MONASTERY OF S. SALVATORE

The origins of the monastery of San Salvatore in Sirmione stemmed from an act of violence that involved the king of the Lombards Desiderio, and his wife Ansa, and a powerful Lombard noble, Cunimondo, who, compensate the rulers for the killing of one of the favourites of the queen, Maniperto, donated all his property to the monastery of Santa Giulia in Brescia and to the three churches then existing in Sirmione: St Peter in Mavino, St Martin and St Vitus. From 762 to 765, the queen Ansa had a monastery built in Sirmione under the direct dependence of Santa Giulia. Unfortunately, all that remains of the building is the back wall of the apsidal area of the church of S. Salvatore. There, you can catch a glimpse of the public gardens, right in between the nursery and the primary school. In the year 774, the Sirmionese monastery was sold to Charlemagne and in particular to the imperial monastery of S. Martino di Tours. The monastic community of Sirmione soon returned to being a branch of the Monastery of Santa Giulia in Brescia. Unfortunately, as mentioned, of the ancient monastic foundation of Queen Ansa, all that remains today are the ruins of the east area, with the three semicircular apses of different sizes.