Rocca di Manerba
The Rocca di Manerba is the remains of an ancient fortification located on a rocky spur overlooking the lake, near the town of Manerba del Garda (Brescia).
There are several possibilities if you want to visit the Rocca, suitable for those who want to take a nice walk to reach the goal (for example starting from the small village of Monticelle) or for those who want to arrive comfortably by car near the destination in order to simply enjoy the view.
How to reach the Rocca di Manerba
The easiest way to reach the Rocca di Manerba is by car, arriving at the free parking which is a few meters from the destination and which is located next to the visitor center and the Rocca Museum, where you can admire the remains found during the archaeological excavations, from the first prehistoric settlements to the destruction of the fortification.
Here it is possible to park the car, take a short and steep climb, suitable also for strollers, and arrive directly in front of the remains of the city walls: these are three walls from different periods and they testify how much this place has been considered a strategic point in every age.
The walls lead to the top of the Sasso, a panoramic point with a truly amazing view on Lake Garda: on a clear sky day it is possible to admire most of the shores and the conformation of the lake. A suggestive spectacle for all ages.
For those who want to reach the Rocca di Manerba by taking a walk, there are many paths in the Rocca Archaeological Natural Park, an area of about 90 hectares in which the Rocca, the Sasso (the promontory below the Rocca with the high cliffs of sedimentary rocks overlooking Lake Garda) and the entire coastal strip between Pisenze and Dusano.Different paths in length and difficulty level.
If children are used to walking it is possible, for example, to park the car in Monticelle and from here head towards the Rocca entering the Nature Reserve from via Pralungo and via Sadat, then following the path 801 which leads to the Rocca through dense vegetation and, for this reason, it is well shaded.Only the last part of the path (about 15 minutes) is quite challenging in the uphill part but, once you reach the top, every effort is definitely rewarded by the wonderful panorama that the Rocca di Manerba can offer.
Some tips for the trip:
- the paths are not clearly marked, so we recommend you to get a map at the tourist office in Manerba before starting the trip
- Punta Sasso, the viewpoint of the Rocca, is fantastic from a panoramic point of view but has no protections, so you need to be very careful if you have children with you
- the path that from the top of the Rocca leads directly to Punta Sasso is short, it starts immediately under the cross on the tip of the Rocca, but it is rather steep and unsuitable for children (recommended only if children are older and equipped with suitable footwear). Alternatively, you can opt for other paths that reach the destination in a simpler way.
And what to do after the excursion on the Rocca?
The port of Dusano is just a few minutes from Monticelle and has also a small beach where you can relax while enjoying an ice cream, playing by the lake and savoring the quiet of a relaxed and fascinating place.
