Punti di Interesse

• Saint Francis Oasis: the Saint Francis wetland area presents peculiar characteristics and represents one of the very rare examples of a Benaco riparian environment. An almost fortuitous series of events, such as the municipal ownership of part of the meadow area and the adjacent private property not used for years, enabled the preservation of the site. In recent years, the commitment of various professionals, the municipality and a number of environmental associations has thus led to the area being recognised as “Natural Monument” by the Lombardy Region in 2008, due to the presence of a high degree of biological diversification.
• The Medieval Castle: the castle dominating the town, possibly erected on a the ruins of Roman fortress to defend against barbarian invasions, was rebuilt in the mediaeval period and reinforced in the 15th century, when it enclosed 120 houses and a church dedicated to Saint Ambrose. All that remains of the ancient castle are a few sections of curtain walls with crumbling merlons between the four corner towers, with the exception of the one on the north-eastern corner that functioned as a specola until 1940. One of the most beautiful views of Lake Garda can be enjoyed from its terrace.
• Villa Brunati: built at the end of the 16th century by Monsignor Giacomo Roveglio as a holiday resort on the site of a pre-existing rural building dating back to the Middle Ages, it now houses the civic library dedicated to the poet and librettist Angelo Anelli, born in Desenzano in 1761. In its prestigious rooms, which house over 30,000 volumes and a multimedia section, cultural events, exhibitions, meetings with authors, events, readings, etc. are periodically organised. Some rooms of the library can be rented for use by third parties.
• Villa Romana: built at the end of the 1st century b.C., it came to light in 1921. The archaeological area is today about 70 metres from the lake, but the villa once directly overlooked the water with piers and moorings. The more than 240 square metres of exquisite polychrome mosaics depict scenes with cupids harvesting grapes or on running chariots, wild animals and allegories.
• The 20th Century Museum: the 20th Century Museum is a place where records of the past are kept safe. Objects from the period spanning from the First World War to around 1960 are collected here: historical documents, photographic material, objects, uniforms, rolling stock, civil defence equipment and more.
• The Risorgimento Park and the Tower of Saint Martin: the monumental complex commemorates the battle fought here on 24 June 1859 between the Austrian and Franco-Piedmontese armies. At the entrance to the 64-metre-high tower, visitors are met by statues of the protagonists of Italian unification, while the frescoes arranged along the ramp retrace some of the most important episodes of the Italian Risorgimento. A wide panorama can be enjoyed from the terrace. The Museum exhibits weapons, relics and documents, as well as objects used by soldiers. The bones of thousands of fallen soldiers are collected in the chapel-ossuary. The park is the site of a spectacular historical re-enactment of the Battle.
• Lavagnone archaeological site: the excavation campaign brought to light a wealth of material for domestic use: plates, amphorae, vases dating back to the second millennium b.C. The installation of a pile-dwelling was also discovered, but the most important finding of all was the plough with part of the yoke, which is the only existing example in the world of such an agricultural tool for prehistoric times and which is dated to the Bronze Age (around 2000 b.C).
• The Archaeological Civic Museum “Giovanni Rambotti”: the Museum houses an extraordinary archaeological heritage from the Bronze Age documenting the vast and complex process of pile-dwelling settlement on the shores of Lake Garda and in the inter-morainic basins.
• The Giovanni Bosio Gallery: the gallery is a venue for temporary exhibitions and art shows. It is located in the central Palazzo Todeschini, a solemn building by Brescian architect Giulio Todeschini erected in 1580 facing the old harbour. The Gallery is in the central Piazza Malvezzi, where Desenzano’s most representative monument, the statue of Saint Angela Merici, patron saint of the city, can also be admired.
• The lighthouse, the breakwater and the port of Desenzano archive documents tell us that the lighthouse lantern, consisting of a dioptric apparatus running on oil, remained in operation until 1903, when electric lighting, already available in Desenzano since 1899, was adopted for it.
• The Cathedral: the present church, dedicated to St Mary Magdalene, was built on the remains of the old parish church between 1586 and 1611 to a design by architect Giulio Todeschini. In the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, visitors can admire “The Last Supper”, a remarkable work by G.B. Tiepolo from 1738.
• Idroscalo Park: the Idroscalo Park extends over an area corresponding to the green area of the Spiaggia d’Oro (Golden Beach), connecting the Desenzano-Rivoltella lakeside pedestrian route with the cycle-pedestrian promenade of Viale Motta and Via Dal Molin. A pedestrian access has been opened to the north and allows direct access to the lake.