The Sanctuary of Montecastello is located just below the peak of Monte Cas, on a spur of rock sheer above the lake, with magnificent panoramic views.
Its privileged position offers to the visitors unique and spectacular views: moving from the high peaks of Mount Baldo to the peninsula of Sirmione, the sight can take in all the landscapes that embrace the blue waters.

Recently restored, it is one of the most popular and well-known sacred places of Garda given its architectural, artistic and scenic beauty. Built on the ruins of an ancient temple, later transformed into a castle, it houses the “Casa Santa”, a small temple presumably dating back to 800 AD.
In the rich and frescoed interior (frescoes of the Giottesca school), one of the many preserved is presumably the largest European ex-voto, dating back to the early 1600s.

The Sanctuary of Montecastello (Sanctuary of the Madonna della Stella) owes its name to the miraculous appearance of a “Star” that ended a ferocious battle that took place in Tignale in 1200. For centuries it has been a place of pilgrimage and devotion, particularly to the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is portrayed in an antique and miraculous fresco behind the main altar.

From our bungalow it takes only 10 minutes by car, 45 minutes walking. It can be achieve also by MTB if you are fit.

Lake Garda, especially along its west bank from Limone to Salò, still has some notable examples of structures not found anywhere else, to remind us of an epoch and civilisation now lost. They are the remains of lemon groves, which impressed Goethe two hundred years ago:“We passed Limone, whose hillside gardens, terraced and planted with lemon trees, create a rich and beautiful picture..” (From Italian journey, 1786)

Those lemon gardens were lemon houses, which date back to the 13th Century, when citrus cultivation was introduced around Lake Garda.

These characteristic buildings were constructed to protect the valuable plantations against the dangers of potential harsh winters. The inhabitants of the coastal area, until then struggling to survive as peasant farmers, boatmen or fishermen, became gardeners.The whole economy benefited from this development, as the production was plentiful, of high quality and almost exclusively intended for export to central European countries and Russia, with high profits guaranteed.By the sweat of their brows and with perseverance they continually improved the cultivation and its structures, making it more functional and productive. Lake Garda became the most northerly area in the world to produce citrus fruits.The unification of Italy and the resulting abolition of customs duties, the development of transport and the degeneration of plants due to gummosis disease, led to the gradual decline of this activity. Despite their decay, the walls of the lemon houses remain-witness of a flourishing period for the economy of Lake Garda.

There has recently been an attempt to save and protect these structures out of respect for their historical and cultural significance, for the local population. The lemon house at “Pra dela Fam”, near the port of Tignale, has been restored by the Comunità Montana Alto Garda Bresciano (the organisation which manages the regional park) and can be visited by the public.

Tignale’s Beach and Port is called “PRA DELA FAM”.

In the past, this area was vital for communication – it linked the villages of Tignale with the main towns along the lakeside.

It was called Pra dela Fam (local dialectic form of “prato della fame” – meadow of hunger) because when sailors or fishermen took refuge there during violent storms, they could be there for days without any food available.

However the most important structure here is La Limonaia (the lemon house) of “Pra dela Fam”, a type of greenhouse for the lemon trees