Encircled by Venetian-built walls, Peschiera del Garda is a historic town at the southern tip of Lake Garda. It is located atop the Roman settlement of Ardelica and is home to a centuries-old fortress that played an important role in the Italian campaigns of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.
Things to do in Peschiera del Garda
Dominating the entrance to Peschiera del Garda’s historic core is the Porta Verona, a magnificent 16th-century gate framed by defensive walls. On its left-hand side is the beautifully preserved Forte San Marco and the Museo della Pesca e delle Tradizioni Lacustri, which houses exhibits dedicated to the town’s fishing heritage and lakeside traditions.
Another cultural institution not to miss is the Palazzina Storica Museum, where you’ll find weapons, photographs and artefacts related to World War I. It occupies a historic building at the western end of Parco Catullo, a picturesque green space home to mature trees and shaded benches where you can watch the world go by.
On the other side of the Mincio River is the Madonna del Frassino Sanctuary, which was established in 1510 on the site where a Madonna appeared to Barolomeo Broglia. In addition to housing a statue of the Madonna with Child, it is renowned for its tranquil cloisters and friezes dating back to the early 17th century. In the presbytery of the Madonna del Frassino Sanctuary, you’ll find religious artwork by Paolo Farinati and Bertanza from Salo.
Getting around Peschiera del Garda
Peschiera del Garda is around 30 minutes’ drive from Verona and 20 minutes from Valerio Catullo Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Milan is 1.5 hours away. Regular trains connect from Milan and Venice to the Peschiera del Garda railway station while ferries travel to towns around Lake Garda.