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Torri del Benàco is a pleasant tourist locality with a population of
about 2,700 inhabitants situated at the centre of the eastern shore
of Lake Garda, also referred to as the Shore of the Olives for its
centuries old trees that climb up the higher slopes to 400 metres of
altitude. Due to the effect of the lake, Torri enjoys an excellent
temperate climate. Furthermore, the zone is protected to the north
from the Baldo mountainous range which prevents it from being
reached by the cold alpine winds and, as a result, it has early
springs and gentle and lenghtened autumns. This particularly mild
climate gives rise to a spontaneous rich mediterranian vegetation
that together with the excellent geographical location makes it one
of the prime tourist spots of lake Garda. Old streets and lanes,
historic buildings and modern homes are immersed in an enchanting
natural green environment that, among pines, olive trees and lemon
groves, offers peace and serenity. Torri del Benaco rises 67 metres
above sea level and has a municipal territory of 4,850 hectares
which includes the two towns of Albisano and Pai. It is bounded to
the north by the municipality of Brenzone, to the east with that of
San Zeno di Montagna and to the south by the municipality of Garda.
To the west there is a ferry-boat link to the Brescia side of the
lake. This splendid lake resort is easely reached thanks to: the
motorway Brennero-Modena, Affi toll booth at 16 km (exit “Lago di
Garda Sud”) and the toll booth of Rovereto at 45 km (exit “Lago di
Garda Nord”) or the motorway Milano-Venezia’s toll booth of
Peschiera del Garda at 22 km, the train station at Verona (40 km) or
that of Peschiera del Garda and the airport “Valerio Catullo” of
Verona, Villafranca, an important international link and only 35 km
away. There is also a good network of public transportation (Azienda
Provinciale Trasporti) that besides connecting Torri with the train
stations and the airport , allows one to easily reach nearby towns.
The first signs of the presence of man on the Torri territory go
back to 2000BC. This is confirmed by findings of decorated ceramic
and stone objects from the Bronze Age during excavations in the
centre of town (1978) Traces of lake dwellings were discovered in
the ‘60s. The numerous rock incisions also testify the human
presence during that period: there are stone carvings of animals,
crosses, stylized human forms and geometrical figures. One of the
most significant sites being at Pietra Grande, at Crer.
The toponomy of some localities of the territory as well as the west
tower of the castle, the harbour and the Trincero’ quarter in the
northern part of the historic centre near the parish church and the
findings of Roman coins of the imperial era testify that Torri
(Tulles) became part of the Roman Empire near the end of the first
century BC when the roman legions occupied the eastern coast of the
lake. After the fall of the Roman Empire, first the Goths, then the
Longobards and Francs and, at the end of the 10th century, the
Hungarians invaded the area. Therefore, Berengario I, king of Italy,
arrived in Torri in 905, had a wall built protecting the town, the
remains of which still stand, and the Tower of Berengario. And in
Torri the king also dated six diplomas with which he rewarded those
who helped him in the fight against Ludovico III of Borgoigne. In
the 12th century the troops of Barbarossa passed through. The Church
of St. John, near the old cemetery, the Church of the Trinity, near
the harbour, and St. Gregory in Pai, were all founded during this
period. With the arrival of the Scaligeri in Verona, the harbour’s
dock was fortified, and the Castle, upon commission of Antonio della
Scala, the last of the Scaligeri, was rebuilt on the site of
pre-existing ruins. But despite the strengthening of its defenses,
even Torri was beset by the war between the Visconti and the Da
Carrara who alternated in ruling the shore of the lake. In 1405,
Torri came under the Repubblica di Venezia. During this period it
became the seat of the Gardesana dell’Acqua, a confederation of ten
municipalities of the Veronese shore, with the mission of dividing
the fiscal burdens and putting a stop to the contraband on lake
Garda. The Council, who was presided by the Captain of the Lake (among
them Giovanni dei Menaroli, 1380, from Torri) was held in the
Palazzo della Gardesana, at one time belonging to the noble
Calderini family. Between 1500 and 1600 the population of Torri was
reduced to a half by the plague. The sick were put up near the
Church of St. John and in the monastery adjoining the Church of San
Faustino. At the end of the 18th century, napoleonic troops landed
in Torri who fought against the austrians: at Pai, in the lake’s
waters, an austrian fleet made the french flee. Subsequently, the
entire zone was hit by famine and diseases. In 1866, after having
felt the echo of the wars of Independence fought in the lower lake
and the undertakings of Garibaldi’s troops, Torri became part of the
Italian Kingdom. During that period, the prevalent activities were
fishing and the cultivation of olives; but the local people also
worked in the greenhouses of citrus fruits (the one of the Castle
Scaligero is one of the few still functioning on lake Garda) and in
the marble quarries (yellow marble of Torri). The phenomenon of
immigration to foreign lands followed which lasted till after the
first world war. In the ‘20s , the Gardesana road was widenened and,
after the second world war, there began a slow economic recovery.
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