Gardone Riviera
A day trip on the Brescian shore of Lake Garda, a few km from Salò, will let you discover the Vittoriale degli Italiani, a monumental citadel built between 1921 and 1938 by Gabriele D'Annunzio with the cooperation of the architect Giancarlo Maroni. It is located in Gardone Riviera and it is a museum complex open to the public, a place dedicated to the memory of the famous poet-soldier and to the Italian accomplishments during the First World War. The Vittoriale offers different didactic paths in order to discover a fundamental period not only for the Italian history. The gardens that surround the complex for about 11 hectares are decorated with bronze statues, rivers and fountains. There are also a big amphitheater inspired to the ancient theater of Pompeii and where during the summer there are theatrical plays and famous international artists, and the mausoleum, where the poet rests.
HELLER GARDEN
At a short distance from the Vittoriale, ideal destination in order to end your day with a nice relaxing stroll, there is the amazing Heller garden, designed and realized by the naturalistic doctor Arturo Hruska during the years 1910-1971. The garden extends along an area of about 10.000 mq, where you can have a walk among rivers and artificial lakes covered by water lilies, flowers and plants from all the continents and any climatic area. In 1988 the Austrian artist Andrè Heller bought the land and completed the activity of his predecessor by putting some contemporary installations with an oriental taste that make this place full of magic glimpses even more special and unique. The botanic garden has more than 3000 species of plants coming from the most remote places in the world and represents a perfect bond between the oriental spirituality and the modern works of art.
