Lonato del Garda is located in the Brescia area, about 15 km south-east of Sirmione. A fortified castle – one of the most important in Lombardy – towers over the town. It was given an asymmetric layout to make it blend in with its surroundings. The first structural changes were carried out in the 10th century and it is easy to deduce the stronghold’s strategic importance from its location.

The building consists of two parts, the upper part housing the castle, the lower the so-called headquarters. The gate and the drawbridge were reconstructed during renovation works in 1980, allowing access to the castle from the south. Turning right, visitors get to the headquarters, which once housed barracks, a room for other purposes and a fountain that was used as a water butt.

The guards and artillery room is reached through an arched portal. From here, visitors can walk up to the upper castle along merlon walls. Inside the so called Quartiere di Monizione, visitors reach the main tower, which was once a prison. Opposite is the house in which the lord of the castle lived. Today it is the seat of a conference hall and the Civic Ornithology Museum (Museo Civico Ornitologio).

Lonato’s Rocca can be reached on foot or by car and boasts a small carpark. The outdoor grounds can be visited daily, but a visit to the official website is recommended.