USEFUL INFORMATION
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MARKET DAY: The 2nd and the 4th Tuesday of the month
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PORT: Porto - Via Benaco, 26
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PHARMACY: Farmacia Torbole - Via Giacomo Matteotti, 62
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HOSPITALS: Pronto Soccorso Malcesine - Via Gardesana, 37; Ospedale di Arco - Viale dei Capitelli
HISTORY
Torbole is located on the northern gulf of Lake Garda and is a popular destination for sports enthusiasts, especially windsurfers. Its centre given by the small harbour creates a picturesque corner between Venetian period houses such as the Vecchia Dogana, Casa Stefanelli and Casa Beust.
It has always been a fishing village until after World War II when the explosion of tourism took place. Two historical events that took place here can be recalled.
In 1439, the Venetian fleet had to fight the Viscontis of Milan who controlled the Mincio River, so after transporting six galleys and twenty-five boats by water on the Adige River and then by land, they brought them down to Torbole, defeating them in 1440.
Another date is 4 September 1786 when the poet Goethe came to Italy and for the first time was fascinated by the wonderful Mediterranean flora laden with fruit and described its winds. In his book 'Viaggio in Italia' (Journey in Italy), he began to make the spectacle of the lake known to the world.
A natural monument is the 'Marmitte dei Giganti' or 'Giants' potholes', huge rocky boulders smoothed by glaciers 25,000 years ago, which were inhabited in prehistoric times.
An interesting sight to see is the Church of Sant'Andrea, considered to be one of the oldest on the lake, already mentioned in a papal bull of 1183 and home to a masterpiece by Cignaroli, and the Pedene Castle on the top of the cliff at Nago, of prehistoric origin transformed into a fortress by the Romans and later the scene of clashes between Guelphs and Ghibellines.
