PADENGHE SUL GARDA

This hilly site, with an ancient castle, is on the southern Valtenesi boundary, in an open position on the south-western Garda gulf. It is bounded on the horizon by the Sirmione peninsula. From the hill, on clear days, the landscape can be admired beyond Desenzano, Sirmione, Peschiera, Garda and other places of the lake bank.

Historically its origins date back to Roman age. It was a favourable destination of the patricians families, where they built dwellings and cult places. It grew between the III and IV century and was known for its harbour, one of the most important of the lake basin. Around XI century the castle was erected. It was a really important defence shield for the lake district villages threaten by barbarians.

During Medieval age Padenghe was not immune to the bloody war between Guelph and Ghibellines. Afterwards it passed under San Marco Serenissima Republic control, and follwed the historical events connected with the Brescian Gardesana. The modern Padenghe is a residential gathering composed by Villas and dwellings that go back to the lake. The structure reflects once again enhanced the original lake settlement, as in high medieval age people left for an hilly place, defended by the castle which was obviously safer.
Nowadays on the lake there is a modern lido, provided with all specific bathing facilities and supported by modern harbour facilities for pleasure boat trips.

On this site there is also a very important tourist resort suitable for summer business or pleasure stays. The ancient centre is at the bottom of the hill, which is rich in vineyard olives and cypresses. The site economy, as a whole, even with a clear tourist and residential inclination, still keeps its rural activities connotation, connected with the cultivation of vineyards and olive trees. In this region famous wines such as Trebbiano di Padenghe, Tocai and Pinot are produced.

The castle was originally erected in the XI cent and restored in the common autonomies period. The enclosing walls from the ancient installation can be seen, partly merloned, together with the angular towers and one with a quadrangular plant.

The little S. Emiliano church, dating back to the XII cent., is a proof of Romanesque art and is entirely built with big square blocks. Particularly fascinating is the apse portion, enhanced on the top, with little arches sequence supported by the little ribbed bell tower.

The Santa Maria parish church is a two-order building, supported by a triangular tympanum, embellished with niches with sculptures. Some ornaments prove the baroque mark of this building of the second half of the XVII cent. The inside offers interesting pictures and sculptures between them we find an altar piece awarded to Andrea Celesti; The Sant'Antonio Abate by Francesco Paglia: the Madonna dei Sette Dolori and Quattro Santi by Francesco Zugno; the San Cristoforo and Madonna with the SS. Roccos, Sebastiano e Antonio Abate by Zenon Veronese; the altar piece representing S.S. Rocco, Sebastiano and givers, regarded as Torbito's; The Madonna in Gloria with S. Emiliano other Saints Paolo Farinati; the two sculptures representing humility and Continence by Antonio Calegari Brescia master. In the resort neighbourhood we find the merlon structure of Drugolo Castle.

This building was widely changed a succession of remaking, the last of them in the thirty's. The building, constructed in heavy stone blocks, presents itself as a quadrangular structure crowned by merlons and reinforced with angular towers and beccatels.