Garda on Lake Garda: Trails, Culture and the Lake
Accommodation in Garda
Garda combines experiences of the landscape around Lake Garda with an unusually rich history. The municipality is home to more than 250 rocks bearing over 3,000 rock carvings dating from the 13th to the 7th century BC. At the same time, walking and hiking trails lead through forests, along the lakeshore and to historic sites. This allows you to shape your stay in different ways, combining nature, culture and excursions on the water.
Walking Trails, Hikes and Landscapes
The area around Garda and Costermano sul Garda offers both walking trails and more demanding hiking and cycling routes. The trails pass through wooded areas and offer panoramic views. For a clearly defined, easy tour, the walking trail between Garda and Bardolino is a good choice: it follows the disused Garda–Caprino railway line, is five kilometres long, flat and laid out as a circular route. Along the way, you can enjoy views of the lake.
Another route connects Garda with Punta San Vigilio and runs along Al Corno beach. The surface is paved for the first two kilometres, after which it consists of pebbles. Al Corno beach itself is a stretch of shore characterised by white pebbles amid the greenery of the Gulf of Garda, extending for four kilometres to Punta San Vigilio. From Garda harbour, you can reach it on foot in ten minutes. A 700-metre section marked by buoys is used for open-water swimming and training. You can also set off on independent SUP excursions there or seek advice and instruction from a SUP school.
The route to the Eremo dei Camaldolesi also connects different landscapes. It leads through meadows and forests, follows olive groves and vineyards along its final section, and then reaches the path leading to the hermitage. The former Benedictine monastery was founded in 1663. A stream flows through the Valle dei Molini; it rises from springs near Castion and is called the Tesina in its first section. Black beeches, downy oaks and manna ashes are among the trees that grow there.
Archaeology, Churches and Fishing History
The rock carvings give Garda a far-reaching archaeological dimension. At Rocca Vecchia, there are traces from the Palaeolithic, remains of medieval fortification walls and trenches from the two world wars. This means that evidence from different eras stands side by side there, without the individual historical layers being confused with one another.
Sacred sights include the parish church of Santa Maria Maggiore. Its origins are early Christian and may date back to the Lombard period. The cloister was built in the 15th century. One of the churches also contains a 16th-century painting by Paolo Farinati depicting the martyrdom of Saint Stephen.
Fishing is an old tradition in Garda that connects nature, the landscape, the local population and their stories. Historical fishing equipment and large fishing nets are displayed on the upper floor of the museum. At the end of the 19th century, they were used to catch trout and local carpioni, which were particularly valuable. A recurring cultural event is the Sagra di San Bernardo, held every year for three days around 20 August.
Sailing, Boat Connections and Getting There
If you would like to explore Lake Garda from the water, the Garda section of the Lega Navale Italiana offers sailing courses and sailing activities with Optimist dinghies, dinghies and cabin boats. From Garda harbour, boats operated by Navigazione Laghi Garda connect the town with important destinations on the lake. These include Lazise, Peschiera del Garda, Desenzano, Salò, Gardone Riviera, Limone sul Garda, Riva del Garda and Malcesine.
There are also scheduled connections for excursions into the surrounding area. The bus service connects Garda with the main towns on Lake Garda, Verona, the Valpolicella area and Monte Baldo. It also reaches the railway stations in Peschiera del Garda and Verona, as well as Verona Airport. This makes it possible to include lakeside destinations, cities and landscapes in your own travel plans without viewing Garda exclusively through its lakeside paths.
Other Destinations in the Shared Travel Area
For further orientation, you can also view Beccacivetta-Azzano, Lugagnano, Stra, Costermano, Isola Della Scala and Castion Veronese.
To the main travel overview: Verona.
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