SALÒ

This resort is on a marvellous gulf, in the central region of the Brescia bank. It has a good microclimate particularly mild and temperate. This climate takes advantage from the natural protection northward of San Bartolomeo Mountain, that is an impassable barrier for cold air streams. Surrounded by hilly slopes rich in vegetation- with a mostly Mediterranean shape- it offers really fascinating panoramic sights of the gulf and of the prominent Baldo mountain, often covered with a soft snow cloak. The Roman origins of Salò are proven by various archaeological findings that bring to light the ancient Salodium.

This name is supposed to proceed from a salt store set up in Roman age. However other theories argue that it refers to the transit this locality had, and that it has an extra-European language meaning. The Padania trades, in fact, or the German world used to travel through this route.
In the fourteenth century Salò became the capital of a territory known as The Salò Riviera. In the fifteenth century, Beatrice della Scala started restoration works from the medieval enclosing walls. Salò then entered in the territories administrated by the Venetian Serenissima Republic, and remained under its government until 1797.

Deprived of its autonomy privileges by Napoleon and seriously damaged by an earthquake at the beginning of our century, Salò became the Social Italian Republic site that was instituted by Mussolini between 1943 and 1945. This little town family contended with Polpenazze the pride of Gasparo da Salò who was a renowned maker of stringed instruments, and violin specialist, whose family came from the Valtenesi village. Between other famous figures related to Salò there are the writer Silvan Cattaneo (XVI cent); the painter Sante Cattaneo (1739 -1819), known as "il Santino"; the musician Marco Enrico Bossi (1861 -1925); the academician Mattia Butturini (1752 -1817); the painter Angelo Landi (1879- 1944) and Antonio Scaino who wrote a treatise on the ball game (1524 -1612).



DUOMO

Among the large number of town buildings, the Salodian cathedral needs mentioning. Between the religious building of the entire gardesan region, it is one of the most prestigious and qualified. It has a renaissance gothic style and it was started in 1453- as a clear inscription shows- on an ancient church site whose only rest is the bottom bell tower section.

It was dedicated to the Enunciated Virgin Mary, and was realised by Filippo delle Vacche. The artist took care of the execution of the Venetian gothic style cupola, taking cues from the Verona Sant'Anastasia church. The unfinished front made of bricks done in a hut style is divided by vertical elements. The marble front door presents renaissance elements and stands out for its sculptures made by Antonio della Porta and Gasparo from Cairano, their designers. On the front door, surrounded by a wide triangular tympanum, a wide eye in the front opens. The big inside is divided into three naves separated by columns supporting enhanced arches. The lateral chapels are an add-on of the sixteenth century, commissioned by San Carlo Borromeo. The cupola inner is an architectural geometric masterpiece. It has frescos by Young Plama who represented the Four Evangelists.

Among the masterpieces the 1499 wooden Cross stands out, realised by Giovanni from Ulma, known as Johannes teutonichus.

The sculptures on the high altar, representing risen Christ and the Virgin on the throne, are two from Milan Pietro Bussolo's works. The marvellous organ dates back to the first half of the sixteenth century and was realised by the Brescian Gian Giacomo and Gian Francesco Antegnani.
Later (1600) Young Palma painted its shutters. Of the same author, other paintings such as The Visit, The Annunciation, and The Virgin Assumption can be admired. Also to mention the Sant'Antonio from Padova and the Virgin and the S.S. Bonaventura and Sebastian by Gerolamo Romanino; a Pity and a San Gerolamo by Zenon Veronese; a polyptych by Paolo Veneziano; the virgin, the Angels and the Magi adoration by Andrea Celesti.

A paradise by Malosso can be clearly seen in The S.S. Sacramento chapel. Between sculptures a wooden group of the Deposition stands out, it was made by an unknown Altoatesino master of the XVI cent.
The ancient fourteenth century enclosing walls, built by Scaligeri, present today only two doors that bound the entrance by the most ancient part of the little town core. The typical Vittoria square is located on a panoramic site where the town hall appears. The latter is a renaissance building made by Sansovino- that can be seen in the restoring that was necessary after the 1901 earthquake. The Magnifica Patria palace(sixteenth century), was the residence of the directors of the southern Salò Riviera in the Serenissima Venetian Republic age. It holds within its walls the Salo Ateneo, founded in the sixteenth century, and the blue Ribbon Museum which conserve documents of the Bonaparte period and memories linked to the First World War. In the Barbarano hamlet we find the sixteenth century Martinengo Palace, erected by the Sforza Pallavicino marquees.