Garda Area
Padenghe sul Garda
In these places several traces of a prehistoric settlement and findings (demonstrating the presence of the Romans) have been found. At the time of the Hungarian invasions the inhabitants of these places were obliged to abandon the Christian village lying on the banks of the lake and to move onto the hills, where the castle was built.
In the Middle Ages the castle of Padenghe became a Ghibelline fortress contested by the cities Brescia and Verona. In 1330 Padenghe was conquered by the Scaligeri family. At the end of the 14th century all the towns along the bank obtained their autonomy from the Visconti family. In 1414 the castle of Drugolo was entrusted to Padenghe by Pandolfo Malatesta. After the peace agreement in Lodi, in 1454 the Veneto Republic stationed a garrison inside the castle. The inhabitants of Padenghe were defined as "proud" by a macaronic poet who stayed in the convent of Maguzzano. During the French dominion Padenghe was saved from the war by Cardinal D’Amboise, who avoided the destruction of the castle and the discontent among the people. Padenghe suffered also the sacking and violence of the Imperial German soldiers coming from Verona in 1532. At the end of the 16th century Padenghe was menaced by merciless bandits, among whom there was also the famous Giacomo Dainese (known as Giacomazzo da Padenghe).
In the Middle Ages the castle of Padenghe became a Ghibelline fortress contested by the cities Brescia and Verona. In 1330 Padenghe was conquered by the Scaligeri family. At the end of the 14th century all the towns along the bank obtained their autonomy from the Visconti family. In 1414 the castle of Drugolo was entrusted to Padenghe by Pandolfo Malatesta. After the peace agreement in Lodi, in 1454 the Veneto Republic stationed a garrison inside the castle. The inhabitants of Padenghe were defined as "proud" by a macaronic poet who stayed in the convent of Maguzzano. During the French dominion Padenghe was saved from the war by Cardinal D’Amboise, who avoided the destruction of the castle and the discontent among the people. Padenghe suffered also the sacking and violence of the Imperial German soldiers coming from Verona in 1532. At the end of the 16th century Padenghe was menaced by merciless bandits, among whom there was also the famous Giacomo Dainese (known as Giacomazzo da Padenghe).
