Lonato
Encyclopedia
Lonato del Garda is a town and comune
in the province of Brescia
, in Lombardy
, Italy
. Lonato is located in the middle of northern Italy, about half way between Milan
and Venice
, on the south-west shore of Lake Garda
, the biggest lake in Italy.
The commune is bordered by those of near Castiglione delle Stiviere
, Desenzano del Garda
, Calcinato
,
Bedizzole, Calvagese della Riviera, Padenghe sul Garda, Pozzolengo, Montichiari, Solferino.
The town is a holiday destination due to its scenic lakeside location about 5 kilometers from the lake) and its numerous historical and artistic monuments and museums, prehistoric sites (pile-dwellings), Roman
ruins, Medieval castle, Baroque
churches and modern museums.
. Here the first human settlements appeared in the Bronze Age on pile-dwellings, as testified by archaeological findings in the areas of Polada
and Lavagnone. The name Lonato is believed from some scholars to derive from the Celtic term “Lona” meaning little lake.
In the imperial Roman
time, Lonato was crossed by the Basilica Emilia way, which used to connect Gallia
with Aquileia
. Roman ruins were found in the area of Monte Mario
and Pozzo.
The town was destroyed in the year 909 by the Hungarian
s, after which a new castle was built and the town fortified. In the following centuries Lonato was destroyed and rebuilt various times. In 1512 King Louis XII of France established his headquarters here when he invaded Italy. In 1516 Lonato become part of the Venetian Republic, until Napoleon arrived in 1796, when he fought and beat the Austria
ns during the first Italian campaign
. In 1859 the town was part of the Italian Kingdom. During World War I
the “basso Garda” defensive line was built, while in World War II
it was a training centre for the X MAS.
The coat of arm is a lion rampant turned on the left side, with two golden keys grasped by the front legs. In 1509, King Louis XII of France
granted to Lonato the honour to enrich the coat of arm with the three lilies of France, in gratitude for the favors that Lonato’s community offered him.
Lonato received the honorary title of city with a presidential decree on November 21, 1996.
In the center of the town there is the Castle, called the Rocca of Lonato, which is about 1000 years old, with an ornithological museum, the House of the Podestà
with a library, which has about 52,000 ancient books. About 10,000 visitors a year go to these sites, which are run by the Foundation Ugo da Como.
http://www.fondazioneugodacomo.it/ugodacomo.php?page=pages/home
Around the main square, called Piazza Martiri della libertà, there is the town hall, the Venetian column, the Cathedral of San Giovanni Battista, and the Civic Tower (or Clock Tower).
Outside the centre of town there are Roman ruins of Fornaci, the Abbazia di Maguzzano, Drugolo Castle, the churches of Madonna di San Martino, San Cipriano, and pieve di San Zeno.
The House of the Podestà was built in the second half of the 15th century as seat of the representative of Venetian Republic
, who controlled the region for more than 350 years (1441-1796). Only briefly, was Lonato under Mantuan rule under the marquis Francesco Gonzaga
(1509–1516).
After Napoleon Bonaparte granted Venetian domains to the Austrians
, the Podestà was used by Austrians as a barracks, and then to the commune of Lonato, under whom it fell into disrepair.
The building was auctioned in public in 1906, and bought by Ugo da Como and his wife Maria Glisenti, who, conscious of the historical importance, called the architect A. Tagliaferri (1835–1909) to restore it. As was fashionable in his time, they furnished the house, and today the extensive collections, including the library, 405 incunabola (one of the most important collection in Italy), 470 manuscripts and rare illuminated codes, parchments and prints. It also contains one of the smallest books in the world, 15x9 mm, which reproduces the letter by Galileo Galilei
to Cristina di Lorena. In addition, it holds manuscripts letters by Ugo Foscolo
to his lover Marzia Martinengo, written in 1807-1809.
The Rocca of Lonato surmounts a hill dominating the southern side of Lake Garda. The southern slope shelters the historical centre of Lonato, the limits of which, today, borders the Padana lowlands.
The fortification may be considered one of the most important in Lombardy. Its irregular form reveals a central structure almost 180 meters in length and approximately 45 metres in width. It is composed of two structures at different levels: the Rocca in the upper part and, lower down, what is called the General Quarters. Despite the long domination by the Visconti
and Scaligeri families, the walled embankment, built in large morenic rocks, carries Guelph
merlons.
In all probability, Lonato's castle was first built around the year 1000 when fortifications were raised around the area against the invasion of the barbarians. Its architectural design closely follows the standards of the 15th and 16th centuries when it was rebuilted by the Visconti family of Milan
.
After passing from the Gonzaga
domination to Venice, then back to the Gonzaga and again to Venice, the castle passed to the Austrian Empire and finally to private hands. The military base was demolished and the internal and external surface was transformed into agricultural land. In 1912 the castle was declared a national monument; it was bought by Senator Ugo da Como in 1920 who partly restored it, and since 1996 it houses the Museo Civico Ornitologico, conferences, weddings and theatral shows.
The Museo Civico Ornitologico (Museum of Birds) is located inside the castle and contains more than 700 specimens. The species represented are from the area of Lake Garda but also of exotic origin, together with specimens with rarities, unique characteristics, plumage anomalies.
The Duomo (Cathedral) of San Giovanni Battista (St. John the Baptist) dates from the 19th century. It is an example of Baroque architecture, designed by the Lonato architect Paolo Sorattini (1680–1762) and built during the second half of the 18th century. Its balanced cupola (20 meters of diameter and 60 meters high) and facade soberly decorated with marble are the basilica's most notable points. The magnificent baroque interior is enriched with frescoes and altar pieces by Venetian artists such as Antonio Balestra
and Giambettino Cignaroli
.
The civic tower (1555) is 55m high and it has a clock of the 1773 with very interesting counterbalance mechanism.
Fornaci Romane is a Roman site south of Lonato in Gorghi. Six Roman brickworks were recently found and restored. The brickworks have circular shape with a firing chamber built using a technique with casts of pebbles stuck together with mortar. The ruins seems to indicate that this location was an important industrial center between the 1st and 2nd century A.D.
Since 1996 (under the new electoral law, 1993) the mayor of Lonato is directly elected by the population and the election occurs without ballot because the commune hasn't a population higher than 15.000 inhabitans.
The City Council of Lonato has 20 members (last election, March 2010).
The mayor of Lonato is Mario Bocchio since 2005.
, take Desenzano exit; from the A22 motorway
: in northern Verona take the direction Brescia-Milano (Brescia-Milan), and exit at Desenzano del Garda
By airplane: the closest airports are in order
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
in the province of Brescia
Province of Brescia
The Province of Brescia is a Province in Lombardy, Italy. It borders with the province of Sondrio in the N and NW, the province of Bergamo in the W, province of Cremona in the SW and S, the province of Mantova to the S, and to the east, the province of Verona and Trentino .Source for statistical...
, in Lombardy
Lombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Lonato is located in the middle of northern Italy, about half way between Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
and Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, on the south-west shore of Lake Garda
Lake Garda
Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy. It is located in Northern Italy, about half-way between Brescia and Verona, and between Venice and Milan. Glaciers formed this alpine region at the end of the last ice age...
, the biggest lake in Italy.
The commune is bordered by those of near Castiglione delle Stiviere
Castiglione delle Stiviere
Castiglione delle Stiviere is a town and comune in the province of Mantua, in Lombardy, Italy, 30 km northwest of Mantua by road.-History:During the War of the Spanish Succession, the French under the duc de Vendôme occupied it....
, Desenzano del Garda
Desenzano del Garda
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.-History:...
, Calcinato
Calcinato
Calcinato is a comune in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy. It is bounded by other communes of Mazzano, Lonato and Bedizzole....
,
Bedizzole, Calvagese della Riviera, Padenghe sul Garda, Pozzolengo, Montichiari, Solferino.
The town is a holiday destination due to its scenic lakeside location about 5 kilometers from the lake) and its numerous historical and artistic monuments and museums, prehistoric sites (pile-dwellings), Roman
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
ruins, Medieval castle, Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
churches and modern museums.
History
The town lies on the landscape of Morenic Hill, on the south-west side of Lake GardaLake Garda
Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy. It is located in Northern Italy, about half-way between Brescia and Verona, and between Venice and Milan. Glaciers formed this alpine region at the end of the last ice age...
. Here the first human settlements appeared in the Bronze Age on pile-dwellings, as testified by archaeological findings in the areas of Polada
Polada culture
The Polada culture is the name for a culture of the ancient Bronze Age which spread on all of the territory of Northern Italy and characterized by settlements on pile-dwellings....
and Lavagnone. The name Lonato is believed from some scholars to derive from the Celtic term “Lona” meaning little lake.
In the imperial Roman
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
time, Lonato was crossed by the Basilica Emilia way, which used to connect Gallia
Gallia
Gallia may refer to:*Gaul , the region of Western Europe occupied by present-day France, Belgium and other neighbouring countries...
with Aquileia
Aquileia
Aquileia is an ancient Roman city in what is now Italy, at the head of the Adriatic at the edge of the lagoons, about 10 km from the sea, on the river Natiso , the course of which has changed somewhat since Roman times...
. Roman ruins were found in the area of Monte Mario
Monte Mario
-External links :* * *...
and Pozzo.
The town was destroyed in the year 909 by the Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
s, after which a new castle was built and the town fortified. In the following centuries Lonato was destroyed and rebuilt various times. In 1512 King Louis XII of France established his headquarters here when he invaded Italy. In 1516 Lonato become part of the Venetian Republic, until Napoleon arrived in 1796, when he fought and beat the Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
ns during the first Italian campaign
French Revolutionary Wars: Campaigns of 1796
The French Revolutionary Wars continued from 1795, with the French in an increasingly strong position as members of the First Coalition made separate peaces. Austria and Great Britain were the main remaining members of the coalition...
. In 1859 the town was part of the Italian Kingdom. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
the “basso Garda” defensive line was built, while in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
it was a training centre for the X MAS.
The coat of arm is a lion rampant turned on the left side, with two golden keys grasped by the front legs. In 1509, King Louis XII of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
granted to Lonato the honour to enrich the coat of arm with the three lilies of France, in gratitude for the favors that Lonato’s community offered him.
Lonato received the honorary title of city with a presidential decree on November 21, 1996.
Main Sights
Podestà
Podestà is the name given to certain high officials in many Italian cities, since the later Middle Ages, mainly as Chief magistrate of a city state , but also as a local administrator, the representative of the Emperor.The term derives from the Latin word potestas, meaning power...
with a library, which has about 52,000 ancient books. About 10,000 visitors a year go to these sites, which are run by the Foundation Ugo da Como.
http://www.fondazioneugodacomo.it/ugodacomo.php?page=pages/home
Around the main square, called Piazza Martiri della libertà, there is the town hall, the Venetian column, the Cathedral of San Giovanni Battista, and the Civic Tower (or Clock Tower).
Outside the centre of town there are Roman ruins of Fornaci, the Abbazia di Maguzzano, Drugolo Castle, the churches of Madonna di San Martino, San Cipriano, and pieve di San Zeno.
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, who controlled the region for more than 350 years (1441-1796). Only briefly, was Lonato under Mantuan rule under the marquis Francesco Gonzaga
Francesco Gonzaga
Francesco Gonzaga was an Italian nobleman, who was Duke of Ariano.-Biography:He was brother of the Cardinal Gianvincenzo Gonzaga, nephew of Cardinal Ercole Gonzaga and of Francesco III Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua....
(1509–1516).
After Napoleon Bonaparte granted Venetian domains to the Austrians
Habsburg Monarchy
The Habsburg Monarchy covered the territories ruled by the junior Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg , and then by the successor House of Habsburg-Lorraine , between 1526 and 1867/1918. The Imperial capital was Vienna, except from 1583 to 1611, when it was moved to Prague...
, the Podestà was used by Austrians as a barracks, and then to the commune of Lonato, under whom it fell into disrepair.
The building was auctioned in public in 1906, and bought by Ugo da Como and his wife Maria Glisenti, who, conscious of the historical importance, called the architect A. Tagliaferri (1835–1909) to restore it. As was fashionable in his time, they furnished the house, and today the extensive collections, including the library, 405 incunabola (one of the most important collection in Italy), 470 manuscripts and rare illuminated codes, parchments and prints. It also contains one of the smallest books in the world, 15x9 mm, which reproduces the letter by Galileo Galilei
Galileo Galilei
Galileo Galilei , was an Italian physicist, mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher who played a major role in the Scientific Revolution. His achievements include improvements to the telescope and consequent astronomical observations and support for Copernicanism...
to Cristina di Lorena. In addition, it holds manuscripts letters by Ugo Foscolo
Ugo Foscolo
Ugo Foscolo , born Niccolò Foscolo, was an Italian writer, revolutionary and poet.-Biography:Foscolo was born on the Ionian island of Zakynthos...
to his lover Marzia Martinengo, written in 1807-1809.
The fortification may be considered one of the most important in Lombardy. Its irregular form reveals a central structure almost 180 meters in length and approximately 45 metres in width. It is composed of two structures at different levels: the Rocca in the upper part and, lower down, what is called the General Quarters. Despite the long domination by the Visconti
House of Visconti
Visconti is the family name of two important Italian noble dynasties of the Middle Ages. There are two distinct Visconti families: The first one in the Republic of Pisa in the mid twelfth century who achieved prominence first in Pisa, then in Sardinia where they became rulers of Gallura...
and Scaligeri families, the walled embankment, built in large morenic rocks, carries Guelph
Guelphs and Ghibellines
The Guelphs and Ghibellines were factions supporting the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor, respectively, in central and northern Italy. During the 12th and 13th centuries, the split between these two parties was a particularly important aspect of the internal policy of the Italian city-states...
merlons.
In all probability, Lonato's castle was first built around the year 1000 when fortifications were raised around the area against the invasion of the barbarians. Its architectural design closely follows the standards of the 15th and 16th centuries when it was rebuilted by the Visconti family of Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
.
After passing from the Gonzaga
House of Gonzaga
The Gonzaga family ruled Mantua in Northern Italy from 1328 to 1708.-History:In 1433, Gianfrancesco I assumed the title of Marquis of Mantua, and in 1530 Federico II received the title of Duke of Mantua. In 1531, the family acquired the Duchy of Monferrato through marriage...
domination to Venice, then back to the Gonzaga and again to Venice, the castle passed to the Austrian Empire and finally to private hands. The military base was demolished and the internal and external surface was transformed into agricultural land. In 1912 the castle was declared a national monument; it was bought by Senator Ugo da Como in 1920 who partly restored it, and since 1996 it houses the Museo Civico Ornitologico, conferences, weddings and theatral shows.
The Museo Civico Ornitologico (Museum of Birds) is located inside the castle and contains more than 700 specimens. The species represented are from the area of Lake Garda but also of exotic origin, together with specimens with rarities, unique characteristics, plumage anomalies.
The Duomo (Cathedral) of San Giovanni Battista (St. John the Baptist) dates from the 19th century. It is an example of Baroque architecture, designed by the Lonato architect Paolo Sorattini (1680–1762) and built during the second half of the 18th century. Its balanced cupola (20 meters of diameter and 60 meters high) and facade soberly decorated with marble are the basilica's most notable points. The magnificent baroque interior is enriched with frescoes and altar pieces by Venetian artists such as Antonio Balestra
Antonio Balestra
Antonio Balestra was an Italian painter of the Rococo period.Born in Verona, he first apprenticed there with Giovanni Zeffio. By 1690 he moved to Venice, where he worked for three years under Antonio Bellucci, then moved to Bologna and then to paint in Carlo Maratta's workshop in Rome. In 1694, he...
and Giambettino Cignaroli
Giambettino Cignaroli
Giambettino Cignaroli was an Italian painter of the Rococo and early Neoclassic period.He was born and died in Verona. He was a pupil of Santo Prunato and Antonio Balestra and active mostly in the area of the Veneto...
.
The civic tower (1555) is 55m high and it has a clock of the 1773 with very interesting counterbalance mechanism.
Municipal Administration
| Composition of the City Council | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Members | |
| PDL The People of Freedom The People of Freedom is a centre-right political party in Italy. With the Democratic Party, it is one of the two major parties of the current Italian party system.... -LN |
13 | |
| PD Democratic Party (Italy) The Democratic Party is a social-democratic political party in Italy, that is the second-largest in the country. The party is led by Pier Luigi Bersani, who was elected in the 2009 leadership election.... -SEL |
4 | |
| UDC | 2 | |
| indip. | 1 | |
Since 1996 (under the new electoral law, 1993) the mayor of Lonato is directly elected by the population and the election occurs without ballot because the commune hasn't a population higher than 15.000 inhabitans.
The City Council of Lonato has 20 members (last election, March 2010).
The mayor of Lonato is Mario Bocchio since 2005.
Fairs and Markets
- "Mercantico": antiquity market, every 3rd week of the month, in the center of the town
- Local market: every Thursday morning, in the center of the town
- Town Fair: "Fiera di Lonato", January 17 (every year)
Transportation
By car: A4 motorwayAutostrada A4 (Italy)
The Autostrada A4, or Serenissima, is a motorway which connects Turin and Trieste via Milan and Venice. The city of Venice originally formed a bottleneck on the A4, but is now bypassed by the Passante di Mestre...
, take Desenzano exit; from the A22 motorway
Autostrada A22 (Italy)
The Autostrada A22 is an Italian motorway which connects the city of Modena and the A1 motorway to Austria through the Brenner Pass, located in the village of Brennero.-External links:*...
: in northern Verona take the direction Brescia-Milano (Brescia-Milan), and exit at Desenzano del Garda
By airplane: the closest airports are in order
- Brescia AirportBrescia AirportBrescia Airport Gabriele D'Annunzio is an airport in Montichiari, near Brescia, Italy. Other airports in the region include Malpensa, Linate and Orio al Serio.-Airlines and destinations:-External links:**...
(VBS) - Orio al Serio International Airport (BGY)
- Villafranca-Verona AirportVerona AirportVerona Airport , also known as Valerio Catullo Villafranca Airport or simply Verona-Villafranca Airport is an airport located southwest of Verona, Italy...
(VRN) - Milan Malpensa International Airport (MPX)
- Milan Linate AirportLinate AirportLinate Airport is one of the three major airports of Milan, Italy, along with Malpensa Airport and Orio al Serio Airport. Due to its closer proximity to Milan—it is east southeast of the city, compared with Malpensa, which is northwest of the city—it is mainly used for domestic and short-haul...
(LIN)