Just off the shores of Lake Garda lies a small island closed to the public, home to military ruins and medieval remains. This abandoned site tells the story of a little-known chapter of Italian history.
From a distance, Isola Trimelone appears to be nothing more than a small patch of land rising from the waters of Lake Garda. Few would suspect that this island, measuring just 260 metres in length, has witnessed more than a thousand years of history. A medieval fortress, a strategic military outpost, an ammunition depot, and a haven for local wildlife, it has served many different purposes over the centuries. Situated off the coast of Brenzone on the eastern shore of the lake, it still bears the marks of its eventful past today.
A strategic island on Lake Garda
Located between the villages of Cassone and Assenza, around one hundred metres from the shoreline, Trimelone Island has always occupied a strategic position on Lake Garda. For this reason, as early as the 10th century, when Hungarian forces were invading the region, fishermen and farmers sought refuge there and built the island’s first fortification.
This stronghold was destroyed in 1158 by the troops of Frederick Barbarossa, only to be rebuilt later by the Della Scala family, the powerful dynasty that ruled Verona at the time.
Over the following centuries, the island’s role changed several times. During the First World War, it became an Italian outpost facing the Austro-Hungarian Empire, although its artillery was never used. Then, during the Second World War, it once again assumed a military function. Benito Mussolini visited the island on 20 March 1945 to give what would become his final interview.
After the war, Trimelone was converted into a depot for explosives awaiting disposal. However, in October 1954, a massive explosion destroyed part of the facilities and sparked a fire that remained visible from the shores of Lake Garda for three consecutive days.
A ghost island turned natural refuge
Long regarded as dangerous, Trimelone remained inaccessible for several decades after the Second World War. It was not until 2005 that a major decontamination project began to remove the thousands of explosive devices still scattered across the site. In total, nearly 26,000 items of ammunition were recovered.
Despite these efforts, access to the island remains strictly prohibited today. Landing, mooring, fishing, and even approaching the island are forbidden due to the presence of unexploded ordnance beneath the surrounding waters. Nevertheless, from the lakeshore or aboard a boat, it is still possible to make out several remnants of its past, including the ruins of the barracks, the fort, and the former harbour.
Although its military heritage remains a defining feature, nature is gradually reclaiming the island. Poplars, oleanders, elder trees, and a variety of other plant species now thrive there, while gulls and cormorants have found a valuable sanctuary. Designated as a protected area, the island is also the subject of several proposed projects, including a Lake Garda research centre, a museum, and even a natural aquarium.
Until such plans come to fruition, Trimelone remains a peaceful haven and a remarkable historical landmark, visible only from afar.
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