Lago di Garda has the breath of a small sea, pleasantly surrounded by valleys and mountains: overhanging villages, dizzy views and an ideal climate for the plantation of olive and citrus trees!
Lago di Garda isn’t a simple lake, but the biggest lake in Italy with an area of 370 square kilometres, and it touches three Italian regions – Lombardia, Veneto and Trentino-Alto-Adige, offering a great variety of extraordinary panoramas.
Lago di Garda with its mountains covered in snow, gentle hills, and all the small villages on the shores, is a destination that satisfies everybody, during each period of the year. Lago di Garda is an authentic natural pearl, one of the jewels in the crown of the Italian territory and of international tourism
1 - Salò, the first town of the lemon coastline
Salò is one of the most suggestive and captivating villages of the province of Brescia. It appears on the shores of Lago di Garda, nestled between the Morenici Hills and the imposing Mount San Bartolomeo. It’s said that its name comes from “salodium”, indicating the abundance or halls and solons in the aristocratic houses, located all around the village.
Salò was also one of the Headquarters of many Ministries of the Prima Repubblica Sociale Italiana. A trip to Salò is certainly suggested to those finding themselves in the area.
The village is a treasure chest full of history, architecture and art. Just to start, the walk along the lakefront is compulsory, it’s one of the most wonderful sides of Garda.
In the province of Brescia, Salò hosts a Duomo, one of the most beautiful in the North of Italy: this one, in fact, contains the works of artists as Paolo Veneziano, Romanino and Moretto, that contributed to make unique the inside of this Cathedral so special and important.
The Duomo on Lago di Garda is dedicated to Santa Maria Annunziata and is a place of worship, visited by people from Brescia and Salò, famous for its wooden gilded ancon, dated back to the 15th century and placed behind the altar. Moreover it hosts the Crocifisso Ligneo (the Wooden Crucifix), realised in 1493 by Giovanni Teutonico, and on its left side you can see the pipe organ realised in 1489, protected by the Government department responsible for monuments and other treasures since 1957.
2 - Sirmione: the jewel of the south coast of Lago di Garda
On the southern coast of the lake is located Sirmione: a real jewel in the south coast of Lago di Garda. The area, inhabited since the prehistoric age, is famous for its beauty, appreciated already by the ancient Romans that built there many valuable villas.
Through the rests of this houses, you can visit the house of Catullo, called Grotte di Catullo by the first travellers that discovered these places partially collapsed and covered by a dense vegetation.
It’s possible to visit this archaeological complex, the most important testament of the Roman Period in Sirmione, which is covering 20.000 square metres.
The Archaeological Museum contains several evidences found in the villa and in its surroundings, and explains in a chronological order the birth and the structure of Lago di Garda starting from the prehistoric age, the Roman Period and the Middle Ages.
On the way to the Grotte, you can stop and visit the Catullo thermal baths. They are famous for their therapeutic properties, and are appropriate also for families with children who want to spend a relaxing day.
In Sirmione you can also visit the natural caves and the Castello Scaligero. This fortress was built in the 13th century with a defensive purpose by Verona’s lords; it hosts an exhibition showing its own history and offers the possibility to walk on the panoramic walls.
When you arrive at the Rocca Scaligera you’ll be immediately fascinated. The castle, spectacular and majestic, is placed just before the Lago di Garda and the houses of the Medieval village Sirmione.
The suggestive view and the pleasant climate make Lago di Garda the perfect place to recover your psychophysical stability, energy and interior harmony.
The Terme di Sirmione, one of the most renowned thermal centres of Europe, are the ideal place for your wellness. From the depths of Lago di Garda pours sulphurous water containing sodium chloride, bromide and iodine, and the centres of the Terme di Sirmione are in the vanguard for the therapy of respiratory system pathologies, for the treatment of rheumatic diseases and motor rehabilitation.
3 - Grotte di Catullo
The Grotte di Catullo, one of the most important archaeological sites of northern Italy, are located on the head of Sirmione’s peninsula.
The ancient Roman villa, perfectly conserved, is surrounded by a wonderful Mediterranean park that must be visited also if you’re not a history lover: only from here you’ll be able to see the entire panorama on Lago di Garda.
The grotte di Catullo actually are not properly caves, but are called so because when they were discovered in the 19th century, many corridors covered by the barrel-vaulted ceilings characterizing the original structure of the villa, were still standing entire and all this structures gave the illusion of being in a cave.
Furthermore, not only they were not caves, but they were not even of Catullus: the villa was built in honour of the Veronese poet Catullus, not long after his death, and today extends for quite 2 hectares and hosts an olive grove and a marvellous museum.
Considered the most important example of Roman Villa in northern Italy, this Roman domus dated back to the 1st century AD absolutely has to be visited and appreciated. The olive trees in the park of the villa are around 1.500 and every year they’re giving rise to a fine oil, thanks to a recovery intervention that permitted the olive trees to best grow.
4 - Riva del Garda
It’s called the pearl of the Garda in Trentino, in province of Trento: Riva del Garda, that even though is located at the foot of the Alps praises a Mediterranean climate, a typical southern vegetation with olive trees, lemons, bay trees and even palm trees.
Exactly, a Mediterranean place where the Dolomites of Brenta are raising, with wide sunny beaches in the northern part of the Garda lake.
Visiting this place is a wonder for your eyes: the panorama shows the Dolomites and the silence is more rarefied, also because on the Trentino side of Lago di Garda the engine navigation is forbidden.
Riva del Garda represents a delight for sportsmen with many water activities as surf, windsurf and sailing, beside rock climbing, trekking and walks in the village and around its wonderful surroundings.
Piazza 3 Novembre, the main Riva del Garda square, hosts monuments as Torre Apponale and Palazzo Pretorio, built respectively in 1220 and 1375: a walk in this square allow you to enjoy the Austro-Hungarian charm of Riva del Garda.
The predominant style of the place is the Baroque, characterising the Church of the Chiesa dell’Inviolata built in 1603 and increase the value of the front lake, surrounding it with marvellous white balustrades facing directly on the shore of Lago di Garda.
5 - Vittoriale degli Italiani
Vittoriale degli italiani is a hilly estate in the district of Gardone Riviera and is looking over Lago di Garda.
Here, the writer and poet Gabriele d'Annunzio lived since 1922 until his death in 1938. Moreover, between 1921 and 1938, it was precisely Gabriele D’Annunzio who wanted the construction of this little citadel on the shore of Lago di Garda.
This Memorial not only hosts the corpse of the poet, but hosts also the Priora, a museum rich of objects and decorations of that age, an amphitheatre, a park and an auditorium with a capacity of 200 seats.
The amphitheatre is the first structure that you see after entering the estate and is clearly based on Classical models: the architect Maroni inspired himself on the one in Pompeii for its realisation.
Its position offers undeniably an amazing view on Lago di Garda: the amphitheatre is still used for spectacles and concerts, as the festival “Tener-a-mente” which became one of the main musical events in northern Italy, with singers coming at the Vittoriale from all around the world.
The nave di Puglia, or better, L’Incrociatore di Puglia, is one of the most suggestive “installations” of the Vittoriale and is certainly the most loved by the visitors for the possibility to get on the bow of a ship embedded on the hill with a breath-taking view on Lago di Garda. L'Incrociatore di Puglia was positioned there with its tip towards the Adriatic see, “ready to conquest the Dalmatian shores”.
6 - Limone sul Garda
This village, looking directly on Lago di Garda, is well known for the plantation of citrus fruits that are giving its name: the lemons.
Limone sul Garda has just 1.174 inhabitants and, even if so small, it holds so much beauty and history that it must be visited at all costs. The poet and artist Johann Wolfgang Goethe was so charmed, just passing in a boat in front of its shore, that he wrote a poetic verse in its honour.
As every self-respecting village, also Limone sul Garda has its legend: the story goes that from the god Benaco and the nymph Fillide were born twins: Limone and Grineo. They grew up hunting on the Mount Baldo and one day in a hunting session, Limone was assaulted and killed by a boar. His mother, desperate, run to her husband begging him to return to life their dead son, and Benaco, thanks to an infusion, succeeded in returning back to life Limone, obligating him to settle in the inlet sheltered from the wind, that took then his name.
In Limone sul Garda you have not to leave anything out, still less the most important church: the one dedicated to San Pietro in Oliveto, dated back to the 9th century, one of the best conserved Roman churches in the area… all that remains is to visit it!
7 - Marmitte dei Giganti, the small Canyon Del Metauro
Marmitte dei Giganti is the name given to the small canyon that can be seen looking down from the Diocleziano or from the Saltelli bridges.
Marmitte de Giganti are real natural wonders in Trentino, more precisely in Torbole, several tens of kilometres from Lago di Garda, but it’s worth visit them: you’ll have the sensation to enter in a lunar landscape!
In this scenery you can observe cylindrical or bowl forms that, along with the big dimensions, suggested the name “Marmitte dei giganti” (Giants’ marmites).
Following the path, you can see also rocks smoothed by the erosion of the glacier, called “rocce montonate” (sheepback).
These enormous wells are around 5 meters wide and 12 meters deep, situated at the centre of a landscape recalling lunar craters. They are pits filled up with water after a thaw of the glaciations dated back to more than 130.000 years ago. In prehistoric times they was inhabited, as the findings of some arrow points and ceramic fragments from the 4th and the 3rd Millennium BC are showing.
8 - The Parks of Lago di Garda
At Lago di Garda you’ll never get bored and thanks to its many amusement parks, natural parks and events, it’s one of the most beloved holiday areas.
Near to the southern shore of the lake, there are many amusement and acquatic parks, zoos and much more, as the famous funfair Gardaland, where adults and children can enjoy many different attractions, from the most calm to those really adrenaline-filled.
Mid-way between the lake and Verona, there is the zoo safari Parco Natura Viva of Bussolengo: the park for the safeguard of endangered animal species can be visited both walking or by car.
Following Mincio’s course, you encounter the citadel Valeggio sul Mincio, with wonderful houses and churches. There starts the awesome cycle path for families Valleggio – Mantova. It follows the stream of the river Mincio and arrives in Mantova, making its itinerary completely flat and far away from cars.
In Valleggio sul Mincio there is also the beautiful Botanical Park Sigurtà, an enormous garden hosting many exhibitions (wonderful the one, in spring, dedicated to the tulips), a hedge maze and a captivating educational project for kids from 4 to 18 years old. The park can be visited walking, aboard the park train and by bicycle.
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