Peschiera, Sirmione, Desenzano
The South Coast is separated from the Po plain by gentle hills and has been traveled since ancient times by soldiers, merchants and pilgrims who followed the via Gallica created by the Romans. Here the lake reaches its maximum amplitude and is connected to Venice and Milan, thanks to the railroad that offers the opportunity to reach by train two towns of lake Garda.
Peschiera
Thanks to its strategic location between the lake and the river Mincio, the Po Valley and the moraine hills, Peschiera has been inhabited since the bronze age and was an important bulwark for the defense of Veneto until the unification of Italy. The old town is completely surrounded by water and by imposing walls that make of Peschiera a small star-shaped Venice. Several military buildings of the period of the Habsburg rule are very elegant. Well worth a look the two monumental gates and the archaeological area.
Sirmione
The particular shape of the peninsula, the fascinating Roman remains and medieval castle,the humble fishermen's houses make Sirmione the most visited resort on the lake. The historical center is located on an island and is reached through a bridge. The castle with battlements of different shapes and its pretty fortified harbor is a rare beauty of medieval architecture. On a rocky promontory among the olive trees you find one of the largest and most impressive Roman-era villas in Italy, which gives to Sirmione the charm of Pompeii. The fragments of Roman frescoes in the archaeological museum are of great refinement. On the hills you see the bell towers of St. Peter's Church and of the Virgin Snow Church with medieval frescoes. You can see the ruins of a Lombard monastery, Villa Cortine park, the villa of the soprano Maria Callas and the Boiola thermal spring accessible by boat. Very indicated as prophylaxis in autumn are the treatments with sulphurous water of the spa Aquaria and Catullo.
Desenzano
The most populated town on Lake Garda was once very important for its market which is still held on Tuesdays. The splendid mosaics of the Roman Villa and the prehistoric remains of Rambotti Museum show that the place is inhabited since time immemorial. Mosaic floors with tigers, cupids fishing and girls who weave the flowers give an idea of how sumptuous was this Roman villa on the lake shore. The oldest plow in the world is kept in a desecrated monastery along with other objects of everyday life of the Stone Age hunters and our ancestors of the pile-dwelling settlement. The big church dedicated to Mary Magdalene has large canvases by Andrea Celesti and a painting by Tiepolo. It’s nice to walk under the arcades around the harbor and climb to the fortress to enjoy an enchanting view over the lower lake Garda.
