Sheltered by high ground covered with thick vegetation, Salò overlooks the homonymous bay of the Lake Garda, surrounded by moraine hills.
It was founded by the Romans with the name of Pagus Salodium; between October 1943 and April 1945 it was the seat of numerous ministries of the Fascist Government of the "Repubblica Sociale Italiana", known as the "Salò Republic".
The Cathedral, rebuilt in late Gothic style, has a noteworthy renaissance portal, paintings by Zenone Veronese, a beautiful polyptych of Paolo Veneziano's school and "Madonna con Santi" by Romanino. The Palace of Magnifica Patria, Pallavicino Martinengo Palace and the clock tower worth a visit too.