Guide to Brescia

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Summary

THINGS TO KNOW

3 History and culture

THINGS TO SEE

5 Churches and Museums 7 Historical buildings and monuments

THINGS TO TRY

9 Eating and Drinking 10 Shopping 11 Hotels and lodgings

THINGS TO EXPERIENCE

12 Events 13 La Dolce Vita

ITINERARIES

14 A special day 16 From Franciacorta to Lake Iseo 18 Brescian Lake Garda: the atmosphere of the Belle Epoque 20 Aromas and tastes 32

on agriculture, trade, marble quarries and Venice and was included by Napoleon in the iron mines. Cisalpine Republic, but, with the collapse With the disintegration of the Roman Empire of the Napoleonic empire (1815), Austria in 476, Brescia suffered the scourge of incorporated Brescia into its own territory. barbarian invasions: Eruli, Ostrogoths and Austrian domination lasted until 1859: in fact, Byzantines. Then Alboin’s Lombards arrived in that period, the new concepts of liberty from present-day Hungary. For two centuries, and self-determination of peoples spread by the city was the site of one of the most the French revolution were in full ferment important Lombard duchies. Important civil and Brescia was one of the centers with the and religious centers were constructed, such most active revolutionary movements. In as the monastic complex of San Salvatore 1849, the Brescian revolutionaries rebelled and Santa Giulia. This was followed by the and resisted their Austrian masters for ten Frankish domination of Charlemagne, which dramatic days. This was the episode that lasted until 888. Following the disintegration earned the city the nickname, “Lioness of Charlemagne’s empire, the city entered a of Italy”. Austrian domination ended with dark period that left few traces. the Wars of Independence. Finally, in 1859, Between the 12th and 13th centuries, we see Brescia was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy the age of the Communes, in which Brescia and, from that day on, the city’s history has was often engaged in wars with nearby cities been tied to that of united Italy. or bloodied by civil war. The communes Brescia: monument to Brescia freedom fi ghters interrupted fi ghting each other only to unite against a common enemy: the Lombard Brescia, called “the lioness of Italy,” is a League was formed and defeated Emperor dynamic, hardworking city whose inhabitants Frederick I Barbarossa when he descended are famous for their tenacity and dedication into Italy in 1176. These centuries were a to work. period of great building activity: a new circle The city is also able to display a rich of wall was built and the Duomo Vecchio and heritage of history and art, which spans from Broletto date from this period. prehistoric times to the present. Tourists will The 14th and 15th centuries were the Age be fascinated by the atmosphere created by of the Signories: the city came under the its airy piazzas and picturesque lanes, its domination of powerful noble families such fountains and aristocratic residences, the as the Angioini, Visconti and Malatesta. intimacy of its cloisters and the art treasures In 1426, Brescia became a possession of waiting to be discovered in its churches and the Republic of Venice, and remained such museums. until 1796. Under Venice’s liberal rule, the city experienced a period of splendor and Brescia’s origins can be traced to the Bronze economic development: This is the period Age, but the city’s importance began latter in which Piazza della Loggia, and many when it was the capital of the Cenomani churches and noble palazzi were built, and Gauls of Brixia. The Cenomani were defeated the construction of the new fortifi ed walls and absorbed by the Romans in 187 BC, but that made the city impregnable. it was only in 49 BC, under Julius Ceaser, that Towards the end of the 17th century, the Brescia obtained full Roman citizenship. This city began to feel the effects of Venice’s was followed by a long period of peace and political decline. Brescia was an area of splendor, in which Brescia became of the passage for foreign troops who sacked major centers of Northern Italy. The city grew and pillaged; the city felt unprotected by thanks to the strength of its economy based Venice. In 1797, Brescia rebelled against

San Francesco: an exquisite example of a of the most important collections of ancient Franciscan monastery, constructed in the 13th arms in Europe. The visitor will ﬁ nd himself century in a late Romanesque style. Its simple surrounded by over 500 weapons and armor façade encloses a splendid rose window. Even fabricated in Italy and Europe from the the interior is characterized by a simple style, 15th to the 18th centuries. There are very but it preserves important works, frescoes rare pieces, masterpieces of technique and and paintings including a masterpiece by reﬁ nement and many made in Brescia. The Romanino. The splendid cloister built in 1394, museum also contains the remains of a Roman with its red marble columns, is also worth a temple found during excavations. visit. Pinacoteca Civica Tosio-Martinengo: this is Santi Nazario e Celso: This church is worth a one of the most important Italian painting visit just for one masterpiece it contains: the collections. The works on display range from Averoldi polyptych by Titian. the 13th to 18th centuries. The main nucleus consists of paintings by Renaissance Brescian Santa Maria dei Miracoli: this church is masters such as Foppa, Romanino, Moretto considered a jewel of Lombard Renaissance and Savoldo; to these are added masterpieces sculpture. It was constructed to celebrate by Raffaello, Paolo Veneziano, Lotto and a miraculous image of the Madonna tat was others. The Pinacoteca also hosts many works painted on the wall of a nearby house. The coming from city palazzi and churches. The

Brescia: the New Cathedral sacred image is now kept in the church’s museum organizes extremely important art apse. The façade was decorated by master exhibits on a regular basis. The Duomo Vecchio or “Rotonda”: a sculptors who worked on the construction of Romanesque building on a circular plan the Loggia during the same period. Museo del Risorgimento: the museum traces surmounted by a tambour with conical roof. the history of Italian Uniﬁ cation from the Its interior consists of a central space formed Museo della Città – Monastery of Santa end of Venetian domination until 1870. The by eight pilasters that support a majestic Giulia: this incredible museum is one of the collection contains a great many canvases, dome. From the lower level, one descends most important complexes of the early middle prints, letters, announcements, decrees, to the crypt of San Filastro, constructed ages in Northern Italy. Founded in 753 by the coins and knickknacks from that period. using Roman and Byzantine materials from Lombard King Desiderio, the monastery was the preceding basilica. The Rotonda contains expanded several times until the Renaissance. interesting paintings by Romanino and Moretto The complex contains the Basilica of San and the sarcophagus of Bishop Berardo Maggi Salvatore, of Lombard origin, the Church of (1308). Santa Giulia, the Church of Santa Maria in Solario, which houses the Treasure of Santa The Duomo Nuovo: construction began in Giulia, and three Renaissance cloisters. 1604 but was not ﬁ nished until 1825, when Three Roman villas were discovered under the dome was completed. Due to the slow the larger cloister, the Domus dell’Ortaglia. pace of construction, its style is anything but The monastery area was acquired by the homogeneous: one notices this immediately Municipality, which has turned the Church of in the majestic façade, which has a Baroque Santa Giulia into the “Museo della Città” where lower part and is Neoclassic over the portal. one can follow the history of Brescia from the The interior has a Greek cross plan with Bronze Age through to the Renaissance. The columns and pilasters supporting an 80- museum regularly hosts large art shows. meter high dome. The church preserves many sculptures and paintings from the Renaissance Museum of Ancient Arms: the museum is on. located in the Castello di Brescia and is one

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the Museo delle Armi Antiche and the Museo What you see today, is the result of various del Risorgimento. superimposed buildings: the stone part is the The gardens are also worth a visit and, in the oldest, while the terra cotta parts is latter. summer, the Brescians transform them into a The palazzo also incorporates the façade much loved meeting point. of the preceding Romanesque church of Sant’Agostino. Piazza della Loggia: the piazza was designed in 1433, commissioned by the mayor, Marco The Mercato dei Grani: it is located in Foscari, to give the Brescian nobility a new Piazzale Arnaldo, one of the most fascinating place to gather. piazzas of Brescia. The palazzo was used as a The piazza became the center of the city’s grain market and is a magnifi cent example of political and economic life. It was not how public utility can be combined with great completed until a century later. Gradually, esthetic concepts. the Loggia, Monte Vecchio and Monte Nuovo The piazza’s tall statue commemorates di Pietà, with its porticos and clock tower Arnaldo, a 12th-century monk condemned were constructed. to death as a heretic for having publicly The Loggia was the city’s public building and condemned the corruption of the Brescian is the city hall today. Some of the greatest clergy. architects of the day contributed to the In the piazza at the corner with Porta Venezia, design, such as Sansovino and Palladio. you will fi nd Zilioli, one of the city’s most Brescia: the Venetian Loggia The ship’s keel dome was destroyed by famous pastry shops, which is a good place fi re in 1575 and it was only in 1915 that it to take a break. Tempio Capitolino and Teatro Romano: the was decided to rebuild it in lead following temple, constructed in 74 BC enclosed the the original design. The rich sculptural ancient forum on its north side. A marble decorations adorning the palazzo are also staircase leads to the temple façade, formed worthy of note. by 6 columns. Inside the temple, there were The Monte Vecchio di Pietà is the oldest 3 cells with marble fl oors. building on the piazza and is an example of On the side, there is the theater, constructed the Venetian Renaissance style. in the 1st century BC and renovated in the It is decorated with ancient Roman stones 2nd century. The theater stands on a hill, in found during excavations for the construction the Greek style, and hosted as many as 15,000 of the piazza and arranged in the façade by spectators. the city government of the time. On the side opposite the Loggia, in the center The Castle: it is located on the top of the of an elegant Venetian portico, you will fi nd Colle Cidneo, in a scenic position overlooking the Clock Tower. the city. This 14th-century tower houses a precious This was the settlement of the city’s fi rst mechanical astronomical clock, plated in inhabitants and later the Romans built an gold, portraying the sun and the signs of the enormous temple on the site. zodiac. On the top of the tower, you can see It is one of the most important fortifi ed two statues nicknamed “i macc de le ure” complexes in Italy and was constructed (the madmen of the hours), who strike the in various stages beginning from the 12th hours on the bell. century to the Venetian period. It is a true fortifi ed citadel with towers, The Broletto: dominated by the 11th-century bulwarks, buildings, courtyards, drawbridges Torre del Pégol , the monument is one of the and cellars that can be visited and that house most important Medieval Lombard palazzi.

and game birds, which is eaten during hunting season. Lake Iseo ﬁ sh is highly-prized: try the baked tench with polenta. And for those with strong palates, there’s lumache alla bresciana, snails cooked with spinach and seasoned with abundant grated Parmigian cheese.

Cheeses: from the mountains, we have puìna (a cow’s milk ricotta), rosa camuna and the goat’s milk cheeses, while the plains provide robiola and quartirolo; from the Lake Garda area, we have the famous formagella di Tremosine. A very aromatic cheese called bagòss deserves a special mention; it is made from the milk of cows that have grazed in the summer mountain pastures, rich with wildﬂ owers and aromatic herbs, and then aged for two years.

Brescia: polenta e osei Wine: perhaps due to the infl uence of Venice, Brescia: wine is always a good buy the Brescians are notoriously great wine-lovers The most representative dish in the Brescian and there is certainly no lock of production in The long porticos that lead from Piazza culinary tradition is casonsèi, large ravioli Brescia: from Barbera, Marzemino, Schiava della Loggia to Corso Zanardelli and Corso stuffed with Parmigian cheese, spinach and and Sangiovese grapes come the DOC reds Palestro are the favorite places for Brescians eggs. such as Botticino and Cellatica. to go strolling: this area has the most famous Other popular dishes are strangolapreti The hills of Lake Garda have two areas of DOC shoe and clothing stores and jewelry shops (“priest stranglers”), elongated dumplings cultivation: Lugana, a dry white, and Garda for every need. made of spinach, bread, eggs and cheese. Classico, which can be white, red or rosé. Antique shops and art galleries, on the other From Mantua, we have the tradition of tortelli Even more famous are the wines of hand, are found in the elegant area between di zucca, stuffed with pumpkin, almond Franciacorta, an area south of Lake Iseo: Via Trieste, Via Tosio, Via Cattaneo and Via cookies, fruit mustard, raisins and pine nuts. whites, rosés and reds, or a prestigious dei Musei. A real delicacy! Also not to be missed, sparkling wine. Franciacorta DOCG is the Great bargains for lovers of antiques can be especially in the fall and winter, is polenta most prized Italian sparkling wine, produced found at the mercatino dell’antiquariato, taragna, made from buckwheat, cream from Chardonnay and/or Pinot nero and/or held in Piazza della Vittoria on the second cheese and butter. Pinot bianco grapes. weekend of the month. Among the soups, mariconda is typical: bread The characteristics of Franciacorta wines are: It is one of the most important and varied in and egg dumplings fl avored with nutmeg and fi ne, persistent perlage; deep straw yellow all of Lombardy. In Franciacorta, the ancient Parmigian cheese and cooked in broth. color with greenish highlights; a mellow, wrought iron art continues to live in the craft Among the meats, Brescian gastronomy but decisive, scent of yeast accompanied workshops. offers tripe, lepre in salmì (wild hare), by delicate hints of dried fruit and cloves; mixed kabobs and uccelli scappati (“escaped pleasantly fl avorful and fresh in the mouth. birds”), which, the name notwithstanding, is actually pork wrapped in sage leaves. Also, typical, manzo all’olio, a very popular braised beef dish. One dish much loved by Brescians is polenta

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The route starts from Viale Venezia in Brescia and wends its way along the streets of half of Italy. The historic competition began in 1927 when Renzo Castagneto inaugurated the Freccia Rossa race that was run for 27 editions until 1957. Today, the competition is an incredible procession of antique cars and an excellent occasion to see the jewels of the most prestigious auto manufacturers as well as a world class that features the participation of many personalities of the international jet-set, and the world’s of entertainment and sports.

Centomiglia beginning of September. An international regatta that has been held on Lake Garda since 1951. The most prestigious European sailing competition on internal waters with hundreds of teams participating. The regatta’s departure and

Brescia: the Old and the New Cathedral Brescia: the Mille Miglia car race arrival point is the little port of Bogliacco, which is transformed into an international As an important economic center, Brescia Fair of San Faustino and Giovita,15 February. yachting center during the event. offers an excellent selection of hotels. The city’s largest fair, in honor of the city’s Depending on your budget, you can select patron saints. As many as 800 itinerant La Giostra di Brescia mid-September. from a great variety of hotels in Brescia, vendors, from all over Italy, invade the old An historic reenactment of the celebrations from 5-star luxury to simple 1-star garnì town center with their stalls for an entire held in 1497 on the occasion of the Queen hotels. Other types of lodgings, such as day. of Cyprus’s visit to her brother. The two days apartments and bed & breakfasts, are not of the celebration include a procession of very common due to the predominance of Another entertaining and absorbing tradition historic costumes, fl ag-tossing performances, business travel. On the other hand, those who is the Rogo della Vecchia, in the middle horse races and, most of all, the opportunity would prefer to stay outside of town have an of Lent: a scarecrow full of fi recrackers, to browse in the Medieval Market. embarrassment of choices: traditional tourist Catherine-wheels and fi reworks is burned areas, like Franciacorta or Lake Garda, offer accompanied by the applause of the crowd. Festival of Franciacorta 17-19 September a rich variety of lodgings: hotels de charme The scarecrow represents the evils of daily 2005. and historic residences, comfortable holiday local and national life. The festivals sixth edition will be held in the farms and bed & breakfasts, or even vacation 16th-century Abbazia Olivetana of Rodengo apartments and campsites. International Piano Festival from April to Saiano. The festival has booths were you can June. taste more than eighty varieties of Franciacorta Founded in 1964, it held in Brescia in the wine accompanied by an expert who provides Teatro Grande and in Bergamo at the Teatro advice on the best food combinations. There Donizetti. Each edition has a theme and are guided tours of wine cellars and numerous the title of the 2005 edition was “Brahms: other events. The festival is also a unique Symphonies and Concerts”. occasion for discovering the most enchanting places in Franciacorta. Mille Miglia in April and May. A recreation of a historic automobile race.

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Brescia has two important venues for a night city’s ancient city hall, the Monti di Pietà and at the theater: the Teatro Grande is the the Torre dell’Orologio. Take a look at the city’s temple for classical music and opera, precious astronomical clock portraying the while the prose theater is the Santa Chiara, sun and signs of the zodiac. built in a former convent. From Piazza della Loggia, we cross Via In Brescia, there’s no big problem continuing Beccaria to Piazza Paolo VI, where three the evening late into the night but the places important city monuments are located: fi rst, tend to be outside the center. the Broletto, Bescia’s Medieval city hall; the In the summer, its a tradition to walk up building still houses public offi ces, today. to the castle to enjoy the loveliest view in Immediately below the Broletto, you will Brescia and spend the evening at the tables fi nd the Duomo Nuovo and Duomo Vecchio, of the cafés. called the Rotonda, which was constructed The province has a great many famous discos, in a Romanesque style on the remains of a with the majority in Desenzano and Sirmione Paleo-Christian basilica. on Lake Garda. We recommend visiting the impressive interiors of both churches, which contain important works of art. The morning can end here, perhaps taking the famous shopping stroll under the porticos that lead from Piazza della Loggia to Corso Brescia: wine tasting in Franciacorta Brescia: aerial view of the Loggia Zanardelli. As it is well known, the Italians like to take a Brescia offers a variety of opportunities for This itinerary is intended for those who have long lunch break; why not adapt to this custom spending a pleasant evening characterized little time to spend but who don’t want to and select one of the many restaurants and by cheer and good food. Moreover, university pass up an opportunity to discover the city. trattorias in this part of the center? students give this industrious city a verve The itinerary includes a night in a Brescian Its an excellent opportunity to sample a that is signifi cantly lacking in other Lombardy hotel of your choice. This way, you can enjoy plate of casonséi or a selection of excellent cities, except for Milan. a real Brescian evening, immersing yourself Brescian cheeses and deli meats. However, it on the weekend that life explodes in the good food and the pleasure of living, on the city’s piazzas and streets. without having to worry about leaving. Afternoon. We continue the day, emerging In the old town center behind the Piazza into the heart of the Roman Brescia. From della Loggia, Piazza Paolo VI and Piazza Morning. The itinerary begins from the Church Piazza Paolo VI, we head down Via dei Musei, Vescovato, there is a large concentration of of San Francesco, one of the loveliest churches the ancient Roman decuman, which leads to restaurants, wine bars and cafés. of the city, with its frescos and splendid 15th- the Tempio Capitolino. The easiest route for sampling the fl avor of century cloister. It was ordered built by the Emperor Vespasian Brescian “movida” is simply from Via dei Then, following Via Martiri della Libertà between 73 and 74 AD. A little further on, you Musei to Via S. Faustino. and Via Fratelli Porcellaga we reach Piazza come to the Teatro Romano, of which little And don’t overlook scenic Piazzale Arnaldo, Vittoria, built in 1932 in monumental Fascist remains today. which has lately become the most “in” place style. There are several beautiful Renaissance for an aperitif. It is here that the cars gather every year palazzi along Via dei Musei, such as Palazzo By now, it’s become a well-established before the start of the famous Mille Miglia. We Maggi, Palazzo Uggeri-Ganassoni and Palazzo trend in Lombardy’s cities: in the evening take the street on the side of the Post Offi ce Martinengo Cesaresco. between 7:00 and 10:00, the young people to reach the lovely Piazza della Loggia, the A short distance from the theater, you will meet in nightspots to sip abundant glasses city’s living room and the heart of Renaissance come to the incredible Santa Giulia complex of pirlo (white wine with Campari or Aperol) Brescia. whose walls, cloisters and basilicas contact a accompanied with appetizers and other In the piazza, one is struck by the beauty of large part of the city’s history. snacks. the palazzi, such as the Loggia, which was the Inside, the city has installed the Museo della

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Città, which documents the evolution of the Middle Ages owned vast estates and Brescia from prehistory to the Renaissance. reclaimed and cultivated the land. The name, After this visit, why not take a lovely stroll “Franciacorta” seems to have been derived that leads from the center to the Castello? from “Francae Curtes,” i.e., the medieval The most characteristic way to get there is villages under the protection of monasteries the Contrada Sant’Urbano pedestrian mall that enjoyed an exemption from taxes. that climbs towards the hill from Piazzetta Wine: the cultivation of grapes on these hills Tito Speri. has very ancient origins, as evidenced by This enormous castle is a true fortifi ed city, prehistoric discoveries and the writings of which is worth visiting for all its secrets. Latin authors. For those with more time, the Castello houses In 1570, Brescian physician Gerolamo the Museo delle Armi Antiche, one of the Conforti, wrote in Libellus de Vino Mordaci most important collections in Europe, with about a wine “with little bubbles” produced over 500 weapons and suits of armor from the in Franciacorta. end of the 14th to the 18th century. Rodengo Saiano, a village of Roman and Evening. After an entire day immersed in Lombard origins is worth a visit for its art and culture, now’s the time to relax and magnifi cent Abbey of San Nicola. give yourself over to the pleasures of the The abbey was founded in the 10th century palate. You might start with a good cocktail by Cluniac monks. in Piazzale Arnaldo and then move on to one Franciacorta: wine cellars The three large cloisters, refectory and a of the many restaurants and nightspots in the gallery with works by great 16th and 17th- streets and piazzas of the center. The proposed itinerary will take you from century Brescian artists are all worth a visit. Brescia to Lake Iseo, crossing the gently Inside, there is a wrought iron museum, a rolling Franciacorta area. typical Franciacorta craft, and the production This itinerary is best completed in two days; of liqueurs made from herbs grown by the you can select a hotel in Franciacorta or a monks. hotel on Lake Iseo for a stay characterized In Ome, not far from Rodengo, we recommend by relaxation and charm. a visit to the Maglio Averoldi an ancient For those who prefer a different lodging forge, now a museum, where you can learn arrangement, Franciacorta has comfortable the history and methods of working iron. bed & breakfasts or holiday farms. Franciacorta is the sunny, morainal Passirano, a castle completely surrounded by amphitheater that extends south of Lake countryside, is the best preserved fortifi cation Iseo. in Franciacorta. It is a territory of gently rolling hills, cultivated It was built in the 10th century to defend with vineyards and dotted with medieval against Hungarian invasions and has a villages, ancient abbeys, castles, Renaissance trapezoidal plan and cylindrical side towers. palazzi and 18th and 19th-century patrician Today, it belongs to the Marchesi Fassati di villas that, today, often house wineries. Balzola house the winery’s cellars. The inside In effect, from the 17th century on, is not open to the public. Franciacorta has been the privileged summer resort of the Brescian and Milanese nobility, Bornato: Villa Orlando is a Medieval fortress which built scores of villas here, surrounded with crenellated walls, towers, moats and by marvelous gardens. drawbridge, inside of which a Renaissance Franciacorta’s history is also linked to the villa was constructed. There is an admission presence of great monasteries, which in charge.

Brescian Lake Garda: the atmosphere of the Belle Epoque

Provaglio d’Iseo the monastery of San Pietro Monte Isola - From the dock of Sulzano, it the two shores. It is worth visiting the Rocca in Lamosa is one of the most interesting only takes the boat a few minutes to reach Scaligera which was built in 1250 by Mastino Romanesque complexes of Brescia. It was Monte Isola, the largest lake island in Europe, I della Scala, Lord of Verona, as a fortress to founded by Cluniac monks in 1803 who came with an elevation of more than 400 meters protect the lake and a landing for the fl eet. to cultivate the land. above the surface of the lake. You enter the town over a drawbridge and can The monastery was an important center The tiny village of Peschiera Maraglio is its follow the narrow lanes of the center to the for swamp reclamation and the spread of main port, but all the island’s picturesque archeological site at the end of the peninsula. culture. It was also a refuge for travelers and villages have maintained their past fascination The Grotte di Catullo are one of the most the needy. The Church of San Pietro and the intact, with narrow lanes and interior gardens. interesting archeological areas in Italy: olives cloister are worth a visit. On Monte Isola, you can follow charming and cypress trees surround the remains of a The monastery is a jumping-off point for itineraries on foot or circumnavigate the large imperial age villa; it is the largest, best visiting the Torbiere del Sebino, a nature island by the bus leaving from Peschiera preserved villa in Northern Italy. refuge that was gradually created, beginning Maraglio. in the 18th century following the extraction The island prohibits automobile traffi c. All Desenzano was an important lake port in of the peat. the island’s hamlets have good trattorias Roman times. Its center opens on to the large The excavations created numerous water specializing in serving lake fi sh, like sardines, with a charming little port and rich palazzi basins and hundreds of swamp animals and chub and tench. overlook the large piazzas and pedestrian- plants made it their habitat. To visit the only streets. The village has a strong peat-bogs, just follow the routes consisting From Iseo, you can take an excursion 60 km Venetian imprint: in fact, the “Serenissima” of marked trails, bridges and bird watching north along the lovely Valcamonica to the took possession of Desenzano in the 15th stations. Parco Nazionale delle Incisioni Rupestri in Lake Garda: Desenzano century, making it an important commercial Capo di Ponte. center. A maze of narrow lanes rise towards Just a short distance from the peat-bogs, Protected by listing on UNESCO’s World This itinerary is best completed in two or the medieval castello, constructed in the you will fi nd Corte Franca, the heart of Heritage list, the Capo di Ponte rock carvings three days; you can select from a list of 10th century to protect against barbarian Franciacorta, a municipality consisting are the largest open-air museum of rock art in Lake Garda hotels for a stay characterized incursions. of four villages: Borgognato, Colombaro, Europe. Over 30,000 fi gures are carved onto by relaxation and charm. Those who prefer Nigoline and Timoline. You can see vineyards hundreds of rocks ranging from the Neolithic a different lodging solution can stay in a The road rises towards Salò through a lovely surrounding patrician villas that house famous to the Bronze Age. comfortable bed & breakfast or apartment hill area called Valteniesi. In Moniga; we wine cellars. If you want to stay overnight in the area, we on Lake Garda. recommend a brief visit to the castello, on Some of these can be visited, such as Palazzo recommend Boario Terme, one of the largest The itinerary wends its way through the most the best preserved on the southern shore of Lana-Berlucchi in Borgognato and Palazzo spa resorts in Italy, with many hotels and a fascinating scenery of Italy, the western shore Lake Garda. Torri in Nigoline, with its frescoed rooms modern 140-hectare facility in a park. of Lake Garda, called the Riviera dei Limoni, and period furnishings. You can only see which has fascinated poets and writers such Salò is an elegant resort on the shores of the outside of Palazzo Monti della Corte in as Catullo, Joyce, Goethe and D’Annunzio. a splendid bay. In was founded in Roman Nigoline, with a rustic façade decorated The south side of the lake is characterized by times with the name of Salodium. Its old with wrought iron, and Palazzo Ragnoli in gentle hills. This is the birthplace of some of town center is a true jewel, a tight labyrinth Colombaro. Brescia’s most famous wines, such as Lugana, of lanes and small piazzas crowned with a white, and Garda Classico, white, red or rosé. splendid lakeside promenade. We recommend A few kilometers from Corte Franca, you will As one climbs gradually towards the north, a visit to the Duomo, constructed in the 15th fi nd romantic Lake Iseo. The road runs along the landscape becomes increasingly harsh century in a late Gothic style, with many the lake to the town of Iseo, that in the past and severe until reaching the steep walls at important works inside; in addition, its worth was the market port for the entire lake. the north end of the lake. seeing the Palazzo della Magnifi ca Patria and It is pleasant to stroll through the medieval the Palazzo del Podestà. lanes of the center, past stores and restaurants, Sirmione is located on a narrow peninsula without overlooking the Romanesque parish that extends about 4 km into Lake Garda, one In Gardone Riviera, you will experience the church of Sant’Andrea (12th century). of the most enchanting places on the lake, atmosphere of a late 19th-century resort, and where one can enjoy a splendid view of where the nobility and bourgeoisie of all

Europe selected this resort to relax in its opportunities for sports and entertainment. Brescia web sites aristocratic residences. Gardone has an The central piazza is very lovely, surrounded especially mild climate that has allowed the by Lombardy-Venetian style buildings. The Hotels & Lodging Art & Culture area to be transformed into a true botanical most important city monument is the Rocca 4 Four Stars Hotels - Booking Centre... Cultural Institutions - Music... garden, where citrus trees, cypresses and Scaligera, a castle built by the Veronese Della olive trees coexist with palms, citrons and Scala family in 1124. agaves. Entertainment Fairs & Events Gardone di Sotto is the center of society life Live Music... Cultural Events... with cafés, stores and ﬁ n-de-siècle hotels. Gardone di Sopra has the Vittoriale, the museum-residence of the eclectic poet, Gabriele D’Annunzio. It is an extraordinary abundance of Art Nouveau buildings surrounded by a large park that the poet Servizi per le aziende Acquista la tua visibilità su Travel Plan built between 1920 and 1938 to house the mementos of his life: works of art, antique • Aggiungi il tuo sito • Pubbliredazionale books and rare and precious objects. • Inserzioni pubblicitarie • Offerte Speciali Gargnano is the favorite port of sail boaters. • Quick Info • Live help The winds always blow strong in this area of • Prime posizioni • Siti web - Netplan Lake Garda: it is no accident that the most important regatta on internal European waters, the Centomiglia, takes place here.

Tignale and Tremosine are located on the lake’s plateau and hinterland and provide one of the most beautiful views of the lake. They are small villages surrounded by tableland greenery planted with olive and fruit trees. There is a stunning route along the lakeshore road that goes to Tremosine running along the deep ravine of the Brasa torrent. Don’t miss the Terrazza del brivido (terrace of shivers), suspended 350 meters above the lake.

Limone - citrons and lemons are grown here, thanks to the mild climate it has had since time immemorial. Today, the area lives solely on tourism and many lemon-houses have been abandoned, but the unmistakable terracing for their cultivation has become a deﬁ nitive element of the landscape.

The itinerary ends in Riva del Garda, a picturesque town with an ancient look. The city is a busy tourist area with a good selection of hotels, restaurants and many

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