The best MTB trails around Piubega

Very beautiful church

Rest area with table, benches and fountain. All under a wonderful and pleasant shade. We stopped to eat a sandwich on the way from Parma to Desenzano by MTB. Very pleasant stop!

beautiful dirt road to explore at full speed, enjoying the view!

On the southwestern shore of Lake Garda, a few kilometers north of Desenzano del Garda, lies the small town of Padenghe sul Garda in the fertile Valtenesi region. Over several centuries, numerous castles and fortifications were built in this area, reflecting the fierce power struggle already underway for the wines and olive oils produced in the Valtenesi. The castle ruins, perched on a hill above Padenghe, represent the remains of a fortress built of rubble and fieldstones as early as the 10th century. Originally lacking corner towers, the approximately 70 by 38 meter structure, situated on the gently sloping side of a moraine hill facing Lake Garda, was protected by a ditch. It was probably only in the first half of the 14th century that two square wall towers and two corner towers were added to the curtain wall. The wall on the steeper southeastern side, reaching a height of about 9 meters, remained without towers. After 1330, under the rule of the Scaliger family of Verona, a separate noble castle was built on the northeastern flank, reinforced in the northern section by a round tower 17 meters high and approximately 9 meters in diameter. https://www.gardasee-domizil.de/burg-padenghe-sul-garda.php

Piazza Martiri della Libertà is the city's main square, where you can see the monument to the dead of the First World War (a work by Luigi Contratti) and the Venetian column topped with the Lion of St. Mark. The Republic of Venice ruled Lonato from the mid-15th century until the end of the 18th century, for approximately 350 years without interruption. The council chamber houses an 18th-century map of the Lonato area, and the ceiling features 18th-century carvings dedicated to the Lonato agronomist Camillo Tarello (1517–1573). This large hall is called the "Celesti Hall" because it contains an unusual work of art created for this space in 1693 by the Venetian painter Andrea Celesti (1637–1712). The council chamber houses an 18th-century map of the Lonato area, and the ceiling features 18th-century carvings dedicated to the Lonato agronomist Camillo Tarello (1517–1573). The large canvas (measuring 262 x 735 cm) was commissioned by the city administration in 1692 (to commemorate the end of the plague epidemic). In the center, Christ is depicted with the Virgin Mary on the left and Saint John the Baptist—patron saint of Lonato—on the right. On the left is an allegory of Lonato alongside the Doge of Venice and the three theological virtues, while on the right, the painter depicted the consequences of the plague: a lazaretto and the flying devil.

The Civic Tower, also known as the Torre Maestra, is located in the historic center of Lonato. Construction of this imposing building dates back to 1555. This tower was built to house the bells that would announce the events of the town's civic life, thus distinguishing it from the church bell tower, which served a similar function but was connected to the community's religious life. The tower therefore represented the civic institution while also addressing the general need for surveillance. Opening Hours: Year-round: Sunday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM July and August: Thursday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Sunday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Admission: €3

Unfortunately, there isn't much to see of the impressive castle. You can catch a glimpse from one spot. Otherwise, everything is cordoned off and protected from prying eyes by a high wall.

drank coffee