Rocca, Medieval fortress in Lonato del Garda, Italy
Rocca is a stone fortress on a moraine hill in Lonato del Garda, overlooking the southern shore of Lake Garda, with walls, towers, and battlements still standing. Inside the outer walls sits the Palazzo del Podestà, a town palace with several floors, halls, and museum rooms open to visitors.
The fortress was built around 900 and passed through the hands of several rulers, including the Visconti family before coming under the Republic of Venice. The Venetians strengthened and expanded it as a key defensive post along the southern end of the lake.
The Palazzo del Podestà inside holds a large private library with old manuscripts and printed books donated by Senator Ugo Da Como to the town. Visitors can walk through the reading rooms and see how a scholarly collection from the early 20th century was arranged and displayed.
The easiest way to reach the fortress is through the old town of Lonato, where a marked path leads uphill to the entrance gate. The climb is steep in places and the ground can be uneven, so sturdy footwear is a good idea.
The Battle of Lonato in 1797 took place right around this hill, and Napoleon is said to have personally observed the fighting from this elevated position. The fortress thus served as a command point during one of the key confrontations of his Italian campaign.
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