Austrian Empire and finally to private hands. The military base was demolished and the internal and external surface was transformed into agricultural land. In 1912 the castle was declared a national monument; it was bought by Senator Ugo da Como in 1920 who partly restored it, and since 1996 it houses the Museo Civico Ornitologico, conferences, weddings and theatral shows. The Museo Civico Ornitologico (Museum of Birds) is located inside the castle and contains more than 700 specimens. The species represented are from the area of Lake Garda but also of exotic origin, together with specimens with rarities, unique characteristics and plumage anomalies. The Duomo (Cathedral) of San Giovanni Battista (St. John the Baptist) dates from the 19th century. It is an example of Baroque architecture, designed by the Lonato architect Paolo Sorattini and built during the second half of the 18th century. Its balanced cupola (20 meters of diameter and 60 meters high) and facade soberly decorated with marble are the basilica's most notable points. The Baroque interior is enriched with frescoes and altar pieces by Venetian artists such as Antonio Balestra and Giambettino Cignaroli. The civic tower (1555) is high and it has a clock of the 1773 with an original counterbalance mechanism. The Fornaci Romane (Roman Furnaces) is an archeological site south of Lonato, in Gorghi. Six Roman brickworks were recently found and restored. The brickworks have circular shape with a firing chamber built using a technique with casts of pebbles stuck together with mortar. The ruins seems to indicate that this location was an important industrial center between the 1st and 2nd century AD. Fairs and markets "Mercantico": antiquity market, every 3rd week of the month, in the center of the town Local market: every Thursday morning, in the center of the town Town Fair: "Fiera di Lonato", January 17 (every year) Transportation Lonato can be reached by car through the A4 motorway, using the Desenzano exit; and from the A22 motorway, with the exit of Desenzano del Garda. By airplane: the closest airports are in order Brescia Airport (VBS) Orio al Serio International Airport (BGY) Villafranca-Verona Airport (VRN) Milan Malpensa International Airport (MPX) Milan Linate Airport (LIN) People Reginald Pole (1500–1558) Camillo Tarello (ca. 1513–1573) agronomist Roberto Vecchioni (born 1943) Municipal government Lonato is headed by a mayor () assisted by a legislative body, the , and an executive body, the . Since 1993 the