Lake Garda: History & Myths
Latest Stories
The History of Terme di Sirmione: The Interwar Period
The transition period between the two World Wars saw Sirmione gain popularity as a spa resort, thanks to the combination of excellent therapeutic results and the natural beauty of the location. However, it also had to face economic difficulties related to the devaluation of the Lira and a period of stagnation. In 1938, following extensive…
Radio Popolare Lonato: Year Zero (Part 1)
By Roberto Darra It was August 18, 1976, when a new sound burst onto the airwaves in Lonato. It was not a RAI broadcast, but a private radio station broadcasting music and news from a garage in Via Ludovico Ariosto. After numerous preparatory meetings at the bakery of the brothers Franco, Giordano, and Ezio Stuani,…
A Testimony of Hope from the Sanctuary of San Polo
Good day to everyone. Today I would like to share, in a few simple words from the bottom of my heart, my personal testimony and what I received from this place. I prefer to remain anonymous because this is a delicate subject for me, one that almost no one knows about, but which I would…
The Compagnia de Riultèla: 30 Years of Success
Making theater that makes people laugh, offering carefree hours, is the specialty of the Compagnia de Riultèla, which celebrates 30 years of activity this year. A long history that has seen numerous actors and collaborators succeed one another, always with a focus on dialect theater. These years have also been marked by the difficulty of…
The Aloisian Year: Historical Sites to Visit in Castiglione delle Stiviere
The Aloisian Historical Museum The museum dedicated to Saint Aloysius (San Luigi) is located in the College of the Virgins of Jesus (Collegio delle Vergini di Gesù). This institution was founded on June 21, 1608, by Cinzia, Olimpia, and Gridonia—daughters of Rodolfo, the brother to whom Aloysius had surrendered his birthright. Inspired by their uncle,…
The Dynamics of Lake Garda: Water Turnover and Climate Change
After 20 years, a phenomenon has occurred in Lake Garda that deserves to be better understood, precisely because it illustrates how dynamic, alive, fascinating, and resilient a lake environment can be. Lake Garda (or Benaco), as an oligomictic lake, falls into this category: a lake that only “occasionally” mixes its entire water column from top…
Other Stories
The Abbey of Maguzzano: A Haven of Peace and Spirituality
The Abbey of Maguzzano is located on the lower Lake Garda, in a suggestive natural setting between morainic hills and water reflections, representing a place of great quiet and spirituality. Its origins date back to the 9th century, when Benedictine monks founded a small abbey in a strategic position near Verona and Brescia, important not…
A Centenary to Remember: The Union of Rivoltella and Desenzano in 1926
One hundred years ago, in July, the union of the Municipality of Desenzano with the Municipality of Rivoltella took place, through the royal decree of July 29, 1926. This established the merger of “Desenzano sul Lago” and “Rivoltella sul Garda” into a single municipality named “Desenzano del Garda”. At the time, Desenzano had 6,227 inhabitants…
The Noise of Spring: The Ancient Rite of “Ciocà Mars
Discover the ancient custom of “Ciocà Mars” and “Trato Marzo,” a noisy, mocking ritual used in Valtenesi to drive away winter and welcome spring
The Expropriated Catullus: The Battle for Sirmione’s Roman Ruins
Discover the controversial history behind the expropriation of Sirmione’s Grotte di Catullo and the local struggle to define this archaeological site.
A History of Trains and Railway Workers
Changes in the railways at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries. Dear Luigi, when a century is about to end, ushering in a new millennium, events often occur that disrupt the normal course of things. The final years of the 20th century, when Italian Lire still circulated, marked the maturity of my working…
A Hymn to Life: The Story of Benedetta Bianchi Porro
Discover the inspiring life of Benedetta Bianchi Porro, a Venerable figure who lived in Sirmione and transformed immense physical suffering into spiritual light.
