Salo
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By Dion Protani
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Latest update: 31 December 2023
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The lakeside town of Salò is situated in the Province of Brescia, on the shores of Lake Garda. It has a population of around 10,000 residents and is located a distance of 133 kilometres east of Milan, the regional capital of Lombardy.
To the casual observer, Salò could appear as little more than another town around Lake Garda but it has a remarkable history. |
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Mussolini's temporary capital of Italy
Records of Salò date back to the Romans and it is believed in some quarters to have Etruscan origins, however it is the town's later contributions to history that set it apart.
During the 15th century, Salò and a number of neighbouring towns opted to join the Stato da Terra of the Venetian Republic. As a consequence, Salò became the capital of the so-called Magnifica Patria, a situation that lasted until Napoleon arrived at the end of the 18th century.
Even this though, is not Salò's greatest claim to historical fame; that came during the Second World War when Nazi Germany annexed the Trentino Alto-Adige region which meant Italy's border with the Reich was brought much further south, to the town of Limone sul Garda, just a short distance north of Salò.
As a result of this, Italian fascist leader Benito Mussolini established a new government here called the Repubblica Social Italiana (colloquially-known as the Repubblica di Salò) which lasted from 1943-1945. During those years, Salò was the de facto capital of Italy.
During the 15th century, Salò and a number of neighbouring towns opted to join the Stato da Terra of the Venetian Republic. As a consequence, Salò became the capital of the so-called Magnifica Patria, a situation that lasted until Napoleon arrived at the end of the 18th century.
Even this though, is not Salò's greatest claim to historical fame; that came during the Second World War when Nazi Germany annexed the Trentino Alto-Adige region which meant Italy's border with the Reich was brought much further south, to the town of Limone sul Garda, just a short distance north of Salò.
As a result of this, Italian fascist leader Benito Mussolini established a new government here called the Repubblica Social Italiana (colloquially-known as the Repubblica di Salò) which lasted from 1943-1945. During those years, Salò was the de facto capital of Italy.
Authentic Salò
One of the larger towns around Lake Garda, it nonetheless escapes the attention of the majority of tourists that instead flock to the likes of Limone, Sirmione or Desenzano. This makes Salò one of the most appealing towns around the lake with a greater sense of authenticity and a more relaxed atmosphere.
Approaching the town from the south you can see its layout from a distance; the bell tower of the town's 15th century Cathedral dominates the landscape as the icing on the cake to the elegant Liberty-style buildings in the foreground.
Edging this scene between the lake and the town is the beautiful promenade which is the longest of all around Lake Garda. You can enjoy a pleasant walk along Lungolago Zanardelli (the promenade) all the way to the town centre, passing the gleaming yachts on one side and the sophisticated palazzi on the other.
Approaching the town from the south you can see its layout from a distance; the bell tower of the town's 15th century Cathedral dominates the landscape as the icing on the cake to the elegant Liberty-style buildings in the foreground.
Edging this scene between the lake and the town is the beautiful promenade which is the longest of all around Lake Garda. You can enjoy a pleasant walk along Lungolago Zanardelli (the promenade) all the way to the town centre, passing the gleaming yachts on one side and the sophisticated palazzi on the other.
Elegant piazzas
The promenade is interrupted by two squares: first Piazza Zanardelli and then the beautiful main square: Piazza della Vittoria. To the left of Piazza della Vittoria is perhaps the town's signature building, the Palazzo del Podestà with its ground-level porticoes.
The square is surrounded by historic buildings on three sides with the fourth side taken up by the ferry port. The Piazza is a popular spot for a bite to eat with a number of outdoor restaurants and cafes.
From Piazza della Vittoria you can take a walk along the narrow Via Duomo up to the Cathedral just a couple of hundred metres away, or take a stroll along Via San Carlo with its significant number of shops.
The western end of Via San Carlo marks the boundary of what you'd describe as the town centre. At this point it meets Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II which is reached by passing through an ancient city gate with a clock face on top, now called the Torre dell'Orologio (Clock Tower).
The square is surrounded by historic buildings on three sides with the fourth side taken up by the ferry port. The Piazza is a popular spot for a bite to eat with a number of outdoor restaurants and cafes.
From Piazza della Vittoria you can take a walk along the narrow Via Duomo up to the Cathedral just a couple of hundred metres away, or take a stroll along Via San Carlo with its significant number of shops.
The western end of Via San Carlo marks the boundary of what you'd describe as the town centre. At this point it meets Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II which is reached by passing through an ancient city gate with a clock face on top, now called the Torre dell'Orologio (Clock Tower).
Exploring Lake Garda beyond Salò
Undoubtedly the best way to explore the rest of Lake Garda from Salò is to use the ferry system, boarding at Piazza della Vittoria. To the immediate north of Salò are the smaller towns of Gardone Riviera and Maderno, while the main destinations to the south are Desenzano, Sirmione and Peschiera which is across the regional border in Veneto.
You can drive from Salò to the major local city of Brescia in 35 minutes or take one of the buses with a journey time of around an hour. If you do have a car you can take the wonderful scenic drive all the way around the lake, or for something a little quieter, head west of Salò and inland to the much smaller Lake Idro.
You can drive from Salò to the major local city of Brescia in 35 minutes or take one of the buses with a journey time of around an hour. If you do have a car you can take the wonderful scenic drive all the way around the lake, or for something a little quieter, head west of Salò and inland to the much smaller Lake Idro.
Comune di Salò
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Province: Brescia
Region: Lombardy Population: 10,448 (source: ISTAT 1 January 2023) Size: 30 km² Elevation: 65 metres Highlights: Lungolago Zanardelli, Piazza della Vittoria Close by: Desenzano del Garda, Sirmione, Brescia, Lake Idro Recommended accommodation: Hotel Laurin |
