Description of the attraction
San Felice del Benaco is located on the western shore of Lake Garda on a promontory between the Gulf of Salo and the Gulf of Manerba. It includes the territories of three settlements - San Felice, Portese and Cisano, as well as the largest island in the lake - Isola Garda. In total, the city is home to about 3 thousand people. Its name comes from the Latin "sine felix" - a comfortable bay.
In the vicinity of San Felice in the territory of Skovolo, ancient pile dwellings were discovered, as well as numerous artifacts related to the era of ancient Rome, for example, stone tablets dedicated to Neptune, which can be seen today in the parish church, or the necropolis. During the invasion of the barbarians, a powerful castle was built to protect the local lands. In 1279, the powerful Brescia decided to destroy it, and the inhabitants of the surrounding territories were forced to move to another place - they named it San Felice di Scovolo. A new castle was erected there, which, however, was also destroyed in 1509. Much later, it was rebuilt by order of the Venetian Republic.
In the past, the economy of San Felice was based on fishing, thanks to the abundance of a wide variety of fish species in Lake Garda. Today, the main source of income for local residents is wine production and tourism.
Among the main attractions of the city are the parish church, built in the Baroque style between 1740 and 1781, and the birthplace of the famous sculptor Angelo Zanelli - Palazzo Rotino, which today houses the city council. In the immediate vicinity of San Felice is the Temple of Madonna del Carmine, dedicated to the patroness of the entire Valtenesi Valley. It is said to have been built by local fishermen in gratitude for saving them during a storm. Finally, the castle ruins and the Monte della Pieta building, once called Palazzo Comunale, are worth a visit.
In the town of Portese, the parish church of San Giovanni Battista, built in the 16th century, the church of San Fermo from the 15th century and the medieval castle deserve attention. And in Cisano, it is worth visiting the church dedicated to John the Baptist, and the Palazzo Cominelli, erected in the 17th century.
