In the wonderful surroundings of the Gardone Riviera, a charming lakeside village, stands the Vittoriale of the Italians (or more simply Vittoriale). Inside is the house where Gabriele D’Annunzio lived, who built the entire monumental complex – which consists of many buildings, one more fascinating than the other. It is a magical place on gentle hills that slope down to the lake, but also a piece of history that we should all visit at least once in our lives.
Vittoriale, free entry on New Year’s Eve
In 2023, 160 years have passed since the birth of Gabriele D’Annunzio, who wished for this enchanting monumental complex: in his honor, the year ends with the opening of an exhibition entitled “Like warm and liquid gold”, but also with a deadline that you must not miss. On December 30th, from 11:00, it will be possible to enter the Vittoriale for free. A really special way to prepare for the New Year is to discover an architectural gem of rare beauty.
House of Gabriele D’Annunzio
The First World War had recently ended, and the great Italian poet – who was one of its most famous protagonists – sought a quiet place to stay for a few weeks, just enough time to finish his latest literary work. He was enchanted by the villa that belonged to the German art critic Henry Thode, a stone’s throw from Lake Garda: he therefore decided to move to this corner of paradise and never left it. Indeed, he commissioned the design of a real monumental complex that would include his residence, to which he gave his name Vittoriale of the Italians.
A tribute to the many soldiers, his countrymen, who were so heroic that they risked their lives for their country: this is the deep meaning of the huge monument which today forms a beautiful exhibition in the village of Gardone Riviera, a gem waiting to be discovered. The house in which D’Annunzio lived is therefore nothing more than a small piece of a much larger puzzle that makes up the entire complex. It is also known by the name Priory and contains a veritable treasure from an artistic point of view and beyond, with richly decorated rooms and numerous relics of D’Anunzio’s memory.
Discovering the Vittoriale degli Italiani
As we expected, Vittoriale is much more than simply the home where Gabriele D’Annunzio spent the rest of his life after the end of the First World War. There are countless buildings to explore and every corner holds incredible secrets. It is clear from the monumental entrance that we are facing something that has no parallel in our country – and probably not even in the rest of the world. The huge park includes the entire complex, including the mausoleum of heroes, where it is the grave of a great poet, and then slopes down to a lake with terraced gardens, a lemon house, and a rich orchard.
Vittoriale is undoubtedly one of the most famous buildings suggestive outdoor amphitheater overlooking the lake, from where there is a wonderful view of Monte Baldo and Rocca di Manerba. Under the amphitheater, the secret museum D’Annunzio was inaugurated in 2010, a large exhibition space that gathers all the objects that belonged to the poet and remained closed for a long time in some hidden corner of his house, far from the public eye. The highest square of the entire complex is a meeting place for many other architectures, including Nasty World: the building was to be D’Annunzio’s new home – the poet died before seeing it inaugurated.