USEFUL INFORMATION
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MARKET DAY: Sunday
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PORT: Porto - Piazza Guglielmo Marconi
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PHARMACY: Farmacia Internazionale - Via Gardesana, 149
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HOSPITALS: Pronto Soccorso Malcesine - Via Gardesana, 37; Ospedale Orlandi di Bussolengo - Via Ospedale 4/6
HISTORY
Malcesine stretches over an area with a steep drop from the lake to Monte Baldo with its 1800 metres. It is one of the most attractive towns on the lake and it was Goethe who realised its tourist potential in 1786, who described it in his book as a timeless idyllic place.
Today it is difficult to distinguish the beautiful medieval centre, thanks to a perfect blend of the old and the new that create a picturesque village of great urban and architectural quality.
It seems that the place name of Malcesine is 'Mala Sila' a dry stone that belonged to the Bishops of Verona and the Scaligeri. The first settlements of Etruscan origin date back to 500 B.C., the same period in which, according to some scholars, the Rocca di Malcesine was built.
It was destroyed by the Franks in 590 and rebuilt, and became part of the Episcopal fiefs of Verona. From 1277 to 1387 the Rocca was dominated by the Scaligeri from Alberto I della Scala. After their fall, it was ruled by the Visconti family and the Republic of Venice until 1797.
The municipality is also known for its many sports activities on offer and for having a cable car that connects it to Monte Baldo.
