Palazzina Storica (Palazzo del Comando di Piazzaforte)

The Palazzina Storica, formally the Palazzo del Comando di Piazzaforte, stands in Parco Catullo within the fortress of Peschiera del Garda. Built in 1854 as the fortress command headquarters, it became the setting for an Inter-Allied conference in November 1917, after the defeat at Caporetto.

Why it matters

The building served as the headquarters of the Austrian fortress command during Peschiera’s place in the Quadrilatero. In November 1917, King Vittorio Emanuele III and senior Italian and Allied commanders met there to discuss the Italian front. A commemorative painting of the conference is preserved in the historic hall, now part of the First World War museum.

What to notice

The two-storey command building faces the lawns of Parco Catullo and stands beside the southern ramparts. The historic hall preserves the conference painting; the museum also presents documents, relics and photographs related to the First World War.

Context and history

The Venetian Republic began building Peschiera’s pentagonal fortress in the sixteenth century; Austria controlled the town from 1815 to 1866 as part of the Quadrilatero. The command palace was built in 1854. After 1866 it continued to serve the Italian army in a similar role. In the museum era the building has also hosted art exhibitions.