Desenzano Castle Revitalization: New Plan for Conference, Theater & Exhibitions

At regular intervals, and even in recent days, talk about the castle has once again resurfaced in Desenzano. Nearly 40 years after the Municipality purchased it from the military treasury, the fortress built on the “roof” of the town is looking for someone to beautify it; to give it new life. Up to now, many ideas have been debated, but few concrete actions have been taken. Now, «Centrolago», a committee formed spontaneously and led by Massimo Ghidelli, an adopted citizen of Desenzano and director of the Brescia Chamber of Commerce, is taking a stance. This organization includes many local residents such as Giorgio Fezzardi, a former municipal administrator. Yesterday morning, in the presence of Deputy Mayor Emanuele Giustacchini and the President of the City Council Maria Ida Germontani, the committee presented its project, including a preliminary financial plan and slideshow presentation. To refurbish the castle and assign it the triple function of conference center, theater, and exhibition venue, an estimated sum of around 18 billion lire would be needed. However, Ghidelli immediately warned, “the economic benefit generated by the activities is calculated to exceed 20 billion lire annually”. Where would this mountain of money come from? “By utilizing the structure, for about 100 days a year, for international and national conferences; another 100 days for specialized exhibitions and shows; and 50 days for theatrical performances”. This would generate those 20 billion lire in added income. Giorgio Fezzardi then stated that the entire project would be almost entirely self-financed by the annual revenue the multifunctional complex would bring into the municipal coffers: approximately 700 million lire per year, plus savings on expenses — specifically, those currently borne by the municipality for renting summer and winter theaters, stages, and various structures. Architect Maurizio Betta, acting as the designer, described the potential scenario for restructuring the castle, noting that the external part would remain unchanged. Instead, the large underground area would be utilized for parking and auxiliary spaces for the conference hall. It was also mentioned that the Municipality could implement this plan using its own financial resources by immediately taking out a loan, as the income from the complex and cost savings would almost fully cover the loan repayment, which amounts to 1.1 billion lire, equal to the projected income. As for the future of the castle, three functions are envisioned to potentially shape its role. The first is as a conference center, accommodating between 900 and 1,000 people. The second is as an exhibition space, with large areas dedicated to sector, cultural, or commercial exhibits. Finally, a theater function with an indoor hall and an outdoor space for summer performances. The next step now lies with the municipal administration. Meanwhile, assessore Giustacchini assured that the project, deemed deserving of attention, will certainly be evaluated.