Lonato Castle, Lonato, Italy - SpottingHistory.com

The Lonato medieval castle 'La Rocca' rises on a hill which dominates the southern part of Lake Garda and is one of the most impressive castles in all of Lombardy. Set inland, overlooking the ancient town of Lonato, the Rocca is an imposing structure nearly 180 meters long and 45 meters wide, complete with drawbridge!

Throughout the years and centuries, Lonato del Garda was ruled by various peoples and families who fought each other over the fortified town which had a strategically important defense tower. The fortress belonged to the counts of Montichiari, the Scaliger family, and in 1376 it was the Visconti who expanded the fortified walls to protect the entire town. Today, the medieval Rocca of Lonato houses the town’s ornithology museum, “Gustavo Carlotto”.

References:

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User Reviews

Peter Brunner (2 years ago)
Great view

Jennifer B (2 years ago)
Views from the Rocca towards Lake Garda are amazing and the house of the Podesta is a historical jewel well worth visiting.

Igor Karpekin (2 years ago)
Would be a five-star, but there is absolutely nothing inside and... you have to pay for it! But, to be fair, the fortress is kept in very good shape. Great views. Quite interesting exposition of birds, but I can't name these 3 rooms a "museum". There is also a modern building inside, which i assume can be rented for weddings/other events.

Belinda Gold (2 years ago)
Stunning location, excellent food

Ben Carter (4 years ago)
Visited for a friend's wedding and have to say it's an amazing location for a wedding. Beautiful surroundings and the staff were excellent. The food was great and the place looked amazing at night. Big marquee for a large group with a large dancefloor and cocktail bar. It truly was a great day.

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The Broch of Gurness is an Iron Age broch village. Settlement here began sometime between 500 and 200 BC. At the centre of the settlement is a stone tower or broch, which once probably reached a height of around 10 metres. Its interior is divided into sections by upright slabs. The tower features two skins of drystone walls, with stone-floored galleries in between. These are accessed by steps. Stone ledges suggest that there was once an upper storey with a timber floor. The roof would have been thatched, surrounded by a wall walk linked by stairs to the ground floor. The broch features two hearths and a subterranean stone cistern with steps leading down into it. It is thought to have some religious significance, relating to an Iron Age cult of the underground.

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In the 9th century, a Norse woman was buried at the site in a stone-lined grave with two bronze brooches and a sickle and knife made from iron. Other finds suggest that Norse men were buried here too.

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