The castle of Desenzano del Garda

The romantic ruins of the Castle of Desenzano are crowned with their pewter columns over the largest city of Lake Garda: Desenzano del Garda.

The city offers beautiful sea promenades, a picturesque harbour and arcades in the old town. It is where life pulsates, especially during the weekend when many visitors come from Brescia and Verona.

If you walk up through the narrow streets of the old town to the hill, you come to the Castello di Desenzano. The castle was built in the year 1000 mainly as a defence against the Hungarians and as a shelter or refuge for the population.

Over the centuries, however, it has often been the subject and site for numerous battles that contributed significantly to the decay of the fortress. Only the outer circular curtain wall and the towers remain. After a complicated restoration, the castle opened to the public in the spring of 2007.

Today you can visit the tower complex on two floors. Visitors can climb up to the Donjon, the former bellman's apartment, and finally on to the observation point at the top, with a beautiful view over the city and Lake Garda. On a walkway under the crenellations, you continue to a spiral staircase. From here, the descent starts while you can enjoy an impressive insight into old cannon shafts. During the summer months, concerts and historical events are held in a small arena here.

• Desenzano del Garda