I honestly cannot get used to this "Siesta type" working hours in Autumn. If you do decide to go: Check the working hours before you decide to visit and make sure to go way before because you might struggle with all the construction work and bridge closures to get there in time like we did. Do not expect to be able to do any decent pictures of the tower without coming at the right time to be able to pay the entrance fee because its closed with a fence.

I cannot get used to this "Siesta" timing, especially not end of October when the daylight is so short . Ticket office closes 0,5 hour before closure, if you come couple of minutes later, you need to wait 2 hours either move from left leg to the right or eat/drink in the nearby restaurant. The tower looks beautiful from afar but don't expect to take pictures like in Pisa as you will not be able to do that unless you come in the opening hours and buy a ticket to be able to get behind the fence.

I’ve been to countless casinos. I stayed here for a conference. I’d rather slice my wrists and drink my own blood than stay here again. The rooms were nice and the tables were obscene, which I can live with but I tried to made an atm withdraw and they sent me to the cashier line to get my money. The line was an hour long I paid a $32 fee to take out $500 then I had to stand in line for an hour to get my money. When I finally got it, I didn’t want to gamble. I wanted to go to bed. This place is absurd and I would rather go to Siberia than come back again.

It was well worth the visit. The museum was very quiet but the staff were friendly and the exhibits were extraordinary. I particularly liked the large diorama. It is a must see site for anyone with an interest in modern Italian History.

I learned so much about Italy's history during my visit. And the tower itself is an impressive collection of art, history, humanity, and scenery (from the top!) Don't miss the grounds and the adjacent ossuary.

My daughter had studied the Risorgimento for A level and really wanted to visit Solferino but it seemed impossible to get there without a car so when we found out you could get to San Martino by public transport, we decided to go there instead. We followed the instructions given by other Tripadvisors to get there from the end of the Number 1 bus. Just one clarification. When at the San Martino bus stop, you need to stand with your back to the bus stop, walk to the right and then turn left to get to the main road. It was a horrid walk across first the railway bridge and then the motorway bridge on a busy road without pavements, particularly on the way back when it was pouring with rain so not recommended for younger kids. Just before you get to the tower, there is a path on the right down to the charnel house which is worth a visit. The altar is surrounded by skulls of those who died, and the rest of their bones are stacked up in the crypt. The tower itself offers amazing views over the lake and back towards Solferino and it is incredible to think about how what is now fertile ground covered in vines was once the site of such a bloody battle. On the way up there are some interesting objects from WW1 (see lots of different ways of using helmets to make other things such as shovels and cooking pots) and then there is a museum behind the tower. Top tip, the toilets round the back of the museum were the cleanest I have seen in Italy.

Decent view from the top, plus interesting museum on WW1 halfway up the tower but it's quite a long climb (ramp, not stairs) and fairly stuffy inside.

We were staying at the Relais Mondotella (5* review) nearby and eating dinner on their lovely terrace saw what looked like a lighthouse at the bottom of Lake Garda. The charming waiter told us to look very carefully and behold the lights were red, white and green in equal sequence - the colours of the Italian flag. It was San Martino by night. We then read up about Solfereno and the Piedmontese soldiers who had died fighting the Austrians. By daylight the site is perhaps slightly less impressive but there is good parking and the history and signage are well set out. We British often forget how the 19th century was full of conflict in Europe but that after Trafalgar and Waterloo we adventured and fought far afield whilst many European borders were fought over and changed.

We borrowed our hotel's bikes and followed the manager's suggestion to visit the tower and museum . This was one of our bargains of our holiday with the entry price only 5 or 6 euros . The top of the tower is reached by a ramp rather than steps and on each level there were military exhibits. The view from the top is amazing ,being able to see for miles. There is also a museum at the back but sadly we were short of time and had only a brief look around. Afterwards we visited the restaurant opposite for a glass of the local (very good) wine. If you have any interest in military history or want a visit to a beautiful area of countryside you should visit this attraction.

Here's how to get there by public transport. Take the No.1 local bus from either the railway station or Via Marconi in Desenzano. The service terminates in San Martino village and the journey takes about 20 minutes. From where the bus drops you off it's a walk of less than a mile, approximately 1.5kms. We're fairly fit but in our early 70's, it took us under 30 mins, less returning. You can see the tower in the distance, walk up 50m to the main road and turn right. The next 300m or so is frankly not very pleasant walking right next to a busy road, but once you've crossed over the motorway bridge turn down sharply to your right onto a very quiet minor road. From then on it's a lovely walk flanked by vineyards, gently uphill towards the end. There's a very nice cafe/bar on the site. Well worth the effort!

The Torre commemorates the Battle of San Martino and Solferino (1859), which led, among other things, to the founding of the Red Cross by Henri Dunant. It offers a rich choice of military history, visible while climbing the tower, and one is rewarded with a stunning 360-degree view of the area upon reaching the top. Don't forget to visit the Ossuarium at the bottom of the road; the final resting place of the fallen, where "enemies rest as brothers".

Would love to visit this Tower, unfortunately it appears it is only accessible by car or by taxi which could be prohibitive x

This tower has been beautifully restored a few years ago, and is adorned inside with floor-to-ceiling affreschi depicting events of Italian history from the 19th century. It has exhibitions about Italy during the Risorgimento, and plaques explaining events and lives of famous people, army officials and soldiers during that time. A series of easy ramps and some stairs lead to the top of the tower, from where you can enjoy spectacular views of the beautiful countryside dotted with gentle hills, and see in the distance Sirmione and Lake Garda. I can highly recommend a visit to this tower, it may not be a famous monument yet but it's definitely worth the time.

The place is full of history with a video projection of a story of a battle. You can visit a tower and a museum with all the found things after the battle. The tower's walls are full of pictures if battles and from the top you can enjoy the amazing view of Lake Garda.

Place with a lot of history as background, nice the climb up to the tower and at the end a great views of all Garda !!! If the weather is good is fantastic and worth to go up at the top.