Lago Garda - Gardasee - Lake Garda

Moniga del Garda was supposedly named after the goddess Diana Munichia, and some scholars believe a temple dedicated to her once existed in the area of lake garda. The town lies at the center of the hills that stretch from Desenzano del Garda to Salò.
The old part of the town sits on a hill, while the modern section surrounded by olive trees descends to the lake garda and its picturesque port. The economy is based on tourism, and there are many hotels, camping sites, residences and services. Olive groves and vineyards flourish in the area. Moniga on lake Garda is the largest producer of "Chiaretto" a local wine that is famous worldwide.

The walls which enclose the town of Moniga del Garda were built in the 10th century to face the Hungarian invasions. The castle sits near the main road and is still in fairly good condition.
Rectangular in shape (60×80), there is only one entrance at the center of the eastern wall, where signs of an old drawbridge can still be seen. The crenelated city walls have four small round lookout towers on each corner. Three more towers are situated at the center of the north, south and west walls. The square keep is now a bell tower.

In his estate in Moniga del Garda, Pompeo Molmenti (1852 - 1928) -- a lawyer and professor of the History of Art at the Accademia in Venice, a member of the Parliament and, after 1909, a senator of the Kingdom of Italy - was actively involved in farming and, in particular, in the cultivation of grapes and wine-making at lake Garda. In 1896 he "invented" Chiaretto, a light red almost cherry-colored wine with a well-balanced floral and fruity bouquet and a dry, mellow, full-bodied flavor.
As Carlo Bresciani said, "This wine, which is not pressed, is not a red wine with the fragrance of a white wine, nor is it a white wine with the body of a red one, or a soulless rosé wine. It is an unparalleled, distinctive wine that combines several qualities." Each year Moniga del Garda dedicates two events to this wine: the "Palio del Chiaretto" in April, and the "Rassegna del Chiaretto" in July.

Facing the castle, it is one of the oldest parish churches of the Valtenesi area. It was consecrated in October 1454 and enlarged in the second half of the 18th century. This church in Moniga del Garda has five noteworthy altars: besides the high altar with an image of S. Martino, there are altars dedicated to Saint Joseph, the Rosary, the Crucifix and the Holy Virgin Mary.