The Vittoriale degli Italiani is the last home of Gabriele D'Annunzio. After his last clamorous post-war exploit (the Fiume Affair, which occurred in January 1921), the Italian poet decided to retire from public life. Born in Pescara, a town on the sea, D'Annunzio was attracted by the glow of Lake Garda, and specifically in Gardone Riviera.
He bought Villa Cargnacco and with the help of architect Giarcarlo Maroni, transformed the villa into an architectural complex which he called "Il Vittoriale degli Italiani" and later donated it to the Italian government in 1923. It an imposing gray stone construction with ochre yellow residential wings. Passing the entrance, called Arco dell'ospite (The Guest's Arch), one reaches Piazzetta della Vittoria del Piave (Plaza of the Piave Victory). To the right is an open-air Greek-style amphitheater with a majestic view of the southern lake garda. Proceeding, one reaches Piazza Dalmata (Dalmatian Plaza) and the poet's private abode, the Prioria (the Priory). To the left is the Schifamondo (liberally translated: Disgust for the world), the new residence that was never inhabited by D'Annunzio and is now the site of the D'Annunzio Museum. The residential complex is not the only point of interest.
To the north proceeding towards the hills, one finds the shed that contains the MAS 96 (torpedo boat) used by the poet during the military operation called Beffa di Buccari (Buccari's Hoax). Below, in the woods, a ship's prow protrudes from the green hillside. It is a memorial built by D'Annunzio to commemorate the heroic men who perished at sea during World War I. Towering over the entire park is the Mausoleum made of pale Botticino stone. It has three levels, in memory of Dante's circles, and the arches and stairways create a heroic setting with contrasting shadows and light. Beneath the arches at the center lies the poet's tomb. Here the silence is only broken by visitors and their hushed chattering. At times, in the absolute silence, chirping birds accompany them out towards the blinding light of the lake garda.
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