Excursion
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Padenghe sul Garda
The castle
Situated  above the town, this imposing medieval structure still has its mighty walls made with large stones and the three characteristic towers in the north-westerly corner. Unfortunately only ruins of the central part remain after its collapse. The main square tower is located over the entrance, which supported an impressive drawbridge thanks to the embrasures, which are still visible.
The fortress was greatly fought over and lost, until in 1414 Pandolfo Malatesta decided to entrust Padenghe with the castle of  Drugolo, inside which the Veneto Republic subsequently stationed a garrison. Inside a “castle within a castle” was constructed to house the lord and the garrison.

Church of Sant’Emiliano
Situated close to the castle, this is an ancient Romanesque parish church made up of a nave without aisles and a semicircular apse which dates back to the 12th century. Inside one can note the transformations made in the Baroque era.

The parish church
Built around the end of the 17th century, inside it houses paintings of considerable artistic merit, such as the “Madonna with Child and Saints” by Zenone Veronese and pictures by Francesco Paglia, Francesco Giugno and Zadei. Furthermore it is possible to admire the evocative sculptures of Antonio Callegari and Beniamino Sironi.

Villa Barbieri
Situated close to the church, it was built at the end of the 18th century. It has a characteristic façade which is completely rusticated. It has recently become the property of the Commune of Padenghe and hence it is only possible to admire it from outside.
Data
Altitude:                 125 m
Hamlets:          
Castello, La Fabbrica, Monte, Pratello
Province:                 Brescia
Post Code:              25080
Area Code:              030
Market on:         
saturday (afternoon)
Distances:  
Brescia 25 km
Desenzano 5 km
Traces of a prehistoric settlement and findings demonstrating the presence of the Romans have been found here. During the Hungarian invasions the inhabitants were obliged to abandon the Christian village lying on the banks of the lake and dependent on Pieve di Desenzano, to move into the hills, where they constructed the castle.
In the Middle Ages the castle became a Ghibelline fortress contested by Brescia and Verona. In 1330 Padenghe was conquered by the Scaligeri family, ownership of the castle being contested among the family members. At the end of the 14th century the towns along the bank requested and obtained autonomy from the Visconti family. In 1414 the castle of Drugolo was entrusted to Padenghe by Pandolfo Malatesta. After the peace agreement in Lodi, in 1454 the Veneto Republic stationed a garrison inside the castle.
The people of Padenghe were defined as “proud”, by a macaronic poet who stayed in the convent of Maguzzano. During the French dominion Padenghe was saved from the war thanks to the intervention of Cardinal D’Amboise who avoided the destruction of the castle, which would have led to dangerous discontent among the people. Padenghe was also subjected to the sacking and violence of the Imperial German soldiers coming from Verona in 1532, whereas at the end of the 16th century it was menaced by merciless bandits, among whom the famous Giacomo Dainese, known as Giacomazzo da Padenghe.