Its Tuesday the 23th September 2024, the last day before we fly back home tomorrow. We decide to spend it here in Pescheira. Take a last look in town and hire some Stand Up Paddleboards.
We leave Camping Bella Italia and walk back along the Lake into town.
Roman Ardelica was a town of Gallia Transpadana that occupied the site of the modern Peschiera del Garda, at the southeast angle of the Lacus Benacus (Lago di Garda), just where the Mincius (modern Mincio) issued from the lake. The name is found under the corrupted form Ariolica in the Tabula Peutingeriana, which correctly places it between Brixia and Verona; the true form is preserved by inscriptions, of which one says that it was a trading place, with a corporation of ship-owners, collegium naviculariorum Ardelicensium. (Orell. Inscr. 4108.) The town is mentioned as Arilica in Pliny the Elder's Naturalis Historia.
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| Hard Core metal detecting in wetsuits! |
The fortress at Peschiera played a prominent part in most military campaigns conducted in northern Italy after 1400, especially during the Italian campaigns of the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. At the Battle of Peschiera fought on 6 August 1796, the day after the major French victory at the Battle of Castiglione, a French force commanded by general Masséna drove out the Austrians. After the Siege of Peschiera, during the First Italian War of Independence, it was taken by the Piedmontese from the Austrians, following a gallant defence by general Rath lasting six weeks, on 30 May, 1848.
During World War I, the Peschiera conference between the British and French premiers and the Italian king took place on 8 November 1917.
Peschiera del Garda was also known for its military jail, which closed in 2002.
In Peschiera del Garda (a city near the Garda Lake), along the road Riviera Carducci, there is a memorial, including artillery canon, in memory of all troops who have served in the artillery and were killed or removed during WW2.
At the monument there is a English 17 pounder cannon (also used on the Sherman Firefly: 76.2 mm)
The reason that this English gun is present on this location is probably because the fact that the Italians fought at the end of the war on the side of the Allies.
We walk back to camp, get changed and head back to the Lake to hire the SUP's.
George and Lucy had no problems with the SUP's, me well I was in the water more than on the board. Managed it for a while but it isn't easy. The lady kindly offers me a pedalo to take Mel out on instead!
Here onwards are just loads of photos and videos of the SUPs and pedalo, sorry to bore you :)
We have dinner on Camping Bella Italia before our flight home tomorrow, been a great week away!
