Bardolino Backs Lake Garda Bid for Italian Capital of Culture 2029

The Municipality of Bardolino and Consorzio Garda Unico have scheduled a press conference for Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 11:30 a.m. at the Town Hall’s “Sala Matrimoni” (Piazzetta San Gervaso 1) to outline the next steps in Bardolino and Lake Garda’s bid to become “Capitale Italiana della Cultura 2029.” The meeting will review the course of the cultural proposal, aimed at building a shared vision for development across the entire lake basin.

The event will feature Giordano Bruno Guerri, historian and essayist and president of Vittoriale degli Italiani, alongside Bardolino mayor Daniele Bertasi and Garda Unico chair Stefania Lorenzoni. Also expected are Senator Mariastella Gelmini, president of the Community of Garda, and Paolo Artelio, president of Destination Verona & Garda Foundation. Project director architect Daniela Cavallo will present the current status of the bid, its goals, and the upcoming milestones, including the institutional event “Tre sponde, un’unica identità culturale. Un lago cuore del mondo” on Friday, September 18 at 6:00 p.m. at the Parco di Villa Carrara Bottagisio in Bardolino.

The September 18 gathering will serve as a symbolic step ahead of the official submission of the candidature dossier, scheduled for Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Ministry of Culture, and will also include a toast with local wines. For information and attendance confirmations, contact Bardolino’s press office via Alberto Menini at +39 340.3308753 or at ufficio.stampa@comune.bardolino.vr.it.
Italian Version