Bardolino

HISTORY OF BARDOLINO

That region was just inhabited during the Romanesque period and the name “Bardolino” will say: “a little town of the Longobards“. Just in a few time Bardolino became free commune, later it passed under the Scaligeri and at least it took part of the “Repubblica di Venezia“.

ARTS

Only one tower and two portals “Porta Verona and Porta San Giovanni” remained of the ancient Scaligeri castle. Not far from that fortress you can find two important old churches. The older one is dedicated to San Zeno, it keeps a precious Latin cross. Inside there are little altars, masterpieces of the 9th. century. The altar on the left side is in Ionic Latin stile, the other one, on the right side, in the stile of the Middle Ages. The Frescoes demonstrate “Madonna” and “San Pietro“, very important signs of Carolingian domination in this Veronese region. (this is a private church, open for visitors). The other temple, called Church of San Severo, rises at Via Gardesana and is a Romanesque building of 1893, edified on ruins of the 11th. century. One time that church was used like a civil public house, but after 40 years it was changed into church again. It presents a high steeple, diverse apses, three naves, carried by pillars, two a time, composed of red bricks and white plaster stripes. In the Typanum, the front hall with its great portals, there is to see a wonderful fresco “Jesus Christ at the Cross”, surrounded by his disciples.

Inside you can admire two wonderful, interesting frescoes, representing the vision of the Apocalypse and the “Rendering of the cross“, made by Sant’Elena, mother of King Konstantin. In the recesses you find religious statues. Outside, on the southern side of the apse, there is a Romanesque tomb of a famous corpse. (Usually the church is opened for visitors from Easter to October). Directly in front of Church San Severo lies Church of Santa Maria, better known as “La Disciplina” and edified during the horrible period of plague. (1348 – 1349), which destroyed great parts of Europe. In the 17th. century the temple was completely restored. The magnificent parish church, dedicated to San Nicolò and San Severo is a neoclassic building, constructed by the famous architect Bartolomero Giuliari between 1830 and 1844. Its facade and the majestic front hall were finished in 1880, with the picturesque decorations of about 1901-1902, thanks to many artists. Adorable is Via Crucis of the 17th. century, by Giovanni Battista Marcola, father of the famous MARCO.

But also some public buildings are very interesting, for example the palace “Villa Bottagisio” with a wonderful sea view, nowadays town hall. Nearby lies the building “Villa Rizzardi Guerrieri“, completely restored in the 18th. century, a neoclassic palace. You can find famous monuments wherever you go, but many of them are nearby the mountain “Rocca del Garda“, there we can admire the chapel of San Pietro, 18th. century. Inside there is to see a wonderful altar with a famous cross. The altar, dedicated to Maria, Our Lady, has a wonderful fresco “Madonna con il bambino” by Ranuccio Avari. (If you want to visit the chapel, you can ask for the key) On the road from Bardolino to Albarè, you must pass a rural construction named “Cortelline“, which includes a little church “San Vito“. San Vito protects against snake bites. The chapel was completely restored in the 17th. century. One time in the year the temple is opened for pilgrimages (the chapel is not to visit).

ATTRACTIONS

The town Bardolino has given its name to a Wine DOC, famous in the whole world, the Bardolino Wine. Therefore, when you are staying at Bardolino, you must visit the wine museum (since 1968) integrated in the building “Cantine Zeni”, just on the road to Calmasino. This museum gives information of vineyards, vine grapes, machineries etc. , even to admire are some antique tools. (Info: Phone: 045 – 7210022). On Via Gardesana, between Cisano and Bardolino, you can find an oil museum, with an antique oil press, some mill -stones and a lot of tools, used in those days. A real attraction is the reconstruction of an original oil- mill of the 18th. century. The locality Cisano was inhabited just during the Prehistoric and too, a testimony of the Bronze Ages were found nearby the port: some archaeological excavations. Then they found tombs of the glorified Roman domination. Very interesting is the parish church of Cisano, a Roman church, built on the ruins of a Pagan temple and restored during the Neoclassic period, in 1854. The building has a wonderful facade, to admire is the half round apse and the beautiful steeple. In the apse you can see two painted faces, some people say, that these faces present Adam and Eve, others tell, the faces belong to the architects of the building. (if you would like to visit the church, you can ask the pastor). The front surface presents a relief of a horseman on its left side and a relief of an eagle, a horse and a fish on the right side. These are symbolic figures, the horseman will be the symbol for the soldiers, the eagle for the nation. The fish is the symbol for fishermen, the horse for farmers.

But Cisano is well known for its festival “Sagra dei Osei“. This famous popular event takes place in the first week of September, every year. Innumerable exhibitors are showing various kinds of birds and little animals, some are for sale. Gastronomic stands are competing each one with the other one; there are large tents, where you can taste typical dishes and see shows, for example the famous bird voice imitations. But the greatest popular festivity of Bardolino is the famous “La Festa dell’Uva“, regularly celebrated in October. Just a month before you can find little stands in the historical centre, where you can taste fresh grape juice. When the real festival begins, the whole town Bardolino turns into an open air festival performance, coloured with a lot of gastronomic stands and wine bars, where they offer all sorts of wine. Each guest receives his own glass with a cord round the neck, then you have to pass each wine stand, tasting the different qualities. Special and typical meals underline this “way of life”, there are Risotto, fresh fish, Gnocchi, Fritelle con la Mortadella and chestnuts etc. Bardolino offers many musical surprises, Big Bands and Mary go rounds for kids and at least big fireworks.