Peschiera del Garda
Peschiera del Garda
Peschiera del Garda, a charming village on the southern shore of the lake
Peschiera del Garda, originally known as “Arilica”, is a jewel of architecture, art and culture, awarded the title of Flowering Municipality 2007, Virtuous City 2012 and Jewel of Italy Municipality. The 53rd UNESCO World Heritage Site for the Venetian defensive walls of Peschiera, added to the prestigious list in 2017, it deserves the visitors’ attention, both for the peculiar shape of the fortress and for its spectacular position: it is in fact a pentagonal fortification with a bastion on each vertex, located in the middle of the waters of the river Mincio. In addition to this site, Peschiera also boasts another UNESCO World Heritage Site for pile-dwelling sites in the Alps, making it the only Garda town to obtain this prestigious double recognition. Water games, lights and colours surround the city, inviting tourists to embark on unforgettable walks and excursions.
What to do in Peschiera del Garda
Characterised by a coastline rich in bathing and sporting activities, the port and marinas are ideal starting points for discovering the gulf and Lake Garda. In this wonderful adventure our four-legged friends will also be pampered with ad hoc services and places, such as the dog-friendly Braccobaldo Beach, the first on Lake Garda, which will allow you to enjoy the lake in the company of your faithful friend. In the lush greenery of the hinterland you can discover vineyards, wine cellars, farmhouses and trattorias where you can taste local products such as salami, cheese, honey and typical dishes based on fish of the lake, red and white meat. Today, the ramparts and alleyways of the historic centre are home to shops, restaurants, ice cream parlours and leisure facilities. In the surrounding area there are some of Europe’s best-known nature and leisure parks. The local pride and joy is the renowned Lugana D.O.C. white wine, particularly recommended with fish. The crown jewel of the area is the beautiful and well-known Sanctuary of the Madonna del Frassino, a destination for many pilgrims. If, on the other hand, you prefer to admire the town from the sea, in Peschiera you can take advantage of the motorboat rental service, with and without a licence, and excursions with a driver, for an unforgettable experience on Lake Garda. To meet the needs of tourists who choose Peschiera for their holidays, the tourist reception infopoint is open 365 days a year.
“Sitteth Peschiera, fortress fair and strong,
To front the Brescians and the Bergamasks,
Where round about the bank descendeth lowest.
There of necessity must fall whatever
In bosom of Benaco cannot stay,
And grows a river down through verdant pastures.
Soon as the water doth begin to run
No more Benaco is it called, but Mincio,
Far as Governo, where it falls in Po.”
Discover the wonders of your lake
Points of interest in Sommacampagna
Audio guides of Peschiera del Garda
Piazzale Cesare Betteloni, 15, 37019 Peschiera del Garda, VR, Italia
Peschiera del Garda is an important example of a fortified town completely surrounded by water which, thanks to the numerous examples of military structures belonging to different periods, can be defined as a real “open-air museum”. In order to disco…
Fort Papa
Forte Papa, Via Milano, Peschiera del Garda, VR, Italia
The fort was built to withstand the enemy’s advances from the west, hence the shape of its western side that could absorb artillery fire. The east side, facing Peschiera, was not defended by earth ramparts, and the main wall was indefensible in the e…
La Palazzina storica
Parco Catullo, 1, 37019 Peschiera del Garda, VR, Italia
Visiting the “Palazzina del Comando di Piazza Forte”, commonly called the “Palazzina Storica”, it seems as if time has stood still. It is a two-storey building that on the ground floor contained two officers’ lodgings, the chancellery and the militar…
Museum of Fishing and Lake Traditions
Museo della Pesca e delle Tradizioni Lacustri, Parco Catullo, Peschiera del Garda, VR, Italia
The museum is situated in the Radetzky Hall (former Powder Laboratory) of the Porta Verona Artillery Barracks. Inside you can discover the nautical instruments used for navigation on Lake Garda, period photos, materials and fishing tools. The boats i…
Peschiera-Mantova Cycle Route of Mincio
Tourism Peschiera Infopoint, Piazzale Cesare Betteloni, Peschiera del Garda, VR, Italia
A point of interest on the EuroVelo 7 or “The Sun Route”, Peschiera is the starting point for the enchanting Peschiera-Mantova Cycle Route of Mincio. Thanks to its location, it is a central junction for reaching the main tourist destinations of the l…
Porta Verona Artillery Barracks
Porta Verona, Peschiera del Garda, VR, Italia
The large arsenal built between 1854 and 1857 by Radetzky was opened to the public after a meticulous restoration. Part of the fortress of Peschiera, it is known as the ‘Caserma d’Artiglieria di Porta Verona’ (Artillery Barracks of Porta Verona). The…
The Ponte dei Voltoni
Ponte dei Voltoni, Via Dante, Peschiera del Garda, VR, Italia
The Ponte dei Voltoni recognisable by its characteristic five arches was built in 1556. The Venetian commissioner, Iacobo Gauro, whose tombstone on the facade of the house in Via Dante is still visible today, directed the building works immediately a…
The Scaliger fortress
Rocca Scaligera con torre romana, Peschiera del Garda, VR, Italia
Between 1500 B.C. and 600 B.C., the pile-dwelling village of Peschiera was the centre of the culture of northern Italy and above all the bronze production hub. It is said that during the Roman period, there was an imposing square tower there in Pesch…
