Desenzano del Garda is a charming village in the province of Brescia and overlooks the southern shore of Lake Garda.
In Desenzano it is possible to rediscover ancient Roman remains, visit the castle, walk along the romantic old port or go to the beach in search of relaxation.
The city boasts the nickname of “Capital of Garda“, because it offers the possibility of intelligent tourism capable of combining fun with the discovery of very fascinating landscapes and historical-environmental memories
What to do and see in Desenzano del Garda
– The Port: area dedicated to aperitifs, romantic walks and postcard photos with a backdrop of colorful boats.
You can also take a nice walk towards the Desenzano Lighthouse which offers a panoramic view over the whole of Garda. Lake Garda ferries and navigation boats also depart and arrive from here, connecting the center to many other places not to be missed on Lake Garda, including the tourist destinations on the eastern shore of the lake.
– Historic centre: for the Shopping walk, shopping in outlets.
The main internal road that runs parallel to the lakefront starts from the sixteenth-century Piazza Malvezzi and offers more than a kilometer of elegant shop windows that alternate with the tables of Ice cream shops, bars and venues specializing in aperitifs and snacks during the day and live music after dinner.
– Roman Villa: very important archaeological site for the entire Lake Garda area. The Brescia area, starting from the capital itself, is rich in Roman remains, villas, mosaics and evidence of the classical era.
It is possible to visit three sectors of the Villa plus the Antiquarium, where the materials recovered during the excavations were placed.
Villa Romana website
– Desenzano Castle: Built around the 10th century, it had defensive functions, offering a refuge to the city population in case of attack. Very little remains of the ancient building, but from its rooms you can enjoy a spectacular view of Garda.
Thanks to the conservation of the crenellated walls and the towers, the Castle of Desenzano is still the symbol of the city today. Exhibitions and conferences are hosted inside.
– Rambotti Civic Archaeological Museum: numerous finds found in the Brescia area and in particular around Desenzano are exhibited in the former Carmelite Monastery. The period to which the finds belong is between the Paleolithic and the Middle Ages.
The museum focuses on the prehistoric stilt houses of the lower Garda area of Brescia, or the “Houses on the water” in which the men of that time lived. The very humid environment has allowed a high level of conservation of these homes, providing us with valuable information on the agricultural techniques used.
The highlight of the museum remains the Lavagnone Plough, which is also the oldest plow found in the world. The new interactive video installations also make it perfect for a visit with children.
– Duomo di Santa Maria Maddalena: Inside stand out the works of Andrea Celesti (1637-1712), one of the main representatives of seventeenth-century Venetian painting, a master of modulating brightness and colours, with an almost “impressionistic” expression of the form.
In the Chapel of the SS. Sacramentoit is possible to admire “The Last Supper”, a notable work by G.B. Tiepolofollowed in 1738. In the nineteenth-century chapel dedicated to S. Angela Mericithere are six paintings made by Pietro Calcinardi dedicated to the life of the Saint from Desenzano.
The sacristy houses the large canvas of the “Deposition” by Francesco Zugno from Brescia, one of the best disciples of Palma il Giovane, painted for the Municipality of Desenzano in 1608; in it, on the right, St. is depicted. Angela Merici.
– San Martino della Battaglia: A few minutes by car from the center of Desenzano you can pay a visit to the place where the memory of those who lost their lives fighting for Independence and Unification of Italyand climb the Tower with a flight of spiral stairs: by following it you reach the top, where the Italian flag flies and you can enjoy of the wonderful panorama of lower Garda, the morainic hills and the Po Valley.
The tower inside is enriched with artistic beauties: there are some rooms which house bronze busts and which host the frescoes of Vittorio Emanuele Bressanin narrating events from the Risorgimento era.
Not far from the Tower, following a short tree-lined avenue, is The Ossuary Chapel of San Martino made particularly evocative by monuments and memorial stones in memory of the various Corps that participated in the battle
Behind the Tower there is the San Martino Museum which preserves relics, documents and memories of the battle of 24 June 1859, as well as significant evidence of other events in the history of the Risorgimento.
Also worth visiting is the Solferino Museum which is located at the foot of the fortress park and the adjacent ossuary church park. There are exhibited some examples of cannons, weapons, uniforms and various relics of the historic day of 24 June 1859.
The museum tour is accompanied by captions that illustrate the events, presenting the most significant characters of that historical event and the individual finds.
website Museum of San Martino and Solferino
– Free time: renowned for its vitality and entertainment offer, Desenzano del Garda is the town with the liveliest Nightlife, the one that attracts the majority of young people .
There are numerous attractions, including Beach Clubs, trendy nightclubs, nightclubs, trendy bars open until late at night offering live music.
The beaches, well-kept and well-organized with bars and kiosks also open in the evening, restaurants, pedal boats, rental boats, sunbeds, umbrellas, cabins, showers offering every kind of comfort.
For sports lovers, sports facilities, tennis courts, horse stables, surfing and sailing schools, water skiing, football and athletics.
For children, a very equipped and fun play area.
For those who love artisan stalls both Desenzano and its surroundings organize nice markets on a weekly basis where you can find everything. While Every first Sunday of the month from May to November, a splendid Antiques Market takes place in Piazza Malvezzi
Desenzano del Garda
Brescia – Lombardy
Italy
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