Arranged like an amphitheater upon the morainic formations surrounding the southern part of the lake garda, Desenzano del Garda is considered the capital of the Lake Garda. It is home to many fine hotels, tourist resorts, camping sites and inns, and its restaurants serve excellent dishes and famous wines (Lugana, Tocai, Rosso Riviera). Desenzano has numerous sports facilities (swimming pools, riding schools, tennis courts, etc.) and places of culture (civic museum, library, auditorium, convention center, etc.). The picturesque open-air market held every Tuesday has existed since the 15th century.
Transportation connections are excellent. The Desenzano del Garda train station is on the Milan-Venice line, and there is a Desenzano exit on the A4 "Serenissima" Milan-Venice highway. The V. Catullo Airport is in Villafranca, just 20 km away, while hydrofoils and boats leave from Navigarda's port.

The museum, inaugurated in April 1990, displays the finds unearthed in the Polada peat bog between Desenzano del Garda and Lonato, and in the area of Lavagnone, an ancient lake dwelling about 5 km south of the town. In addition to ceramics, flint arrowheads, weapons and utensils, there is also a large oak plow from the Bronze Age (around 2,000 B.C.). It is a particularly interesting piece on account of its size -- one of the two pieces measures 2.20 m -- and its excellent condition.
Open Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. For information, please call 030/9144259.

Discovered in 1921 in the heart of Desenzano del Garda, the remains of the villa extend over an area of one hectare. It is considered the most important example in Northern Italy of the grand villas from the Late Roman era. Construction first began on the villa in the 1st century A.D., and it was finally completed at the beginning of the 4th century. Besides the "Antiquarium" with sculptures, necklaces, utensils, oil lamps, brooches, etc., other points of interest are the octagonal vestibule, the peristyle, the entrance hall, the sumptuous "aula trichora" and the "viridarium", complete with a nymphaeum. The magnificent mosaic floor is decorated with scenes of hunting, fishing and farming.
Open every day except Monday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For information, please call 030/9143547

The Cathedral in Desenzano on lake Garda was designed by architect Giulio Todeschini of Brescia (1524-1603) and built between 1586 and 1611. The cathedral is dedicated to Santa Maria Maddalena. Inside there are works by Andrea Celesti (1637-1712), Gian Battista Tiepolo (1669-1770), Zenon Veronese (1484-1553), Palma il Giovane (1544-1628), Andrea Bertanza and Pietro Calcinardi. The high altar with sumptuous marble inlays was supposedly made by the studio of Santo Calegari.

The tabular sdesenzanophagus decorated with arches, which now sits in the cloister of the Santa Maria de Senioribus Church, was made for Atilia Urbicus by her sons. Probably sculpted at the turn of the 3rd century A.D., it bears a Latin inscription and depicts two women, one playing the lute and the other removing a cloth from a basket.