Description of the attraction
Rocca di Lonato is a medieval castle "crowning" a hill on the southern shore of Lake Garda in the town of Lonato. This powerful fortress, built in the 10th century, is today considered one of the most important military buildings in Lombardy. The irregularly shaped castle is 180 meters long and approximately 45 meters wide. It consists of two structures located at different levels: Rocky directly at the top and the so-called General Staffs at the bottom. Despite the fact that the territory of Lonato was owned for a long time by the Visconti and Scaliger families, the walled castle embankment is decorated with the battlements of the Guelphs.
In all likelihood, Rocca di Lonato was first built around 1000, when fortifications were erected in all the surrounding towns to protect against barbarian invasions. In the 15th and 16th centuries, the castle was rebuilt at the initiative of the Visconti family. After changing several owners, Rocca eventually fell into the hands of the Austrians, and then became a private property. The military buildings were demolished, and the interior and exterior lands were converted into agricultural land. In 1912, the castle was declared a national monument. Later, in 1920, it was bought by Senator Hugo da Como, who partially restored the building.
Since 1996, within the walls of Rocca di Lonato, the City Ornithological Museum has been located, which displays about 700 exhibits representing the bird kingdom of Lake Garda, as well as some exotic species. In addition, the castle regularly hosts conferences, weddings and theatrical performances.
