San Felice del Benaco ☀️ Lake Garda (what to see, info, beaches)

29Sep

San Felice del Benaco ☀️ Lake Garda (what to see, info, beaches)

Category What see Lake Garda and Verona

What to do and see in San Felice del Benaco on Lake Garda and the magnificent island of Garda belonging to the Cavazza family.

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Agriturismo - Where to stay overnight

The history of San Felice del Benaco
What to see in San Felice del Benaco
Beaches of San Felice del Benaco

The history of San Felice del Benaco

In-depth studies attest that these places were inhabited during the Roman era. According to tradition, St. Francis of Assisi founded the first dormitory of Roman friars there. After the destruction of the ancient castle of Scovolo, which occurred when the Brescians deprived the Veronesi of the Valtenesi, the population migrated to Portese and San Felice, where they erected the Castle of San Felice.
The country was the scene of many conflicts and settlements including French and German ones. During the war of succession to the Spanish throne, at the beginning of the eighteenth century, it underwent the passage of armed troops, to which it had to ensure supplies of timber, without being able to avoid episodes of violence and abuse.

What to see in San Felice del Benaco

In the historic center of San Felice del Benaco you can breathe the classic relaxed and pleasant atmosphere that characterizes the villages overlooking the different shores of Lake Garda.
During a walk through its narrow streets you will come across some historic buildings including the Palazzo Rotingo, a late nineteenth-century building that belonged to a wealthy family originally from Salò, which has now become the seat of the Town Hall. Entering inside, you can still observe the precious decorations of the wooden coffered ceilings, the coats of arms and the allegorical figures present.
Another historic building located in the charming town of San Felice del Benaco is the Ex Monte di Pietà. This was a place where the poorest citizens could turn to, to obtain sums of money, without subsequently having to pay interest. This beneficial institution was strongly desired by Giacomo Pace, a wealthy wealthy man, who financed its construction in 1593.

Another historic building in San Felice del Benaco, located in the hamlet of Cisano, is Palazzo Cominelli, which belonged to the homonymous family, also originally from Salò. It was built around the middle of the seventeenth century and recently renovated, bringing the interior decorations back to their former glory. Today it is the seat of the Raffaele Cominelli Foundation.
Of the Castle of Portese, a hamlet of San Felice del Benaco, dating back to the early Middle Ages, however, unfortunately today only a few remains remain. It all comes down to just the tower still standing and small parts of the walls, which is flanked by the building of the municipal library.
In the center of the town, a few steps from Palazzo Rotingo, there is the large parish church dedicated to Saints Felice, Adauto and Flavia. Inside there are several works of art, including the 16th century Pala del Romanino.
The most important religious place in San Felice del Benaco, however, is the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Carmine, a pilgrimage destination for many faithful from all over the world, located just outside the historic center. This beautiful Romanesque church was built by the Carmelite friars in 1460, on a gentle hill, with Lake Garda behind it to frame it in a setting of other times.

Another beautiful church that can be visited in this area is that of San Fermo. Taking advantage of a nice walk from the town center towards the promontory of San Fermo, surrounded by nature and the lake panorama, the Church of Fermo is also suggestive and enchanting, in all its simplicity.
Staying in the town of San Felice del Benaco, a day is a must to dedicate to the discovery of the Garda Island, just a few minutes by boat from the town's port. Being part of the territory of San Felice, it turns out to be one of the major tourist attractions of Lake Garda. In fact, from many ports in the most disparate points of the lake coast, ferries leave for this pearl of incredible beauty.
Finally, the particular position of the town of San Felice del Benaco allows you to enjoy a particular view of Lake Garda. For example, from the hills of the hamlet of Cisano you can enjoy the wonderful view of the Gulf of Salò or, on the opposite side, in Porto di San Felice, the spectacular horizon with the small island of San Biagio.