter of the arcades, the town hall, the administrator's palace and the east facade of the Basilica. The square, which shows a Venetian influence, became even more important in the 15th century, when the economy of the city increased. The construction of the first building, which overlooking the lake, was realised by the Brescian architect Giulio Todeschini.
Cappelletti Square
In Cappelletti Square there is the monument to the Resistance realised by Mario Gatti. This bronze group called "Martyrs" symbolizes those, who sacrificed themselves for the ideal of freedom and democracy.
Matteotti Square
In the garden of Matteotti Square there is the monument to the High Speed ����Department dedicated to whom sacrificed themselves between 1927 and 1936.
The High Speed ����Monument
In the garden of Matteotti Square there is the monument to the High Speed ����Department, for which many pilots sacrificed themselves between 1927 and 1936. The sculpture realised by Aurelio Squaglino and Carlo Alberto Bordogna, is divided into a statuary part and a pedestal, which symbolizes the first one the "pure speed" reaching out towards the infinite space, represented by the staring off of woman into the lake; the second one the "bond of the earth" symbol of the earth's gravity characterised by the bronze sculptural element and the polished granite block, which underline the perfection of the technique; then the work is decorated by slabs of "labradorite", which come from Sweden with its blue tones want to imitate the colours of the water.
Monument dedicated to General Achille Papa
In the gardens along the promenade Cesare Battisti, there is the monument dedicated to General Achille Papa, who died in 1917 during the I World War on the Bainsizza front, relised by Gian Carlo Moroni (known as the architect of D'Annunzio Vittoriale).
Monument to the fallen of all wars
In front of the Monument to General Achille Papa, stands the monument to the fallen of all wars, a modern work realised by Arnaldo Pomodoro, which represents the humanity separated by a fracture, which symbolises the cruelty of the event.
Cannon of the I World War
Behind the marble monument dedicated to General Achille Papa, there is a cannon of the I World War, which was restored in 2014. On a plaque is possible to read commemorative words about valor and audacity.
Source: Municipality of Desenzano del Garda, translation by Chiara
It was built in 1553, characterized by the Lion of St. Marco, symbol of the Republic of Venice, which was destroyed by Napoleon as a sign of contempt after the Treaty of Campoformio in 1797. A visual reconstruction of what the door must have looked like in its entirety is located at the beginning of the bridge. Beyond the gate, towards the center of the town, there are the gardens of the Catullo Park and the Francesco I Barracks.
Source: Municipality of Peschiera del Garda, translation by Chiara
Voltoni Bridge is one of the most characteristic elements of Peschiera del Garda. It was built in 1556, immediately after the construction of the Fortress and the construction works were supervised by the Venetian administrator, Iacobo Gauro. Peschiera once characterized by several fishing stations, also mentioned in Roman times by the texts of Plinius the Elder, presents the fixed fishing station, called Pescarezzo, at the exit of Voltoni Bridge.
Today the last evidence of these stations, which was recently restored as a historical and museum memory, remains in this Municipality.
Source: Municipality of Peschiera del Garda, translation by Chiara
The Castle
The Castle, which dominates the city, perhaps was built on a Roman castrum, whose aim was the protection from the barbarian invasions. Then it was rebuilt in the municipal era and around the 15th century, when it contained 120 houses and the S. Ambrogio church, it was strengthened. Of the imposing building remain the walls, crossed in the perimeter by four towers, and the entrance with the remains of a drawbridge. At the end of the 19th century it was transformed into a barracks, which remain active until 1943.
The recovery of the walls allows the visit of the patrol walkway and the ascent to the entrance, from which you can enjoy one of the most beautiful views of the Garda Lake. Exhibition rooms and conferences have been created in the former officers' quarters.
Source: Municipality of Desenzano del Garda, translation by Chiara
Garibaldi square
It is the oldest square of Desenzano, located in the upper part, easily accessible for those who go to the castle. It is a circular square sourrounded by trees with a large fountain in the middle. Moreover, on the sides there are two representative sculptures, one dedicated to the Alpine troops by Antonio Tomasi (1996) and the other dedicated to the Carabiniere by Lino Agnini (2000).
The Querini Bastion, located at the entrance of the Fortress with respect to the lake, was destroyed in 1906. It has a small panoramic terrace surrounded by greenery, from which we can admire the Promenade of Peschiera del Garda.
Source: Municipality of Peschiera del Garda, translation by Chiara
The Palace was built in 1854, also called Historic Building, since during the First World War it hosted the Inter-Allied Conference, in 1917. During this Conference the representatives of Italy, Great Britain and France met to analyze the military situation and study the necessary countermeasures. At the end of this, the decisions taken were decisive for the subsequent conduct of the war. Inside the building, in the historic room, there is a painting which depicted this historic meeting.
Today, seat of the Museum of the First World War, it also hosts interesting Classical and Contemporary Art Exhibitions throughout the year.
Source: Municipality of Peschiera del Garda, translation by Chiara
It is an important element of the artillery of the Habsburg era. It served as a pyrotechnic laboratory and storage of cannon balls, located inside the San Marco Bastion. Its splendid recovery is the work of the volunteers of the Alpine section of Peschiera del Garda, who continue to keep it in excellent condition.
Source: Municipality of Peschiera del Garda, translation by Chiara
A bomb-proof building from the Habsburg period (1865), which later became an Italian military prison, now abandoned.
Source: Municipality of Peschiera del Garda, translation by Chiara
