Lazise Things to Do

The little church of San Nicolo is the ancient church on Lago di Garda. It was designed in a very simple Romanesque style dating back to 12th century.
Do not miss visiting the interior of the church because it preserved precious frescoes painted by the artist of great Giotto's school.

In the times when Venetian Republic ruled the place, the town of Lazise was the main fiscal port of Lago di Garda. Being so important place, the whole town was protected by the massive city walls which are very good preserved.
Via Rocca, what is the name of this street, leads you, turning left, into the direction of the parish church and Porta San Zeno.

The signs of the Scala Family rule over Lazise, and whole Lago di Garda area, can be noticed everywhere. The mighty family have built several castles all around Lago di Garda, those at Sirmione, Lazise, Malcesine and Valeggio are the best known.

This castle is from the 11th century and in summer time you can attend to night concerts on it. We did not visit inside, we just walked along the little streets and the walls that surround the city.

To enter to the city the easier way is through this gate called Door of San Zeno, following the street you will arrive to the main square that directs you to the lake and little port.

Ok meandering back down to the piazza now but a quick stop to look at the church before some lunch. This elegant white squarish church was on a small piazza with narrow roads around, so difficult to get a wide angle pic. It was a pleasant change to see this style compared to all the gothic ornate churches we had seen in Verona. The church is dedicated to Sn Zeno, the patron saint of water and fishing.

Follow the narrow lane alongside the walls and you will soon come to the entrance gateway to Lazise - from the road end as opposed to the harbour. From here it then heads past the church and back down to the piazza..

The castle built in 9th century gave protection against the Hungarian invasions, it was modified and reinforced over the centuries.
The coats of arms of Bartolomeo and Antonio Della Scala are still visible on the two entrances, even though Emperor Maximilian had them defaced. "La giustizia del mondragòn la ghe dà torto a chi g'ha rasòn' (The justice of the dragon punishes he who is right) was what the people of Lazise used to say. This proverb, which referred to the coat of arms with the dragon that was displayed on the castle walls, aptly expresses their distrust of tyranny.