The first evidence of human presence in Manerba dates back to the Mesolithic period, but the most important discoveries were those dating from the first century BC, which testify to the presence of the Romans: in actual fact many Roman villas were built in this area. During the medieval age the most important historical facts concern the Rocca, a defensive base, first contended for by the Guelphs and the Ghibellinis, then the Brescians and the Veronese, as testified by the stories of Leutelmonte and Valvassori Bresciani. The Rocca no longer had military functions when it fell under the control of the Serenissima Venetian Republic in the 15th century. They controlled the territory up until 1796 with the arrival of Napoleon’s troops, after its fall Manerba became part of the Austrian – Hungarian empire, until it was finally liberated.
La Rocca di Manerba, with an unmistakable profile that stands out over southern Lake Garda, has now acquired new strength to remain true to its identity in the future. A recent milestone that will support a programme of study and awareness, preservation and dissemination of an area that is unique in its history and biodiversity - just as beautiful as the more well-known Italian gems. In order to preserve and enhance the area’s nature and landscape, in addition to its historical and archaeological characteristics, the Municipality of Manerba del Garda has in fact promoted a series of initiatives that have led to the inclusion of this area (114 hectares of dry meadows, woods, trails, vineyards and olive groves) in the “Natural Reserve of Rocca, Sasso and Lacuale Park of Manerba del Garda”. To protect and preserve the ecosystem, prohibitions and restrictions of activities that are incompatible with a natural reserve have been laid down, for example hunting, expansions of already existing buildings, the use of motor vehicles and other actions that could affect and harm the natural, scenic, historical and archaeological features of the entire concerned area. These prohibitions and restrictions, for the most part already in the previous PLIS Regulation, are aimed at studying and monitoring the Reserve’s endemic species as well as its historical and archaeological wealth, the results of whichwill be disseminated to enrich scientific research and expandknowledge of the Lake Garda area with its immense cultural and tourism potential. The Archaeological Museum of Valtenesi, located within the Reserve, is the information centre for visitors to the territory of Manerba who wish to read up on the reasons why man chose - from the earliest prehistoric times up to the occupation of the medieval fortification to which the place owes its name “Rocca” - to visit and settle in this wonderful location of considerable environmental value with its protruding position towering over the hinterland and the lower lake waters.
The island of San Biagio, also known as Isola dei Conigli, is an island of Lake Garda. Just over 200 meters from the mainland, it belongs to the municipal territory of Manerba del Garda, in the province of Brescia. The island can be reached daily by a boat leaving from Porto Torchio to Manerba del Garda and, at certain times of the year, even on foot along a narrow strip of land.
The church of Santa Maria in Manerba is an important building under several points of view. In fact, it carried out the function of capopieve, having under its jurisdiction also the ecclesiastical buildings of San Fermo in San Felice, San Michele di Puegnago, San Pietro in Polpenazze, San Michele di Soiano, San Martino a Moniga and that of San Giovanni a Portese. Even the parish church of Santa Maria is mentioned in the bull of Pope Eugene III of 1145, and this too came under the direct dependence of the bishop of Verona. In any case, from an architectural point of view, the parish stands on an area in which evidence of Roman and early medieval settlements have been found, suggesting a sort of continuum between the baptismal center and the pre-existing residential areas. The church, however, has a basilica plan, is divided into three aisles by rows of three pillars each and each ends with an apse of which the central one is externally decorated by a sequence of pilasters surmounted by a pattern of arches. Originally all the apses were semicircular, while now the left one, having been re-adapted, has a quadrangular plan. The façade, on the other hand, is characterized by a salient profile, with the central part slightly protruding with respect to the side parts. Even the parish of Manerba underwent some changes over time, between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries are added minor altars, three on the north side and two on the southern side while both the portal and the opening above are redone. The bell tower instead goes back to the second half of the '500, and being placed in front of the facade in a fairly unusual position, this has led to suppose that there was a sort of closed space in front of the building and probably surrounded by other secondary buildings. Inside, there are also large traces of frescoes dating back to a chronological arc between the fourteenth and the sixteenth century, while you can still admire the Martyrdom of Sant'Orsola and companions, precocissimo example of Romanesque painting, The Annunciation and the Madonna enthroned between the SS Sivino and Rocco.
Discover all the points of interest in the city.
Friday
Festa di Maria SS. Assunta 15th August
Ospedale di Salò - Piazza Sergio Bresciani, 5 Ospedali di Desenzano del Garda - Località Montecroce
FARMACIA COMUNALE – DR.A ANNA OBERTI Via Atleti Azzurri d’Italia, 9 FARMACIA – OTTINI DR.A ELISA MARGHERITA Via Vittorio Gassman, 39/a
SPIAGGIA PISENZE SPIAGGIA PORTO TORCHIO SPAGGIA BAIA BIANCA SPIAGGIA LA ROMANTICA SPIAGGIA DI DUSANO
PORTO TORCHIO – Via Belvedere