Situated on the Brescian shore at the south west tip of the basin, Desenzano is the departing point of the navigation service covering the lake longitudinally.
The town was founded in the Roman Era.
In the 15th century Desenzano flourished as a duty free fishing port and a seat of one of Italy's major cereal markets. In the beginning of this century it has developed a vocation for tourism, commerce and industry (in alimentary and oenological sectors).
Rich in expressive architecture, the city has an old port surrounded by a 16th and 17th century buildings. The landing is dominated by the Castello, a late mediaeval foundation reconstructed in the '300-'400, with angular cylindrical towers and a crenellated tower.
Also worth seeing is the 16th century cathedral with several paintings inside including Giambattista Tiepolo's Last Supper.
There are ancient ruins of Villa Romana, an important archeological complex rich with decorative pavement and polychromatic mosaics (I-II and IV century.)
Developed in a series of ambients on a surface of 280 square meters, it depicts a scenes of hunting and dance along with geometric motifs.
