In the lovely hills between Desenzano and Salò you’ll find Moniga. Today a small agricultural town, but, s almost all places in this area, once a very important small town. Charred remains of a ‘town’ prove that it was inhabited back in the Bronze era (1800-750 BC).

Ownership went from one to the other many times, for instance, it was part of the monastery of Leno, Venice and Austria. From 1928 – 1947 it was part of Padenghe but today it’s an independent municipality.
It is suspected that it thanks it’s somewhat strange name to the goddess Diana Muschina. According to the legend, there once was a sanctuary here that was devoted to her. The castle that dates back to the 9th – 10th century is in reasonable good condition. On the four corners of the walls, there are guard towers and in the middle of the Eastern wall one can see the only entrance. In the middle of the other three walls, there are also towers. The main towers were remodeled into a clock tower.
In Moniga we’ll find two churches, both worth a visit. The church of San Martino is one of the oldest churches in the Valtenesi. The church was consecrated in October 1454 and was expanded in the 18th century. There are no less than 5 altars!
The church of the Madonna della Neve is the "newest" of the Roman churches in the Valtenesi. In the 19th century, some remodeling was done. However, Moniga is also famous for it’s delicious rose wine, the Chiaretto! This wine has a very special perfume of fruit and flowers and is deliciously dry. The wine was developed by Pompeo Molmetti, judge, teacher art history and member of Parliament, and it was him that called it ‘Chiaretto’ in 1896.
Every year in April, a prize for the best ‘Chiaretto’ is awarded and in July, the ‘Chiaretto Fair’ is held. In Moniga you’ll find one of few marked bicycle routes that can also be completed on a ‘regular’ bike meaning without too many slopes. The ‘swan route’ starts and ends in front of the church of the Madonna della Neve and takes you past vineyards, olive groves and farmlands, past the , Monte delle Monche and through the old center of Solarolo.

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