Rocca di Manerba
Outdoor activity – Manerba, Lake Garda
Rocca di Manerba
The Rocca di Manerba, perched on a cliff 150 meters above Lake Garda, has rich in historical and archaeological significance. Excavations in the Sasso below reveal human settlements from the Mesolithic period (8000-5000 years ago). Three defensive wall circuits from the 12th and 13th centuries were uncovered, with the innermost enclosing the Rocca’s summit. Artifacts from the Lagozza culture (4000 BCE) to Medieval times show Etruscan, Cenomani Gaul, and Roman presence. The Rocca, a Lombard stronghold, fell to Charlemagne’s Franks in 776, later passing to the Scaligeri, Visconti, and Venetians, who destroyed it in 1574.
Visitors information
Today visitors can explore the restored ruins of the medieval castle and other ancient structures accessible via a steep, partially closed asphalt road. The site offers scenic paths with descriptive boards, leading to panoramic viewpoints offering 360-degree views of Lake Garda. The ruins extend inland to a meadow providing rest and respite for visitors. A beautiful beach is also reachable from the Rocca.
The Rocca di Manerba is part of a larger natural reserve, the Parco Naturale Archeologico della Rocca e del Sasso. This 90-hectare area features a blend of woods and meadows, with native flora such as black hornbeam, downy oak, butcher’s broom, honeysuckle, and hellebore coexisting with Mediterranean scrub.
The park’s Visitor Center, near the parking area below the Rocca, houses the Museo Civico Archeologico della Valtenesi. The museum’s ground floor presents bilingual displays of archaeological finds from the Rocca and Sasso sites, the Pieve di S. Maria, and lakeshore settlements, including a Bronze Age pile-dwelling.
An ancient legend tells of a fierce wolf that once terrorized the area, occupying a cave on the cliff. After many failed attempts, three young men from nearby villages tried to capture the beast. The first two perished, but the third, a farmer, drove the wolf off the cliff with a cross, leading to the creature’s death and the erection of a celebratory cross atop the Rocca. It is said that the bodies of the two fallen youths transformed into two large rocks in the lake.
Explore more Outdoor Activities at Lake Garda
Discover the Best Things to See and Do Outdoors around Lake Garda
