Sirmione Retains the Blue Flag
For the fourth consecutive year, the Municipality of Sirmione has obtained the prestigious 2026 Blue Flag, the international award assigned by the FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education). The quality seal was awarded again this year to the famous Jamaica Beach (Lido delle Grotte), confirming the excellence of bathing waters, the protection of the natural heritage, and the accessibility of services for people with disabilities.
The official presentation took place in Rome on May 14th, in the presence of Deputy Mayor Maurizio Ferrari. Key elements of this success include the new Sustainability Plan 2026–2028, which has already led to concrete results: a waste recycling rate reaching 72.3%, the maintenance of 80,000 square meters of lake reeds, the activation of the Renewable Energy Community, and the natural replenishment of beaches.
The recognition, obtained in synergy with the Lombardy Regional Museums Directorate and the Grotte di Catullo, sees Sirmione join other pearls of Lake Garda such as Gardone Riviera, Toscolano-Maderno, and the new entry Limone sul Garda.
Read more from GN Magazine – July 2026
GN Magazine – July 2026
Welcome to the digital edition of GN Magazine – July 2026. Here you will find the complete English translations of the main articles published in the print edition, bringing the history, culture, and events of Lake Garda to our international readers. July 2026 Articles Select an article below to read the full translation: Share this…
Kurt Erich von Suckert, alias Malaparte: A Maledetto Toscano (Part 3)
We conclude with the excerpt titled “The Widows” (Le vedove), which contains observations on social customs that may seem outdated today but remain partly valid. My “Battibecco” column on that difficult profession of being a widow earned me a hundred letters from widows all over Italy. Not all, of course, poisoned their husbands with rat…
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 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 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…
Salò and Music: The Garda Music Summer
Salò has been hosting a musical event since 1958 that has achieved national acclaim over time: the Garda Music Summer (Estate Musicale del Garda). I would like to offer the readers of GN a summary of the history of this festival. I must begin by saying that, through a meticulous year-long effort, I have narrated…
