Lazise

Lazise is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Verona in the Italian region Veneto, located about 120 kilometres (75 miles) west of Venice and about 20 kilometres (12 miles) northwest of Verona. It is situated on the eastern shore of Lake Garda. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 6,213 and an area of 65.0 square kilometres (25.1 sq mi).

The municipality of Lazise contains the frazioni (subdivisions, mainly villages and hamlets) Colà and Pacengo.

Lazise borders the following municipalities: Bardolino, Bussolengo, Castelnuovo del Garda, Padenghe sul Garda, Pastrengo, Peschiera del Garda and Sirmione.

History

Its name derives from the Latin “lacus” that it means lacustrine village. Lazise in fact was originally a group of stilt houses beyond that Roman village and market. Between 888 and 961, during the reign of Berengar II of Italy and his son, the town was subject only to the monarch, that is, it was a “free villa” not subject to some feudatory. In 961, Italy was invaded by German troops, who descended the valley of the Adige to camp on the shores of Garda.