Lake Garda
Lake Garda is the biggest lake in Italy and is a popular destination for visitors from all over Europe. With its mild climate, Lake Garda is an ideal garden for Mother Nature where olive groves, vineyards, lemon trees are in abundance along with many Mediterranean and even tropical plants are found. With magnificent mountains nestling the lake in the north to the gentler hills and plains in the south the landscape in this area is ever changing. The crystal clear waters and the shores offer great places to relax and soak up the sun or alternatively for the more energetic wind-surfing, kite-surfing and sailing are available. Lake Garda is strategically positioned to the important cities of Verona, Venice, Bergamo and Milan. The Dolomite Mountains included in the list of protected World Heritage sites by UNESCO can be easily reached from the Lake. All the destinations around the lake offer great places to enjoy the Italian culture where sitting at a lakeside café is must, why not indulge in the great Italian pastime of eating and drinking, sampling pasta, pizza, fine cuisine all washed down by the many local wines on offer is an opportunity not to be missed. Historically Lake Garda as seen many changes from the Roman Empire, to the Scaligeri and the Lombards, to the Napoleonic wars, leading to Mussolini’s Salò Republic during Second World War.
Riva Del Garda is the main resort at the north of the lake, with its stunning scenery elegant parks and stretching lakeside promenade. The 12th Century La Rocca dominates the waterfront, close by is the popular square Piazza Tre Novembre populated with many fine buildings. The old town with its cobbled streets is lined with an excellent variety of shops, street cafés, bars, restaurants and gelaterias (ice cream parlours). Riva offers a large white pebble beach ideal for sun bathing. Walks to La Rocca are well sign-posted otherwise take the lakeside path to Torbole. The ferry service allows easy access to the other lakeside villages.
Garda is a busy resort with good access to many locations along the east side of the lake. Garda enjoys a spectacular lakeside setting, with its wide tree-lined promenade and historical buildings in the centre overlooking the lake; it is very easy to be drawn into one of the many lakeside ice cream parlours and restaurants. A great variety of shops offering fashions, souvenirs and local wares are nicely intertwined amongst the cobbled streets. There is a gentle lakeside path which takes you to Bardolino, along the lakeside is a number of pebble beaches for a spot of sun bathing or why not even takes a dip in the lake. The landscape is different to the north; there the gentle hills are covered with olive groves, cypress trees and vineyards which stretch towards the south. For those wishing to venture further afield a regular ferry and hydrofoil service gives access to other lakeside resorts. Verona is only a short bus journey away and the open air opera at the roman arena has to be on your to-do list, while for the young at heart Gardaland Theme park is only 15kms away
Sirmione stretching from the southern shores of Lake Garda this exclusive position at the tip of the peninsula commands stunning 360° views around the lake. Access to the old historic town is via the bridge of the 13th Century Scaligeri castle with its inland port regular boat trips are taken around the peninsula where you can see the thermal spas in action. Once over the bridge, you are welcomed by an array of interesting shops, restaurants, ice cream parlours and bars. Venturing further into the peninsula, you leave behind the hustle and bustle of the streets to a more tranquil setting, suddenly the landscape gives way to tree-lined streets dominated by a magnificent spray of colour from the lush vegetation of olive trees, cypresses, laurels and magnolias. As you walk along the peninsula the shore is dotted with many bathing beaches eventually leading to the old Roman Villa and the excavations of the Grottos of Catullo. For the less energetic an opportunity to pamper yourself in the thermal pools of the lakeside Aquaria Spa cannot be avoided.
Desenzano retains a very strong Italian character. Well positioned at the south of the lake Desenzano offers great access to all the lakeside resorts with its extensive boat and ferry service, combined with excellent train links to Venice and Milan, it makes a great base to explore Northern Italy. There is a great social life to be found with its many bars, cafés, ice-cream parlours and restaurants, which decorate the main squares and streets in the pedestrianised shopping area. The lakeside gives access to the public beaches and the harbour where boats can be rented by the hour
