Desenzano del Garda is a town and comune in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy, Italy, which borders Lake Garda. It is bordered by other communes of Castiglione delle Stiviere, Lonato, Padenghe sul Garda and Sirmione.
Starting from the 1st century BC, the area of the Garda, including what is now Desenzano del Garda, became a favourite resort for rich families coming from Verona, then the main Roman city in north-eastern Italy.
The city is a popular holiday destination in Southern Europe. It attracts a myriad of tourists from around the immediate area due to its beautiful view of the Alps on the southern shore of Lake Garda, its three large beaches (Desanzanino Beach, Spiagga D'oro Beach, and Porto Rivoltella Beach) and its 27 major hotels.
At the heart of the city is a series of interconnected piazze that house numerous open-air cafés, various shops, "gelaterie" (ice-cream parlors) and several bars.
The city has one main port near the Piazza XXV Aprile which operates several ferries around the lake. Also, at the southwestern outskirts of the city is a large train station ('Stazione Ferroviaria') that connects the city to the European railway system.
The town became known world wide on March 13, 1994, when Russian swimming ace Alexander Popov set a world record in the 50m freestyle in Desenzano del Garda's local pool, clocking 21.50.