Island lake Garda
Island lake Garda is the largest island in the Benaco,
placed in front of the promontory of San Fermo. It has been inhabited since ancient times, as evidenced by the remains found by the distinguished geologist Stoppani in 1864. The writer and journalist Tullio Ferro recounts in his “Seen on Garda” which in 1221 was donated by Biemino Manerba by St. Francesco of Assisi to make one of the first monasteries of prayer in the province of Brescia, and then it was called at that time “Island of the Frairs “, it seems then that here was also Sant ‘Antonio di Padova and, briefly, even Dante Alighieri. In 1422 he came to this island also the Franciscan Bernardino da Siena (1380-1444), famous preacher and a leading figure of the Italian Quattrocento, at the hands of which the Franciscan hermitage face changed and became a convent with a church, cloisters, cells, gardens, orchards and with the ‘introduction of tropical plants and citrus fruits. At that time the Riviera witnessed the war between the Visconti and the Venetian Republic, with fierce battles and, on the Island of Garda, was stationed fleet of Filippo Maria Visconti.
At that time the island had become a flourishing Franciscan school and considered a religious and cultural center whose director was, as write also Grattarolo, the father Licheto Francesco, who died in 1520, erudite writer, philosopher and theologian of the family of Lechi from Brescia. In about 1690, lived on the island Cosimo Medici, Prince of Tuscany, who became Cosimo III. Suppressed the monastery in 1770, the island was ceded to the family by the state of Salo’ Conter, who in turn sold it to brothers Benedetti Portese. In 1860 the Blessed sold it to a Florentine Milan from which in 1817 bought the Count Luigi Lechi of Brescia, which overthrew the decadent convent, built a villa, a new meeting place for writers and artists. This oasis of peace was the home for a long time the opera singer Adelaide Malanotte, sentimental friend Lechi, so dear to Foscolo and wonderful interpreter of the works of Rossini. Luigi Lechi in 186 ceded the island to his brother, General Theodore, who had covered himself in glory during the Napoleonic campaign. In 1863 Theodore ceded to the government that began some fortifications. In 1869 it was sold to Baron Raffaele Scotti of Bergamo, and in 1870 the Duke Gaetano De Ferrari in Genoa. The only daughter of the Duke married the Roman Prince Scipione Borghese, who built the magnificent palace of the Venetian style of drawings by the architect Luigi Rovelli 1894 to 1940. Today the Garda Island is best known as “Isola Borghese” and belongs to the heirs of the Roman nobles, the Cavazza family. The beautiful palace located on the Island of Garda, the current residence of the family Borghese Cavazza.
At that time the island had become a flourishing Franciscan school and considered a religious and cultural center whose director was, as write also Grattarolo, the father Licheto Francesco, who died in 1520, erudite writer, philosopher and theologian of the family of Lechi from Brescia. In about 1690, lived on the island Cosimo Medici, Prince of Tuscany, who became Cosimo III. Suppressed the monastery in 1770, the island was ceded to the family by the state of Salo’ Conter, who in turn sold it to brothers Benedetti Portese. In 1860 the Blessed sold it to a Florentine Milan from which in 1817 bought the Count Luigi Lechi of Brescia, which overthrew the decadent convent, built a villa, a new meeting place for writers and artists. This oasis of peace was the home for a long time the opera singer Adelaide Malanotte, sentimental friend Lechi, so dear to Foscolo and wonderful interpreter of the works of Rossini. Luigi Lechi in 186 ceded the island to his brother, General Theodore, who had covered himself in glory during the Napoleonic campaign. In 1863 Theodore ceded to the government that began some fortifications. In 1869 it was sold to Baron Raffaele Scotti of Bergamo, and in 1870 the Duke Gaetano De Ferrari in Genoa. The only daughter of the Duke married the Roman Prince Scipione Borghese, who built the magnificent palace of the Venetian style of drawings by the architect Luigi Rovelli 1894 to 1940. Today the Garda Island is best known as “Isola Borghese” and belongs to the heirs of the Roman nobles, the Cavazza family. The beautiful palace located on the Island of Garda, the current residence of the family Borghese Cavazza.
