Isola del Garda Opens to Public with Guided Tours of Historic Villa and Gardens
The Isola del Garda opens its precious treasure chest to visitors of the Riviera dei Limoni. Thanks to the agreement reached between the island’s ownership, the Cavazza family, and hoteliers of Alto Garda Brescia, the tourism package has been enriched with this new opportunity: a guided tour lasting approximately 90 minutes through the marks of history and the centuries-old legends of this splendid and mysterious island.
The Isola del Garda, located between Salò and Manerba, is the largest on the lake. It boasts an exceptional English-style park, rich with centuries-old plants, and an imposing villa in Venetian Neo-Gothic style. The historian Giuseppe Solitro describes it in his 1897 «Benaco» as follows: “Lying from west to east like a ship, it is entirely surrounded by rocks; inside, there is a charming garden with laurel, olive, citrus, palm trees, giant agaves, and other rare plants, caves, artificial fishponds, jets, and fountains.”
The history and origin of the island
According to Solitro, the island was purchased in 1220 by San Francesco d’Assisi, who built a monastery there and settled friars of the order he founded; it was the first minor friaries in Brescia province. Legend has it that, after San Francesco, Sant’Antonio da Padova and San Bernardino da Siena also arrived, with the latter, who first reached the island in 1422, promoting the construction of a convent on its eastern side. The same saint is said to have designed it in Franciscan style: cells with Gothic windows and small garden cloisters.
Religious figures were expelled from the island during the Napoleonic period, and the Count Luigi Lechi made it his residence, turning it into a center of Risorgimento conspiracy. In 1860, the island was purchased by the Italian Government, which built barracks and for some time maintained a military garrison there.
The current appearance and guided visits
The Duke Gaetano De Ferrari of Genoa and his wife, the Russian Archduchess Anna Maria Annenkoff, gave the island’s palace its current look: the grand villa in Venetian Neo-Gothic style, designed by architect Luigi Rovelli, was constructed between 1900 and 1903. It faces south, with architecture inspired by Venetian palaces.
At one end, there is a square tower, while the main façade overlooks a charming terraced garden, where decorative hedges display the family crests of the island owners. The park contains exotic species, artificial caves, and channels.
Visit options and services offered
Visitors will now be able to explore the park, gardens, and two rooms of the palace. Boat departures will depart from Salò, Gardone, and Maderno with hotel reservations. At the end of the tour, a light refreshment will be served on the villa’s terrace.
