Between Manerba and San Felice del Benaco, surrounded by vineyards, lies the remarkable 15th-century pilgrimage church of Madonna del Carmine, or Santuario del Carmine, with its impressive frescoes.

Very close to Manerba and Rocca di Manerba lies the romantic little town of Porto Dusano, with its harbour, on a steep south-facing stretch of coastline.

The castle of Moniga del Garda (Castello di Moniga) is a medieval castle located on the western edge of the small town of Moniga del Garda. The castle sits enthroned on a small hill whose slopes, covered with olive trees, gently descend towards Lake Garda. Inside the castle walls of Moniga, there are residential buildings.

Excursion to Soiano al Lago, the highest village in Valtenesi. It is situated around a small fortress and parish church, with beautiful paintings, an impressive organ and a beautiful view of Lake Garda. Also worth visiting is the Chiesetta di San Carlo in the district of Chizzoline, a 16th-century church with beautiful paintings.

Excursion to Polpenazze del Garda, an idyllic village in the hills of Valtenesi – huge Baroque parish church with picturesque views of Lake Garda.

There are numerous wineries in the area around Manerba and Moniga (wine, olive oil and truffle region).

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Excursion to Lonato. An impressive Lombard town characterised by massive crenellated walls and numerous city and church towers, with a fortified hill on which stands a huge castle ruin. From the battlements of La Rocca fortress, you can enjoy a wonderful view of Lake Garda.

Worth seeing is the market square with the 15th-century Torre Maestra and the second market square, Piazza Centrale, with the Palazzo Municipale and its open portico. In the northern part of the town is the church of Santa Maria del Corolo, Santa Maria dei Disciplini, with a beautiful interior.

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Above the old town of Lonato stands the mighty fortress of La Rocca, founded in the 14th century by the Republic of Venice, which was first conquered by Napoleon Bonaparte and then fell to Austria. The castle was abandoned until the early 20th century, when Ugo da Como, a senator from nearby Brescia, acquired the bastion in 1906 and thoroughly renovated it. He then moved into the fortress and established a culturally significant site there. Today, visitors can tour the Casa del Podestà, where Ugo da Como once lived, which is now particularly interesting for lovers of antiques, paintings and other treasures. Just a few steps away is the library, also installed by Ugo da Como, which boasts one of the most important collections in all of Italy.

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Link: https://www.fondazioneugodacomo.it

Excursion to Montichiari

Castello Bonoris, Piazza Santa Maria 36, Montichiari - open from April to October.

Castello Bonoris was built at the end of the 18th century on the ruins of an existing medieval fortress. The castle is surrounded by extensive grounds and is located on the hill of San Pancrazio, offering picturesque views of the historic centre of the town. The towers and crenellated walls were built with great attention to defensive details. The beautiful interior is furnished with fine materials, decorations, frescoes and furniture.

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Museo Lechi, Via Martiri della Liberta 33, Montichiari - usually open from Wednesday to Sunday.

The museum displays the donation of an important art collection by Counts Piero and Luigi Lechi, descendants of the famous Napoleonic generals, to the town of Montichiari. Around 350 works of art are on display, including paintings, drawings, prints and porcelain, which were inherited from their family.

The Lechi Museum also regularly hosts interesting special exhibitions.

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Excursion to Solferino and San Martino della Battaglia.

Solferino and San Martino - Address Via Torre 2, San Martino della Battaglia, Desenzano del Garda

On 24 June 1859, Napoleon III's French army fought against the Austrian army of Emperor Franz Joseph I here. This exceptionally bloody event prompted Henry Dunant of Geneva to found the Red Cross. A memorial commemorates this event. The museum's rooms contain weapons, uniforms and other memorabilia. From the terrace on the tower, which can be reached via a 400-metre-long ramp, you can see the southern shore of Lake Garda and the farms that played a role in the battle. In the background, you can see the outlines of the Pre-Alps and Monte Baldo.

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Near San Martino della Battaglia lies the village of Castellaro Lagusello. Here you will find the Regional Nature Reserve in the moraines of Castellaro Lagusello, a real spectacle for all nature lovers.

The area covers 271 hectares in the municipalities of Monzambano and Cavriana and is of great ecological importance. The nature reserve is characterised by a great diversity of species thanks to numerous wetlands and water areas, such as the heart-shaped lake of Castellaro. The reserve is part of the Mincio Park, which was designated a Destination of Excellence by the European Union in 2011, as it is the largest marsh and wetland area in Europe, covering 15 km. In a ramified labyrinth of canals and streams, between which marshes and pools of water form, up to 99 species of birds find shelter and food. These include both resident and migratory birds, as well as those that spend the winter here, 12 of which are of Community interest. One of the most fascinating birds in the Regional Nature Reserve in the moraines of Castellaro Lagusello is the magnificent bee-eater (Merops apiaster) with its colourful plumage and long, downward-curving beak. Since the mid-1990s, it has settled in the reserve every year from April/May to the end of August, one of the few areas in Italy where it also breeds.