Lake Garda, Italy
I often deliberate over which images to upload to Flickr on account of interestingness, wow factor and will people get my postings! These three are just such a case, nothing outstanding, but I felt compelled to include them in my Lake Garda album on account they show something of the back history of Limone rather than just the pretty harbour view and promotional shots we generally see in the brochures so here goes...
One of the most distinctive sights approaching Limone on the lake is the view of the remains of the old lemon houses dotted amidst the houses and businesses. These "limonaie" were structures enabling the inhabitants to shelter the lemon trees from the frosts of winter. Lemon groves were brought to the shores of Lake Garda by monks in the 14th century, but it took until four centuries later for it to become established in Limone. Although lemon production flourished for centuries, it was finally hit by competition from groves further to the south. There is an interesting lemon museum at the Castèl lemon house, which is open for visitors in the summer months.
Limone sul Garda : The history of Limone sul Garda
The name of the town derives from the Latin word "Limen", which means border, but it is commonly believed that it comes from the typical local citrus fruit: the lemon. The earliest settlements of the people of Benaco (the ancient name of the lake) date back to the Neolithic Age (in the nearby Ledro Valley you can still visit the prehistoric pile dwellings from the Bronze Age). Celtic tribes inhabited the area in 600 B.C. and were later conquered by the Romans in 200 B.C. Over the centuries, Limone was involved in and affected by the historical events that took place in northern Italy: from the Longobards to the arrival of Charlemagne, the Venetian Republic, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Italian Risorgimento, the two World Wars, and the birth of the new Italian Republic. However, the most important period for the social, economical and cultural development of Limone was during the domination of the Venetian Republic in the first half of the 15th century A.D. Through the skilful administration of the "Serenissima" and its entrepreneurial ability, Limone developed from being a typical rural economy based on fishing and olive growing to becoming the northernmost area for the cultivation of citrus fruits such as lemons, oranges, and citrons.
The people of Limone built the world-famous lemon-houses, with their high walls to protect the trees from the cold north-eastern winds. The long rows of stone pillars of these lemon-houses supported the wooden beams for the roof that was erected in the wintertime. Before the lemon-house was completed, the back wall had to be insulated with a thick layer of lime to prevent seepage from nearby streams, and the entire structure was irrigated by way of a clever system of channels. The problem of soil, however, remained. The local soil was too gravelly, limy, and lack nutrients, so more acidic, clay soil full of nutrients was transported by boat from the southern area of the lake to Limone. Bear in mind that Limone is the northernmost spot in the world where lemons can be grown.
There is an important reference to the lemon-houses in the travel diary of Johann Wolfgang GOETHE (Frankfurt 1749 - Weimar 1832), the famous author who sailed Lake Garda and stopped in Limone in September 1786. Goethe was thrilled by the view of these huge lemon-houses that inspired the first lines of his celebrated poem, "Do you know the land where the lemons bloom?" In the 19th century, during the Habsburg reign, the flourishing citrus production was joined by the production of magnesia (Via Benedetto Croce), paper (in Milanesa), lime (Singol - Reamòl Valley) and, due to the mild climate, silk worms.
The historical and political events of World War I greatly affected Limone, and all these activities came to an abrupt end when the local people were evacuated for several years during the conflict between Italy and the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. After the war, modern progress favored towns with better roadways and other means of communication. Thus, Limone, which could only be reached by the lake or over the mountains, returned once more to its fishing industry and olive growing. Limone finally became connected to the towns north and south of it in 1932, thanks to the famous Gardesana Occidentale panoramic road: its years of isolation and separation had finally ended.
The local economy developed after the war with the arrival of tourists from Northern Europe, and the inhabitants of Limone gradually transformed their small fishing village into what has become one of today's most important tourist towns on Lake Garda.
Tags: Italy Limone Limone sul Garda Lake Garda lemons lemon-houses groves stone pillars wooden beams frost protection winter Andy Rouse Canon EOS 5D MkIII
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Lake Garda, Italy
Tags: Italy Limone Limone sul Garda Lake Garda lemons lemon-houses groves stone pillars wooden beams frost protection winter Andy Rouse Canon EOS 5D MkIII
© All Rights Reserved
Lake Garda, Italy
Tags: Italy Limone Limone sul Garda Lake Garda lemons lemon-houses groves stone pillars wooden beams frost protection winter Andy Rouse Canon EOS 5D MkIII
© All Rights Reserved
Limone, Lake Garda, Italy
Sod the photo, I've finally found a way to solve my problem of wonky images with sloping horizons and waterlines... shoot everything from a moving boat!
This image of presumable someone's home or holiday home (most jealous) is as taken - dead centre, dead level (oh alright... I've cropped it a little but it's still central and level). Captured on the way back from Riva del Garda via Limone to Malcesine, this house is just north of Limone.
Tags: Italy Limone Lake Garda lake lakeside house home holiday home Canon EOS 5D MkIII
© All Rights Reserved
Lake Garda, Italy
If there's a tower to be climbed... I'm there and at 2 Euros it would have been silly not too, having said that of all the tourists in Riva that afternoon, only Mrs R and myself bothered to climb the 165 steps to the top.
The Torre Apponale - the town's tower is located in the heart of Riva del Garda, in the Piazza III Novembre near the waterfront. It was built in the 13th century as another means of protecting the access to the lake and the town around it and at one point was connected to the Rocca via an underground passage. The Torre Apponale is 34 metres high and can be climbed during the summer months. At the top of the tower is the "Anzolim" ("little angel") weather vane - a symbol of Riva del Garda. Oh by the way, worth mentioning the bells (the ticket lady didn't bother)... bloody loud!!! Almost dropped my camera over the edge and developed Quasimodo syndrome for some hours after.
Anyway, in the shot looking south down the lake is the Hotel Sole and the ex-paddle steamer - G. Zanardelli, which is a lovely way to travel but a bit slow!
Here's a brief history of her...
Builders : Escher, Wyss & Cie, Zurich (Switzerland) and re-assembled at Peschiera
Engines : Compound Diagonal by builders replaced by Diesel-hydraulic drive in 1982 and subsequently re-engined in 2002
Length : 48.65 metres
Passengers : Originally 800 but now certified for 500 (of which 250 seated including 150 under cover).
Crew : 7
Entered service : 1903
Used as a troops and supplies carrier in World War I
Damaged in an air attack in 1944 whilst on passenger service approaching Limone with the captain, the helmsman and several passengers were killed and many more injured
Returned to service after the war ended under American control, painted with scenes from US life
Withdrawn again in 1959
Back in service in 1969 with enclosed upper deck and a wheelhouse
Ran aground in October 1977 near Moderno, sustaining severe damage to the hull
Returned to service in 1983 with a diesel unit in place of her steam engines as an economy measure
After many years of infrequent and irregular service, Zanardelli now sees considerable use in the upper lake during the summer timetable period
Tags: Italy Riva Riva del Garda Lake Garda lake lakeside harbour tower Torre Apponale 34m 165 steps bells view Hotel Sole paddle steamer G. Zanardelli Andy Rouse Canon EOS 5D MkIII
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