The star-shaped fortifications of Peschiera del Garda are one of the most complete examples of Venetian military architecture surviving anywhere. Built in the mid-sixteenth century to protect the western frontier of the Venetian Republic, they form a pentagonal ring of brick walls and grass-covered bastions enclosing the old town, with five gates piercing the perimeter. The walls were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017 as part of the Venetian Works of Defence inscription.
A walk around the ramparts takes about an hour and is the single best thing to do in Peschiera. The bastions give changing views over the lake, the Mincio river, and the rooftops of the old town inside. Look out for the Porta Verona and the Porta Brescia, the two main land gates, both still bearing the carved lion of San Marco that marks Venetian dominion.