Explore Italy: Desenzano del Garda

Desenzano is a small town on Lago di Garda, perfect for uncrowded strolls down Italian streets with views of the lake and mountains. It’s a quick stop from Verona or Brescia on the train, making it an easy add on to a northern Italy trip.

Desenzano in a nutshell

Location: Lombardy, Italy

Best known for: Views of Lago di Garda

Days needed to explore: 1+ - Desenzano makes for a great day trip, although it’s close enough to Verona, Brescia, Milan, Sirmione and other cities of note that you could make it your base, if you prefer bases to be smaller, less crowded cities.

What to see and do:

Il Porto Vecchio / The Old Port - the heart of the town and a lovely place to find a bite to eat and enjoy the views.
Duomo di Santa Maria Maddalena - must always see the beautiful churches!
Castello di Desenzano - it’s a castle, and it has beautiful views. Winner winner. (Paid entrance)
Villa Romana - built at the end of the first century AD, this is an important and interesting ruin. (paid entrance)
Musel Archeologico - if archeology is your thing, Desenzano has a museum! (Paid entrance)

Established: Remains from the Bronze Age have been found, including primitive architecture pile-dwellings that led to it being named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Typical foods to try:

Fish - being on the lake, the natural choice is fish!

Why I like Desenzano

Desenzano del Garda was not a city I had heard of until my husband took me there. He lived several years in Brescia and knows many of these little towns around there. We went to Desenzano for a day using Brescia as our base. It’s easy and inexpensive to reach by train. It’s a downhill walk form the train station, and small enough to wonder without a map, just enjoying the shopping, buildings, and nature. I loved walking along the lake, aside from the mountains looming in the distance, it reminded me of my hometown, Traverse City.