Desenzano Launches Initiative to Preserve Lake Garda Lemon Groves

“Save the existing lemon groves and request that institutional authorities include them in the special list of monuments of international interest.” This is the goal launched by the **Commissione Pari Opportunità** and by the president of the **Consiglio comunale di Desenzano**, **Maria Ida Germontani**, who also promoted a study day scheduled for Saturday, October 20th, in the conference hall of the **Palazzo del Turismo**.

It certainly seems a bit unusual that the town of Lower Garda, which is certainly not the capital of lemon groves, hosts this interesting and somewhat courageous initiative. A horticulturist from Piacenza will be present to present the results of his study on the adaptability and resilience of lemon groves and other Mediterranean tree species in the Lake Garda area.

Proposal for monument recognition

“But these structures are a natural heritage of all Gardesans and, we hope, Italians,” promptly intervenes **Maria Ida Germontani**. “We propose that they become monuments of national interest: this is our battle.”

The organizers’ ambition is, therefore, to transform the study day into an annual event for discussion and monitoring of the work and related issues. The project, which can become a tool for further new economic opportunities for many entrepreneurial sectors, not only tourism, is supported also by sponsorship from national and local institutions.

Organization and participants

The coordination of the entire event is managed by **Marialuisa Monesi** and **Sira Savoldi**, who hope to find new allies among entrepreneurs and citizens. The initiative was named “Yellow Lemon Between Blue Sky and Water”.

The conference in the morning will feature talks regarding the local context. **Domenico Fava**, a local expert and historian from Limone, will share historical testimonies on the socio-economic use of Gardesans lemon groves. Then **Lorenzo Trevisani**, the last lemon grower in Gargnano, will speak. The subsequent series of interventions will focus on the future of these structures, moderated by **Maria Ida Germontani**.

They will discuss with **Giovanni Cigognetti**, an architect and former mayor of Salò with expertise in restoration and census of lemon groves, and **Alberta Cazzani**, faculty member at the **Politecnico di Milano** Faculty of Architecture. In the afternoon, the debate will expand nationally with contributions from **Giuseppe Barbera** (University of Palermo), **Giuseppe Rallo** (Superintendent of Architectural Heritage of Venice), then **Giorgio Galletti** (Superintendent of Florence), **Christiane Garnero** (project manager for the protection of citrus groves of the French Riviera), and **Carmine Guarino** (botanist, professor at the University of Naples).

Finally, a photographic and tools exhibition will be set up at the **Palazzo del Turismo**.