Church of St. Michael (Gaino)

The Church of St. Michael the Archangel stands on the hill of Gaino, a hillside hamlet of Toscolano Maderno overlooking Lake Garda. It is one of those places that reward those who make the climb: just a few hairpin turns above the village, and suddenly the lake spreads out below you.

The new parish church was built higher up on the hill in the early 18th century, when the community decided to construct a building that was larger and brighter than the previous one. Inside, there is a precious fresco of the Immaculate Conception dated 1466, an image that has been venerated for centuries and originates from the nearby district of Cussaga, having been transferred here in solemn processions.

But it is from the churchyard that you can experience the most memorable view. From the church’s parapet, you can enjoy an incomparable panorama of the lower Lake Garda: Toscolano Maderno at the foot of the hill, and farther away, suspended over the water, Punta San Vigilio and the Rocca di Manerba. On clear days, the view stretches all the way to the Veronese shore and the morainic hills of the lower lake. It’s a scenic spot still largely untouched by mass tourism, perfect at sunset.

Gaino also preserves a rare tradition: it is one of the few villages on Lake Garda where the bells are still rung by hand by the group known as the “Campaner de Gai, “ who pass down the art of manual bell-ringing using the Veronese method.

How to Get There

Gaino can be reached by car from Toscolano Maderno by following the signs for the hamlet (Via Pulciano); it’s just a few minutes’ drive uphill. The church is also the destination of pleasant walks from the town center, winding through the olive groves and woods of the Alto Garda Bresciano Park.