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Desenzano del Garda

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Desenzano del Garda
Comune
Città di Desenzano del Garda
Desenzano Harbour
Desenzano Harbour
Location of Desenzano del Garda
Map
CountryItaly
RegionLombardy
ProvinceBrescia (BS)
FrazioniRivoltella, Vaccarolo, San Martino della Battaglia
Government
 • MayorFelice Anelli
Area
[1]
 • Total60.10 km2 (23.20 sq mi)
Elevation
96 m (315 ft)
Population
 (30 April 2009)[2]
 • Total26,840
 • Density450/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
DemonymDesenzanesi
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
25015
Dialing code030
WebsiteOfficial website

Desenzano del Garda is a town and comune in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy, Italy, which borders Lake Garda. It is bordered by other communes of Castiglione delle Stiviere, Lonato, Padenghe sul Garda and Sirmione.

History

Map of Lake Garda showing the position of Desenzano.

Starting from the 1st century BC, the area of the Garda, including what is now Desenzano del Garda, became a favourite resort for rich families coming from Verona, then the main Roman city in north-eastern Italy.

Main sights

  • The Cathedral of St. Mary Magdalene.
  • The House of St. Angela Merici.
  • The Tower of St. Martin (Torre di San Martino).
  • An archaeological museum (Museo Civico Archeologico).
  • Several old-style villas (Villa Romana) and a castle.

Tourism

The city is a popular holiday destination in Southern Europe. It attracts a myriad of tourists from around the immediate area due to its beautiful view of the Alps on the southern shore of Lake Garda, its three large beaches (Desanzanino Beach, Spiagga D'oro Beach, and Porto Rivoltella Beach) and its 27 major hotels. Desenzano is the heart of night life of southern Garda Lake with several discos and pubs. In the summertime its main squares, "piazza Malvezzi" and "piazza Matteotti" are crowded all night by young and partying people.

At the heart of the city is a series of interconnected piazze that house numerous open-air cafés, various shops, "gelaterie" (ice-cream parlors) and several bars.

Transport

The city has one main port near the Piazza Giacomo Matteotti which operates several ferries around the lake. Also, at the southwestern outskirts of the city is a large train station, the Desenzano del Garda-Sirmione railway station ('Stazione Ferroviaria'), which connects the city to the European railway system. As well as this Desenzano has its own exit from the A4 motorway, the main road between Milan and Venice.

Trivia

The town became known world wide on March 13, 1994, when Russian swimming ace Alexander Popov set a world record in the 50m freestyle in Desenzano del Garda's local pool, clocking 21.64s.

World heritage site

It is home to one or more prehistoric pile-dwelling (or stilt house) settlements that are part of the Prehistoric Pile dwellings around the Alps UNESCO World Heritage Site.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. ^ "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  3. ^ UNESCO World Heritage Site - Prehistoric Pile dwellings around the Alps
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