- Desenzano del Garda
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Desenzano del Garda — Comune — Città di Desenzano del Garda Desenzano Harbour
Location of Desenzano del Garda in Italy
Desenzano del GardaCoordinates: 45°28′N 10°32′E / 45.467°N 10.533°ECoordinates: 45°28′N 10°32′E / 45.467°N 10.533°E Country Italy Region Lombardy Province Brescia (BS) Frazioni Rivoltella, Vaccarolo, San Martino della Battaglia Government - Mayor Felice Anelli Area - Total 60.10 km2 (23.2 sq mi) Elevation 96 m (315 ft) Population (30 April 2009) - Total 26,840 - Density 446.6/km2 (1,156.7/sq mi) Demonym Desenzanesi Time zone CET (UTC+1) - Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2) Postal code 25015 Dialing code 030 Website Official website 
Map of Lake Garda showing the position of Desenzano.
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.
Contents
History
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.[1]
See also
References
External links
Settlements Bardolino · Brenzone · Castelnuovo del Garda · Desenzano del Garda · Garda · Gardone Riviera · Gargnano · Lazise · Limone sul Garda · Lonato · Malcesine · Manerba del Garda · Moniga del Garda · Nago-Torbole · Padenghe sul Garda · Peschiera del Garda · Riva del Garda · Salò · San Felice del Benaco · Sirmione · Tignale · Torri del Benaco · Toscolano-Maderno · Tremosine
Islands Isola del Garda · Isola dell'Olivo · Isola San Biagio · Isola di Sogno · Isola di TrimeloneRivers Wines People Categories:- Cities and towns in Lombardy
- Communes of the Province of Brescia
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