Island of Garda

ISLAND OF GARDA

The Island of Garda is situated on the Brescia side of Lake Garda in the town of San Felice del Benaco. It ‘s just approx. 200 meters from the promontory of Capo San Fermo, is about a mile long and has an average width of 600 meters.

L ‘island was already inhabited at the time of the Romans.

Towards 1220 we know that St. Francis visited many places in northern Italy, including Lake Garda and quiet on this island built a simple hermitage for the friars.

In 1429 the old monastery was renovated and expanded, and the island became an important ecclesiastical center and meditation.

In 1797 the monastery was finally suppressed by Napoleon, who became owner of the island.

It later passed to property of the state and in later years he had several owners who settled the villa and contributed to the creation of the park, building retaining walls to the lake and importing fertile land and plants esotiche. The palace was decorated with garden terraces arranged in all ‘Italian with rare plants and unique flowers.

Between 1890 and 1903 the old house was rebuilt and became the current grand palace in Venetian Gothic style by architect Rovelli.

Today the villa is owned by the Borghese Cavazza family that continues to deal with the passion of the park and the palace who live and that, on request, open to the public with guided tours from April to October.