The history of Lazise dates back to prehistoric times, with numerous flint and tool finds testifying to the presence of pile-dwellings along the lake’s shores. Although there is no reliable information about the Roman period, the location of the village and various finds in neighbouring municipalities imply human presence during that era, too.
The first documents confirming the existence of an important community in Lazise date back to the early Middle Ages: among these is the imperial diploma signed by Otto II in 983 AD, granting complete civic autonomy to the town. This made Lazise the first municipality in Italy.
The construction of the town’s first defensive wall dates back to this period, while the construction of the Fortress and the complete fortification of the town occurred in the 14th century. In 1277, Lazise came under the rule of the Scaligeri family, led by Cansignorio della Scala, who enlarged and restored the walls and the Castle. A century later, it fell under the control of Milan’s Visconti family: Lazise, along with the neighbouring municipalities of Malcesine, Torri del Benaco and Garda, were incorporated into a sort of protectorate called La Gardesana. In 1405, Lazise, as well as the entire Veronese area, became part of the Republic of Venice: the Venetian domain lasted until 1797, when Lazise was occupied by Napoleon’s troops. Later on, with the Treaty of Campoformio, the territory of Lazise found itself on the border between the two empires of Austria and France. It was first annexed to the Kingdom of Italy (1805), then, with the Restoration, to the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia, and finally became part of the Kingdom of Italy in 1866.