Vittoriale degli Italiani

Today we want to drive a little further, take that half-hour trip in the direction of Salò and reach Gardone Riviera. It may seem like any other town, but it was here that the great and eccentric twentieth-century poet Gabriele D'Annunzio spent the last years of his life, planning his reign of memory. Here he bought the villa seized by the Italian government from Henry Thode as compensation for war damage and turned it into an open-air museum.
Some define it as a small town and we can't argue with that, as inside you will find buildings, gardens, lanes, squares and more! Keep in mind that D'Annunzio chose it as a place to store all the memorabilia he collected during his busy life. So next to the medals, clothes, sculptures and books you will find the SVA plane, the warship Puglia and the submarine MAS 96, to name just a few.
The Vittoriale, named after the Altar of the Fatherland dedicated to Vittorio Emanuele II, is a true work of art designed by Giancarlo Maroni, a great friend of the poet. The gardens, the lemon house, the mausoleum and the amphitheatre (still in use today for concerts and theatrical events) are framed by the blue of Lake Garda, which, combined with the intense yellow of the buildings, is ready to steal your heart.
Practical tip: we think a visit to the poet's house, called Prioria, is a must, it only requires booking a guide. For more information on tickets and timetables, visit the page https://bottega.vittoriale.it/#/prezzi-e-orari.