Desenzano is so beautiful

The popular resort of Desenzano del Garda is located on the south side of Lake Garda. We already went there for lunch in the weekend by boat, but today while its not very sunny we will go by car to the market there. So this is a TRAVEL-FEED and #MARKETFRIDAY blog in one. Desenzano has a wide choice of accommodations for a pleasant holiday stay: from guest house to luxury hotel and from apartment to camping.

All with distance between the people and with mouthmasks

Desenzano is the largest city on Lake Garda with 27,000 inhabitants, and in summer that doubles. It is therefore always very busy on the street and thats why there a car-free center. Those who enjoy shopping ( READ BRITT ) will find a wide variety of things here. From nice boutiques and art and gift shops to expensive design stores from brands such as Versace, Armani and Prada. In the summer from mid-June to the end of August, the shops are open every Wednesday evening until late in the evening, during "la notte bianca". But duringthe week all days, except between 12.30-15.30 pm in the afternoon, but thats perfectly fine because its to hot anyways. And the opening hours are long in the evening: in the high season until at least 22.00 pm.

Desenzano del Garda is located in the oldest inhabited part of Lake Garda. Finds testify to this early colonization, such as a fully intact plow of oak. Remains of a Roman villa and bathhouse from the 3rd century with beautiful floor mosaics and a technically advanced heating system have also been found near the church of Santa Maria Maddalena. The remains from Roman times attest to the rich history of this place, which the Romans called Decenzanus. In 1921 the remains of a Roman villa from the 4th century were discovered here. This Villa Romana, with its beautiful multicolored mosaic floors, is now a museum. Have a look! Desenzano is one of the most beautiful towns on Lake Garda and should therefore not be missing on your to-do-and-see list during a holiday on Lake Garda! In all the years i have come here this is always a place to take a coffe or drink a wine or grappa.

It is also called the capital of Lake Garda. The ferry also goes there frequently.

The town has a large harbor, home to the company that operates that ferry that offers services across Lake Garda. More pleasant is the old small inner harbor, the Porto Vecchio, surrounded by inviting terraces and beautiful historic buildings. On the short side is the Palazzo Todeschini, named after the Venetian architect Giulio Todeschini. This used to be a granary, nowadays it houses a gallery and the tourist office. In Piazza Malvezzi stands the statue of Santa Angela Merici, patron saint from 1722. The castle of Desenzano del Garda, a fortress from the Middle Ages, has been restored and is worth a visit.

For us its 8 minutes drive and the parking is near the earlier named anchient remains, at the beginning of the centre.

Public Transport to and from Desenzano are excellent aswell. The train station is on the Milan-Venice line, the Autostrada A4 Milan-Venice is nearby and all ferries from Lake Garda call at the port. The ideal place to discover the area! In the center is the square Piazza Malvezzi, where many cozy terraces and restaurants can be found. The shopping streets behind are car-free. Most shops as said before are closed between 12:30 PM and 3:30 PM. In recent years Desenzano has developed more and more into the entertainment center of Lake Garda. In the evening you can stroll on the boulevard along the lake. Those who love the nightlife can visit the many discos and clubs. We also saw fire works last Saturday to celebrate FER-AGOSTO

Every Tuesday morning the boulevard in the center is closed to car traffic to make way for the weekly market. It has taken place here since the 15th century. Here you will find a varied selection of hand-painted ceramics, leather goods, clothing and treats. Also the best place to buy your fresh pasta and delicious salamis. Visitors from the surrounding area come to Desenzano on Tuesdays in search of great bargains. Thats were we were and i bought a hat for my mum as a gift and a dress for myself. The large antiques market is here and held once a month and attracts many tourists.

In addition to being a shopping paradise, Desenzano is also known as the trendy nightlife center on Lake Garda. When we ( my brother and myself and our friends from here ) went there every night. The town has a long riverside promenade full of cozy bars and restaurants. In Desenzano and nearby Lonato you will find dozens of bars and nightclubs - some of which are very spectacular, such as Sesto Senso and Dehor, Italy's largest nightclub and Coco beach. It is a fascinating sight to see hundreds of sunburnt Italians mena and women, because damn they are fashionable, dressed in the latest fashion stroll through the streets on Saturday evening. Drinking and eating in the local bars and restaurants, before leaving for nightclubs and discos around midnight.

Villa Romana: excavation of a Roman villa from the 4th century AD, with beautiful floor mosaics. Via an antiquarium with a collection of objects, you can walk past the former rooms of the villa, past the colorful floor mazes. And walk the beautiful gardens.

Il Castello, the restored castle of Desenzano, is a fortified castle from the Middle Ages. You can visit the castle via a drawbridge. From the observatory on the top floor of the robust residential tower you can enjoy a beautiful view of Desenzano and Lake Garda. The castle also regularly hosts exhibitions and cultural events. We did this two years ago so this year we will skip it.

Parish church of Santa Maria Maddalena designed by Giulio Todeschini, a leading master builder from Brescia. In the church you can see some beautiful frescoes, such as "The Last Supper" by Tiepolo in the sacrament chapel.

I tried to capture the beauty from this wonderful town in my pictures, the food, the ambiance, the people and the serenity is so lovely, i wish i could spent more time to explore. But there is more to Lake Garda, so read me again tomorrow to see where we went this time.