LAKE GARDA

After its departure from Gargnago, the boat crosses the lake at a particularly beautiful spot. To the right is a view of the vast south basin, to the left is the north branch which penetrates across the Trentino PreAlps and in front are the populated slopes of Mount Baldo. The first stop is Castelletto di Brenzone which has a small port and the famous church of San Zeno with is lovely belfry. Next stop is Magugnano; seat of the Brenzone commune and a tourist district comprised of six hamlets along the shore- Castelletto, Mugugnano, Brenzone, Assenza and the slopes of Mount Baldo, Sommariva and Castello. Sailing on, the boat hugs the coast of the tranquil fishing village Porto Brenzone before landing in Assenza. Once here you should visit the 14th century church San Nicola di Bari with its period frescoes. Just off the shore to the left, emerges the small island Trimelone (190 meters long and 30 wide) which houses the ancient ruins of a fortification erected in the 10th century against the Hungarians. This structure was destroyed by Barbarossa, reconstructed by the Scaglieri and ultimately damaged by an explosion of ammunition. On the opposite shore, just before the Punta Forbisicle with its splendid view, we find the so-calle "Prato della Fame" (meadow of hunger). Its name derives from an incident regarding sailors who took shelter there while awaiting the end of the dead calm; due to the lack of roads for the nearby towns, they were unable to obtain food. Then, before arriving at Tignale Point, a locality an a plateau between olive trees and orchards, you will see the Santurio della Madonna di Montecastello (619 meters) which was constructed in the 13th and 14th century and enlarged in the 17th century.