Discovering MONIGA
Church of St Martin
The church parish, post by front at the entrance of the castle, è was built in the The 18th century,probably on the foundations of a pre-existing chapel, as suggested by its dedication to Saint
Martino. The official website also highlights, in the context of the local religious heritage, the nearby
The Romanesque Church of Our Lady of the Snows and the Church of St Michael, of Lombard origin,
situated in the open countryside, looking out towards the lake
Church of Our Lady of the Snows
The Church of Our Lady of the Snows is a single-nave building with a gabled façade and is considered the most recent of the Romanesque churches in the Valtenesi, probably dating from the second half of the 16th century.
The interior does not contain any frescoes because the building was used as a quarantine hospital during the cholera outbreak and was subsequently whitewashed for disinfection purposes.
It has belonged to the community of Moniga since 1743 and is now used as a cemetery church.
Source of image and text: https://turismo.comune.monigadelgarda.bs.it/contenuti/1331260/chiesa-madonna-neve
The Castle
Moniga Castle is one of the best-preserved fortified villages among those built on the hills around Lake Garda in the 10th century. It is a ‘castello-ricetto’, that is, a communal defensive structure comprising houses in which the village’s inhabitants could take refuge in the event of danger.
Its location, in the western part of the village on a gentle hill covered in vineyards, has helped to preserve it; the structures visible today are generally thought to date from the 14th and 15th centuries.
Source of image and text: https://turismo.comune.monigadelgarda.bs.it/contenuti/1331261/castello
The Roman Villa
The Roman Villa in Desenzano was built at the end of the 1st century BC and has retained all its charm and historic grandeur.
With over 240 square metres of exquisitely crafted polychrome mosaics, the Villa is a jewel in the crown of Desenzano’s cultural and historical heritage: it features scenes depicting cherubs harvesting grapes or racing in chariots, maenads and satyrs, wild animals and allegorical figures.
The first owner, Flavius Magnus Decentius, was the brother of Emperor Magnentius, from whom the name of the town of Desenzano is said to derive.
The Cathedral
The church, dedicated to St Mary Magdalene, was built on the ruins of the old parish church between 1586 and 1611, based on a design by the architect Giulio Todeschini.
The façade features Baroque decorative elements, whilst the interior, with its three-nave basilica-style layout, is one of the finest examples of late Renaissance architecture in the province of Brescia.
Inside, the works of Andrea Celesti, a leading figure in 17th-century Venetian painting, stand out, including a large ‘Resurrection“.
In the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, visitors can admire *The Last Supper*, a remarkable work dating from 1738.
The Castle and its street
The castle overlooking the town, built on a castrum Originally built to defend against the barbarian invasions, it was rebuilt in the Middle Ages and reinforced in the 15th century.
The original walls are in themselves marvellous sights well worth visiting; furthermore, the castle often hosts major exhibitions by internationally renowned artists or events of great interest to tourists and local residents alike.
The street below, Via Castello, is also very distinctive because of its layout and the many businesses that bring it to life.
The Squares
Piazza Cappelletti, Piazza Malvezzi and Piazza Matteotti are the three main squares in the historic centre, from which you can enjoy breathtaking views, make use of the services offered by the local businesses, and admire the monuments dedicated to people or events that have shaped national and local history.
Piazza Garibaldi is another splendid square situated in the highest part of Desenzano, in the Capolaterra area. There are also Piazza Ex Deodara and Piazza degli Alpini in Rivoltella, and Piazza per la Concordia in San Martino.
The Old Port
The small harbour (known as “Old Harbour“), which is first mentioned as early as 1274, was extended during the Venetian Republic to serve the thriving grain market.
It is one of the most photographed and Instagrammed places in Italy, thanks to its natural and architectural features.
From the Ponte della Veneziana, which spans the harbour, you can enjoy the best view of Palazzo Todeschini, the statue of Saint Angela Merici and, in the background, the medieval castle.
The Lighthouse and the Harbour
The lighthouse is the quintessential symbol of Desenzano; it features in almost all the town’s logos and is the main attraction for tourists.
The lighthouse lantern, consisting of a dioptric device fuelled by paraffin, remained in use until 1903, when electric lighting was introduced, having already been in use in the town of Desenzano since 1899.
To this day, the building serves as a landmark for the whole community and is the point of arrival for the boats and ships moored in the harbour.
Rambotti Archaeological Museum
The museum, named after Giovanni Rambotti, houses an extraordinary collection of Bronze Age archaeological artefacts that document the development of pile-dwelling settlements on the shores of Lake Garda.
This is an interactive museum that offers sensory experiences which transport visitors back to prehistoric times, thanks in part to state-of-the-art technology.
On display in the museum are artefacts from the Lavagnone pile-dwelling site, the most recent of which is an ancient dugout canoe.
Oil and Wine Tasting
Food and wine are one of Desenzano’s many highlights. The local wines include Lugana, classic white Garda, Chiaretto, red Garda, Groppello and San Martino della Battaglia DOC.
Another gem of the region is its PDO extra virgin olive oil, characterised by an extremely low acidity level, which makes it particularly easy to digest and, as a result, highly sought-after.
The high quality of this Garda olive oil is monitored by its own consortium and by a certification body in accordance with a set of production regulations, which are among the most stringent in the country.
Golf
Gardagolf Country Club, in Soiano del Lago, offers its members and guests a technically challenging course set in breathtaking surroundings, always maintained to the highest standards, alongside a welcoming clubhouse offering a wide range of first-class facilities.
The Chervò Golf Hotel SPA & Resort is in San Vigilio, just a few minutes’ drive from the most beautiful resorts on Lake Garda and the most famous theme parks.
Calvagese, on the other hand, is home to the Arzaga Golf Club, a club of international renown; it attracts a great many guests who return here regularly every year.
Sailing and Cycling
Fraglia Vela, the DIELLEFFE Sailing Club, the Lega Navale and many other organisations offer opportunities to hire boats or take part in this sport.
Desenzano also frequently hosts top-level sailing competitions and, thanks to local organisations, places great emphasis on inclusivity, offering courses specifically for people with disabilities. “Lake likes bikes – The lake loves bikes”It’s not just a slogan, but a reality to be taken at face value.”.
Lake Garda is best enjoyed at a leisurely pace, without any stress.
Go-karting and Clay Pigeon Shooting
The South Garda Karting circuit is situated in the nearby town of Lonato. It is one of the most important karting circuits on the international scene.
As well as official races, the circuit offers visitors the chance to experience the world of karting through the hire of karts for adults and children, as well as two-seater karts.
The Trap Concaverde shooting range in Lonato comprises twelve shooting lanes, arranged side by side along a longitudinal axis. The orientation of the shooting direction ensures maximum usability, whilst minimising the disruption caused to shooters by direct sunlight.