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and the surrounding area Lake Iseo and Franciacorta
The Camonica Valley
Lake Garda and Sabbia Valley
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Lake Garda The biggest lake in Italy, is bordered by a morainic
amphitheatre at the south and develops into a northern arm wedged between the mountains.
The powers (Milan and Venice) long fought for the lake and maintained miliary fleets
there. From here, a galley from Salò travelled down the Mincio River and the Po River to
fight at Lepanto.
Along the river banks a mild climate provides for the cultivation of olives and citrus
fruits. The hills toward the plain are covered with vineyards that produce famous wines.
The clear water is inhabited by fish which enrich the nets and the tables that for
centuries have satisfied the refined palates of an elite tourism, from the poets Catullus,
Goethe and D’Annunzio to politicians such as Churchill.
A BRIEF HISTORY
Numerous prehistoric sites have been discovered by excavations in the surrounding area
of Lake Garda: in Lavagnone, near Desenzano, the oldest wooden plough in the world was
found. Polada, near Lonato, has uncovered a lake-dwelling civilization from the Bronze
Age.
The Romans built grandiose villas in Sirmione, Desenzano and Toscolano. In Lugana di
Sirmione (312 AD) Costantine the victory over Maxentius.
The grain market in Desenzano, where you could also find iron, yarn, paper from Toscolano,
coal, lumber and fruit, had already become important in the 1300s.
When Venice conquered Lake Garda in 1426, the Magnificent Homeland was establshed in
Salò, on which six "quadre" (districts) depended.
Under Austrian domination there was significant economic growth: in 1829 the "Lake
Garda Society" was established in Gargnano for the pressing of olives; the year after
gave birth to the Society of Casinò in Gardone. In 1852 the railroad arrived at Desenzano
with its imposing viaduct with 16 arches.
Lake Garda - Salò
The construction of the Duomo di Santa Maria Annunziata in Salò was started in 1453
according to the design of Filippo delle Vacche. The Renaissance portal by Antonio della
Porta and Gasparo da Coirano is from 1509.
The Gothic interior is a container of valuable works of art. In the first chapel on the
right is the wood group of the Death of Christ (XVI cent.). There are also numerous
paintings by Zenon Veronese, Palma Junior (author also of the Assumption frescoed in the
vault of the presbytery and the shutters of the Antegnati organ) and Andrea Celesti.
The 1400s main altar-piece is a work by Bartolomeo da Isola Dovarese, with statues by
Pietro Bussolo. The candelabra are made of melted bronze from cannons conquered from the
Turks. The chapel of the Holy Sacrament was decorated at the end of the XVI cent. by
Malosso.
There are two paintings by Romanino in the left nave: the St. Anthony from Padova and the
St. Mary with the Baby Jesus and Saints. In the penultimate left altar, the St. Anthony
Between the Saints Rock and Sebastian could be by Moretto. In the Baptistery, there is a
wooden Christ Crucified by Giovanni da Ulma and next to it, a polyptych of the Virgin on
the throne with Saints by Guglielmo Veneziano (XIV cent.). |
