Lonato del Garda

Lonato del Garda (until 30 June 2007: Lonato ) is a town on Lake Garda with 15,784 inhabitants (as of 31 December 2012) in the province of Brescia, in the Italian region of Lombardy.

History

The products derived from an end moraine of glacial glaciers Rhaetian hill fortress determined from Desenzano seen the cityscape. Already in the year 909 the existence of a castle at this strategically important place in the border area between Verona and Brescia was mentioned. For centuries Scaliger and Visconti, Venetians and Milanese fought over town and castle. Under the rule of the Visconti of Milan defensive walls were built, the castle reached today's extent. Venetian generals saw them as the model of a fortress. The plant lost its importance until the 19th century and was partially demolished.

Lonato had fallen by the victory of the League of Cambrai in Mantua. During this time ( 1509 ) Isabella d' Este Gonzaga, whose court was at that time the center of social life in Italy, visited the city. Your much-quoted letters provide a picture of this journey in which they should promote the policy of the city-state of Mantua with her entourage. Lonato was but a few years later ( 1516) back to Venice and until 1798 the Lion of St. Mark was standing on a pillar in front of the Palazzo Municipale.

Attractions

Below the 55 m high, overlooking the city tower Maestra of 1555 is the Piazza Matteotti, a small square, leads from which a passage to the central piazza, the second, larger space. It is bounded on the west by the Palazzo Municipale, is still said Markus Lion in place on a tall pillar in front of the open portico.

Town hall

The Palazzo Municipale was built in 1769 and restored in 1938. In the council chamber, the monumental painting " The Plague ", the Andrea Celesti painted in 1693 hangs, and the 1630 is reminiscent of the end of the plague. On weekdays it is open to the public in the morning.

Basilica of Lonato

Opposite the Town Hall is in the midst closely standing old town houses the excessive facade and dome of the basilica. The baroque church was built in the period from 1738 to 1780 and is dedicated to John the Baptist. Formally, the church building closely in line with the cathedral in Brescia also Venetian, but is a little smaller.

House of the Podestà

The path leads to the ruins of the fortress at Torre Maestra and the medieval House of the Podestà, the former residence of the Venetian city administrator, over. The completely derelict building was acquired in 1906 by the lawyer, politician and civil Lonatos, Senator Ugo da Como. It was directed to be here living and a study house, where he surrounded himself with testimonies top Italian history and art. Today Casa and Castle are owned by Ugo da Como Foundation.

1920 was master of the house opposite the Casa build a whole house as a library for his precious collection. It includes over 50,000 historical books, incunabula (one of the most valuable collections of Italy ) and manuscripts, including illustrated Bibles and rare editions legal codices. In the museum of the foundation (ie, the House of the Podestà ) frescoes of Floriano Ferramola, paintings, antique furniture, porcelain, tin and copper objects and drawings are on display, including some of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo and APPIANI.

Fortress

The fortification of Lonato impressed even Napoleon. Today, the ruins is on the hill fortress primarily from ramified masonry remains and some foundation walls inside. The irregular, resembling a triangle floor plan is on average about 45 m wide and almost 180 meters long. The system consists of two, built at different heights bodies, the so-called " Rocchetta " and to a slightly lower part, which is designated as headquarters.

Church of Santa Maria del Corlo

The church of Santa Maria del Corlo on the northern outskirts was built in 1500 again and still contains remnants of the previous building. To be found on both sides of the entrance portal Gothic frescoes from the period around 1300. The rest of the church interior is dominated by Brescia Renaissance of the 16th century. Above all, the vault is decorated with biblical scenes in impressive mock architecture. On the altar is a painting by Alessandro Moretto, which was created in 1500.

Church of San Zeno

Also in the northern suburbs situated on a hill, the Romanesque church of San Zeno. On this hill was the first, in the year 909 in a certificate mentioned castle of the village. It was the center of the then town center, but this was abandoned around 1200. What remained was the former parish church, built in 1150, a Romanesque building from it, a large sandstone blocks apse.

Gallery

House of the Podestà

Cathedral

Marketplace