Malcesine is situated on the eastern shores of lake Garda, about 3/4 of the way up. Lake Garda is the largest of Italys lakes being 31 miles long and 11 miles wide at the southern end. Malcesine is one of the oldest towns on the lake and was one of the earliest fishing settlements, dating from circa 357BC. The old original name of the town in the local dialect was "Mannes selices" which translates colloquially to "The town under the big bad rock". The "Bad rock" being the large limestone promontory where the castle stands. The town originally had its own currency which was recognised and accepted by the Romans who dominated from about AD200 and built the old town walls, parts of which still remain.

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