The biggest lake in Italy, is bordered by a
moraine 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 military fleets there. From here,
a galley from Salo' 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.
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 Salo', 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
Casino' in Gardone. In 1852 the railroad arrived at Desenzano with its imposing viaduct with 16 arches.
Lake Garda - Salo'
Salo' has always represented the gateway to the Riviera along the western bank of
Lake Garda, the most important town within the Park and the lively and sophisticated
capital of what the Venetians called the "Magnifica Patria". Its predominant role in
the economic and administrative life of the area is today reconfirmed.
The lakeside
promenade and the elegant buildings facing onto it offer the opportunity to encounter
the people, history and art of the Lake Garda region. Among the buildings which stand
out there are the Palazzo della Magnifica Patria, built in 1524 to a design by
Sansovino and reconstructed after the earthquake in 1901, and the cathedral, enriched
over the centuries by important works of art, from the expressive wooden Crucifix by
Giovanni Teutonico the paintings of Palma the Younger and Romanino.
The construction of the Duomo di Santa Maria Annunziata in Salo'
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.).
Salo at night - Photo © 
