castle
Sirmione
A narrow peninsula jutting into southern Lake Garda, guarded by a medieval Scaliger castle and home to ancient Roman thermal baths.
14 km · about 25 min drive
EuropeItalyLombardy
Solferino
Lombardy, Italy · Europe
About Solferino
Solferino works well as a base: 5 minutes from Cavriana, 32km from Lake Garda.
Solferino is in Lombardy, Italy, with about 1,800 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Cavriana, about 4 km away.
Solferino (Upper Mantovano: Sulfrì) is a small town and municipality in the province of Mantua, Lombardy, northern Italy, approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) south of Lake Garda.
It is best known as being close to the site of the Battle of Solferino on 24 June 1859, part of the Second Italian War of Independence. TheRead more
battle ended with Italo-French capture of the Rocca, the fortress then in Austrian hands.
The Battle of Solferino was the largest battle since Leipzig in 1813, with more than 234,000 soldiers fighting for about 12–14 hours and 29,000 victims (14,000 Austrians-Venetians and 15,000 Franco-Sardinians) and about 10,000 prisoners (8,000 Austrians-Venetians and 2,000 Franco-Sardinians). In terms of death toll, it was greater than the Battle of Waterloo.
The wounded in the battle were witnessed by the Swiss businessman Jean-Henri Dunant, who had traveled to Italy to meet French emperor Napoleon III with the intention of discussing difficulties in conducting business in Algeria, at that time occupied by France.
Horrified by the suffering of wounded soldiers left on the battlefield, Dunant completely abandoned the original intent of his trip and for several days he devoted himself to helping with the treatment and care for the wounded. He succeeded in organizing an overwhelming level of relief assistance by motivating the local villagers to aid without discrimination.
Back in his home in Geneva, he set about a process that led to the Geneva Conventions and the establishment of the International Committee of the Red Cross by writing a book entitled A Memory of Solferino, which he published with his own money in 1862 and thus initiated the process.
From 23 to 28 June 2009, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the battle, a series of events gathering thousands of Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement volunteers from all around the world took place in Solferino, under the name of Solferino 2009 Celebrations.
Where to Stay in Solferino
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Solferino?
Within an hour or so of Solferino: Sirmione (14 km), Gardaland (15 km), Museo Nicolis (23 km), Il Vittoriale degli Italiani (28 km).
Are there any good drives near Solferino?
The nearest famous roads are Strada della Forra (Tremosine), Gardesana Occidentale and Passo di Tremalzo.
Where is Solferino?
Solferino is in Lombardy, Italy, about 4 km from Cavriana.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 1,767
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Italy
- Region
- Lombardy
- Timezone
- Europe/Rome
- Coordinates
- 45.3724, 10.5665
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Italy
ACI roadside assistance: 803 116. ZTL (limited traffic zones) in city centres are camera-enforced.
Full driving guide for ItalyTags
Worth the detour from Solferino
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Gardaland
Italy's most popular amusement park on the shores of Lake Garda with over 35 themed attractions.
15 km · about 30 min drive
museum
Museo Nicolis
Italian museum of cars, motorcycles, and mechanical musical instruments with rare Maseratis and vintage racing machines.
23 km · about 25 min drive
museum
Il Vittoriale degli Italiani
Poet D'Annunzio's eccentric hillside estate above Lake Garda hides a warship prow, mausoleum and lavish gardens.
28 km · about 30 min drive
museum
Museo Mille Miglia
Museum dedicated to Italy's legendary thousand-mile open-road endurance race housed in a medieval monastery.
29 km · about 35 min drive
landmark
Palazzo Ducale, Mantua
A sprawling Gonzaga palace-city with Mantegna's illusionistic Camera degli Sposi, in a lake-girdled Renaissance town.
30 km · about 35 min drive
natural wonder
Lake Garda
Italy's largest lake with Mediterranean climate, dramatic mountain scenery, charming towns, and the Scaliger castle at Sirmione.
32 km · about 35 min drive
ancient ruins
Arena di Verona
A remarkably preserved 1st-century Roman amphitheater in Verona that still hosts world-class opera performances under the stars.
34 km · about 40 min drive
Driving roads near Solferino
- 40 kmStrada della Forra (Tremosine)A jaw-dropping cliff road tunnelling through a gorge above Lake Garda, called by Churchill the world's most beautiful road.
- 45 kmGardesana OccidentaleA spectacular lakeside road along Lake Garda's western shore threading through tunnels carved into sheer cliffs above the water.
- 48 kmMalcesineA lakeside town under Monte Baldo on Garda's eastern shore, with a Scaliger castle and a cable car to alpine ridges.
- 53 kmMonte Isola, Lake IseoEurope's largest lake island rises car-free from Lake Iseo, crowned by a sanctuary with sweeping water views.
- 53 kmPasso di TremalzoA rough, tunnel-pierced military road above Lake Garda at 1,694m, part gravel, spectacular and demanding.
- 61 kmPasso di CrocedominiA high, bleak pass above the Val Camonica with open moorland at the top and very little traffic.
Driving in Italy
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.82/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€8.50/100km
When to drive here
April to October
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