Valtenesi Prepares for Easter as Tourist Season Starts on Lake Garda

We anxiously anticipate, in Valtenesi – as in the entire Garda area – the start of the tourist season, which serves as a preliminary test during the upcoming Easter celebrations. Already in recent days, leading up to this important weekend, there has been a noticeable increase in visitors on the local roads, which offer many opportunities for tourists.

This effectively marks the beginning of a tourist season that, according to forecasts, should be quite rewarding for operators in Garda. Many second homes are scattered across the Valtenesi territory, with owners arriving from towns and cities for the weekend.

Itineraries and Historical-Cultural Attractions

The area is experiencing a special weekend, marking the first outing on the shores of Lake Garda. Beyond the natural beauties and the panoramas visible both from lakeside villages and hilltop towns in Valtenesi, the region offers very interesting historical-cultural itineraries as well.

From Desenzano to Salò, Valtenesi features well-preserved and restored castles, some important churches such as Sannt’Emiliano in Padenghe, the Pieve Vecchia of Manerba, the Santuario della Madonna del Carmine in San Felice, the church of San Pietro in Lucone in Polpenazze, those of San Fermo in Portese, and Madonna della Neve in Moniga – all Romanesque constructions of certainly notable architectural value.

Then, in Manerba, in the Montinelle neighborhood, at the foot of the Rocca revealing very interesting artifacts within a natural park, there is the Civico museo archeologico.

Nearby Attractions and Attractions in the Villages

For those with a few extra hours to dedicate to historic-cultural visits in the seven villages composing the area, it’s worth mentioning that in Padenghe, you can also see Villa Barbieri, a 18th-century building carefully restored, now housing the town hall: next to it, the parish church of Santa Maria from 1682.

In Moniga, besides the well-preserved castle, there is the church of San Michele in Romanesque style, with a 16th-century porch, as well as the 18th-century residence of Villa Bertanzi in the town center.

In Manerba, the Rocca offers a magnificent lookout over the blue expanse of the lake, while numerous churches preserve interesting frescoes: the Pieve di Santa Maria, the Santissima Trinità, San Bernardo, San Giorgio, Santa Caterina, Santa Lucia, and San Sivino, all dating from around the fifteenth century, scattered across the hamlets of Montinelle, Solarolo, Gardoncino, Balbiana, and Pieve.

In San Felice, there is the Palazzo del Monte di Pietà, the remains of the castle, and the baroque-style parish church.

At Puegnago, you can see the castle, with its distinctive oval shape, located near piazza don Baldo: a true natural balcony overlooking the lake and Valtenesi.

Then, Polpenazze, rich in valuable palaces: it was also the site of an important prehistoric settlement in the area of Lucone Lake, now drained.

Finally, Soiano, accessible along a scenic road close to the golf course, presents its beautiful castle, which hosts summer shows.