Salò was founded in the Roman period as Pagus Salodium and in the Middle Ages became a stronghold of the Milanese Visconti family. From 1440 the town came under the control of the Republic of Venice.
The Duomo (cathedral), rebuilt in late Gothic style in the 15th century. It has a noteworthy Renaissance portal, paintings by Zenone Veronese (16th century), a Polyptych of Paolo Veneziano's school and a Madonna and Saints by Romanino.
The Palazzo della Magnifica Patria ("Palace of the Magnificent Motherland", 16th century). The palace is home the Historical Museum of the Azure Ribbon, an exhibition of documents on Renaissance history, on Italy's colonial wars, the Spanish Civil War and the Resistance against Fascism.
The Communal Palace is the seat of the Civic Archaeological Museum, with findings from the ancient Salodium.
