Discover Lake Garda: Culture, Trails and Landscapes
Accommodation in Lake Garda
Lake Garda between lake and cultural landscape
When considering Lake Garda as a travel destination, you encounter very different landscapes and areas offering different experiences. Lago di Garda, also known as Benaco, is Italy’s largest lake. Its southern part is surrounded by morainic hills formed by the retreat of the glaciers. Olive trees, palms, cypresses, lemon trees, oleanders and orange trees grow along the shores, among others. The places mentioned extend from the northern shore via the Brescia side to the area around Sirmione and Castelnuovo del Garda.
Culture on Different Shores
The Vittoriale degli Italiani is located near Gardone Riviera on the shore of Lake Garda. Created by Gabriele d’Annunzio from 1921 onwards, the complex comprises buildings, paths, squares, an open-air theatre, gardens and waterways. The foundation is open to the public and combines cultural history with an extensive lakeside complex.
Isola del Garda lies on the Brescia side of Lake Garda. A villa in the Venetian Gothic style stands there, designed by Luigi Rovelli at the beginning of the 20th century. Italian terraces and gardens descend towards the lake; native, exotic and rare plants grow on the island. In the area around Sirmione, the Roman villa known as the Grotte di Catullo dates from the late 1st century BC to the early 1st century AD.
Trekking between Mountain and Lake
Trails with panoramic views of the lake run along Monte Baldo. Another distinctive route is the approximately 4-kilometre-long Sentiero Busatte–Tempesta, with almost 400 iron steps above Lake Garda. The trail crosses the two ridges of Corno di Bò and Salt de la Cavra and passes through geological, floristic and natural-history landscapes.
The Sentiero del Ponale leads to the Monte Oro district of Riva del Garda and can also be hiked in the opposite direction from Riva del Garda. The Trekking delle Fortezze dell’Imperatore comprises trails dedicated to the history of the First World War. On the Sentiero delle Tracce in the Gardesana Occidentale regional forest in the municipality of Tremosine, you can observe animal tracks. In Parco Alto Garda Bresciano, trekking on panoramic trails and water sports on Lake Garda are listed among the activities on offer.
Cycling and Wind on the Water
For orientation by bicycle, the Ciclopedonale Lago di Garda on the northern shore is described particularly clearly: it connects Riva and Torbole with the cycle path of the Adige Valley. In total, Lake Garda has more than 1,000 kilometres of signposted cycle paths for all ability levels. If you would like to reach Monte Baldo from Malcesine, the journey on the Funivia Malcesine–Monte Baldo takes about 20 minutes; the same applies to the return journey.
In Garda Trentino, the winds Ora and Pelèr provide propulsion while sailing. Numerous regattas are available for competitive sailing. Kitesurfing areas in Garda Trentino are designated for the period from 1 March to 9 October.
Family Activities and Regional Delicacies
In the area around Castelnuovo del Garda, Gardaland SEA LIFE Aquarium displays more than 5,000 marine animals from 100 different species in 13 themed areas. Also in the area around Castelnuovo del Garda, LEGOLAND Water Park Gardaland combines interactive LEGO building areas with swimming pools, slides, water cannons and water play features.
Regional products are also part of the character of Lake Garda. In Parco Alto Garda Bresciano, the Strada del Formaggio is designated as a route combining food and nature. The microclimate of Garda Trentino favours viticulture. The typical Trentino white grape variety Nosiola produces a delicate wine with slightly floral and vegetal aromas, which pairs well with light appetisers as well as fried or oven-cooked lake fish such as trout or char.
Olive oil from Lake Garda has a long tradition and is produced, thanks to the lake’s microclimate, in an exceptionally northern location. It is considered light and fruity, rich in chlorophyll, spicy and harmonious.
Other Destinations in the Travel Region
For further travel planning, you can also include Trieste, Belluno, Verona, Udine, Treviso, Rovigo and Gorizia .
More about the Destination
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