Rocca di Lonato

About the museum

The Castello di Lonato, known as the Rocca, stands on the summit of one of the hills of the morainic amphitheatre that overlooks the southern part of Lake Garda and, on the other side, the historic centre of the town. Built for military and defensive purposes, it is one of the most imposing fortifications in Lombardy: its irregular plan is almost 180 metres long and about 45 metres wide on average. The structure, built of large morainic pebbles, dates from the rule of the Visconti and the Scaligeri and has Guelph-style crenellations, the result of later restorations.

The complex consists of two sections at different heights: the Rocchetta, in the highest part, and the Quartiere Principale (main block), lower down. Access is from the south side over a drawbridge, along the avenues of the large park that links the Rocca to the Casa del Podestà.

The ground-floor rooms of the Casa del Capitano, in the Rocchetta, house the Museo civico ornitologico, which derives from the collections of the ornithologist Gustavo Adolfo Carlotto (1886–1970): around seven hundred specimens represent almost the whole of Italian birdlife. An immersive room with a touch-screen wall, funded by the PNRR (Italy's National Recovery and Resilience Plan), offers a preview of the museums and attractions of Lonato and nearby towns and lets visitors discover some books from the library of Ugo Da Como. The Rocca is part of the Fondazione Ugo Da Como complex.

Highlights

• Visconti-Venetian fortress almost 180 metres long
• Patrol walkways with views over Lake Garda
• Museo civico ornitologico in the Casa del Capitano, with around 700 specimens
• Immersive room with touch wall on the local area
• Park with pedestrian link to the Casa del Podestà
• Combined ticket with the Casa del Podestà

Permanent exhibitions

• Museo civico ornitologico Gustavo Adolfo Carlotto – Around 700 stuffed specimens representing almost all Italian birdlife, in the ground-floor rooms of the Casa del Capitano.
• Sala immersiva – Multimedia space with a touch wall for discovering museums, places and local highlights of Lonato and nearby towns.

Operated by

Fondazione Ugo Da Como

Admission & discounts

Free admission for group leaders, teachers accompanying school groups, holders of an ICOM card and of the Abbonamento Musei, and people with a disability of over 70%. Promotional rates for holders of partner cards (for example FAI or Touring Club Italiano). Tickets can also be bought online.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The patrol walkway of the Quartiere Principale is fully accessible, while the Rocchetta quarter has steps. The Casa del Capitano is only partially accessible: there are steps to level −1 (immersive room) and to level +1 (multipurpose room). Dogs on leads are allowed in the areas of the Rocca.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

For schools there are routes with activity booklets, hands-on workshops and costumed animations; the park of the Rocca has ample green spaces for play. The foundation also runs activities for children, such as “Un Museo per i Bambini” and “Fiabe nella Rocca”.

Getting there & parking

The website points to a convenient car park next to the entrance of the Rocca for reserved events. Motorhome area “La Spiaggia” in Desenzano del Garda (via Vo' 19).

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

The Rocca can be reserved exclusively for weddings (including civil ceremonies and civil unions, thanks to an agreement with the Comune), corporate events, receptions and private parties: the Rocchetta for ceremonies and aperitifs, the Quartiere Principale with a multipurpose events pavilion and a glass-walled hall overlooking the olive grove garden.

Plan your visit