Lake Garda is the main decoration of Northern Italy. Garda - the largest lake in Italy Lake Garda where to swim

Even the north of Italy remains the sunny south for tourists!

Over the course of hundreds of years, melting mountain glaciers and rivers, including the Sarka River, hollowed out a tectonic depression in the Alpine landscape, which was filled with mountain water. This is how Lake Garda was formed with a basin area of ​​370 square meters. km.

Lake Garda is unique in its silent grandeur, where the world seems to have just been born!

Lake Garda is the most big lake Italy(346 m depth, 55 km length, 4-12 km width).

Holidays on Lake Garda are famous architectural monuments, Mediterranean atmosphere, unique natural and children's theme parks, idyllic landscapes, a typical Italian easy attitude to life and special local cuisine with an amazingly delicious dessert - sweet ice cream "Gilato"!

Open spaces Lake Garda can be roughly divided into two parts according to climatic conditions:

  • The northern part, located at the foot Alpine mountains, windier and rougher - ideal for surfers;
  • The southern part is a Mediterranean paradise.

Spring is coming to Northern part Lake Garda in late May - early June and then everything is covered with pink petals of flowering peach, lemon and orange trees, adjacent to the white mountain peaks. The Alpine landscape is combined here with meadows, olive groves and greenery of vineyards, with the Mediterranean flavor of sand and pebble beaches and the healing power of thermal mineral springs.

In summer, the sun, with its hot and life-giving rays, falling on the cliffs and hills, gives them its warmth: the meadows are covered with a carpet of flowers and herbs; thousands of grasshoppers, green as emeralds, and lizards find their refuge in them.

Cypress groves signify the Southern Mediterranean region with villas, country residences and hotels. Lake Garda is a piece of sunny Italy!

Pebble beaches in the south are wider than in the north. No special permit is required for sailing on the water surface of Lake Garda, therefore, starting in June, a huge flotilla of tourist yachtsmen is transferred here from behind the Alps.

Swift and graceful yachts glide through the sapphire-blue water, and it seems as if white swans are swimming with their wings spread. Especially here there are many Riva yachts with chocolate-colored hulls.

The attractions of Lake Garda are a variety of natural landscape parks.

  • "Sigurta Park" in Valeggio spreads over 50 hectares. “Sigurta Park” is a true example of landscape architecture: 80 artificial lakes with tropical fish and water lilies, grottoes, the Great Lawn, a giant oak, labyrinths of evergreen bushes, its own Hermitage, horizontal sundial, Garden of medicinal plants. 30 thousand tulips, 25 thousand roses and 500 thousand irises bloom here! "Sigurth Park" is a unique Botanical Garden, the fourth largest park of its kind in the world, where you can ride by car or explore the beauty of the park by bicycle. 12 km away is the resort of Peschiera del Garda;
  • "Waterfall Park" is surrounded by cedar trees, forests and alpine meadows near Verona.

Holidays with children on Lake Garda will delight you with a visit to Gardaland Park.

Theme park "Gardaland"- an analogue of the Spanish Port Aventura and the famous Disney park. Gardaland Park is a haven of entertainment and attractions that cannot be explored in three days. It has been delighting adults and children since 1972. Reality and fairy tales came together on the territory of the Gardaland park: the Mayan pyramids, Mysterious Island treasures, the castle of the wizard Merlin, battles of pirate caravels, horse and foot knightly tournaments, ice ballet, all kinds of performances, carnivals and fireworks, American races, airplane flights, canoeing on mountain rivers - more than 40 attractions in total!

During peak summer months (July-August) The park is open daily from 10:00 to 23:00, and at other times from 10:00 to 19:00.
The cost of a 1-day ticket for adults is 35 euros (from 19:00 in the evening 15 euros); For children 29 euros, children under 1 meter tall are free.
Park address:Loc. Ronchi – 37014 Castelnuovo del Garda (VR).
Peschiera del Garda – train station (free shuttles will take you from the station to the park and back).

Attractions of Lake Garda in the Amusement Park:

  • "Park Bay of Sirens";
  • “Game Park” (children under 10 years old);
  • "Kaneva World" - water park;
  • “Natura Viva Park” - 1,500 animals of more than 200 species, including a Zoo (on foot) and a Safari Park (by car), where you can see up close rare little-known breeds of animals living in free enclosures.
  • "Dinosaur Park", Aquarium, Dolphin Show, Tropical Plant Greenhouse;
  • "MovieStudios Park" - a world cinema park in Lozese;
  • “The Spectacular 4 D Adventure” is a new stereoscopic “performance-expedition” attraction into the world of science fiction using “movie technologies.”

Holidays on Lake Garda- these are endless expanses of water surrounded by giant mountains, the sights of the towns of the rural foothills and, of course, the resorts of Lake Garda: Benaco, Sirmione, Riva del Garda, Torbole, Lotsesa, Desenzano, Salo, Pieve, Porte Portese.

Wandering around these towns and viewing their sights is a pleasure! In the mornings, when nature is just waking up, on their embankments you can only hear the splash of water, which tickles the sand as it runs onto the shore. Small fishing boats tied to the pier bounce on the water and, hitting the pilings, add a soft drumbeat to the splashing of the water.

The local beauty was first glorified by Johann Wolfgang Goethe in 1786, who was on an Italian voyage that began from the town of Torbole. The 14th century Scalighieri Castle, which is reached by a steep staircase, dominates the town. From 78 meters observation tower The castle offers stunning views of Lake Garda! Fascinated by the Scalighieri Castle, Goette captured it in his drawing. The Capitano Palace looks mysterious, but inside it reveals its beauty and frescoes by Giotto's students.

The sights of Lake Garda can rightfully be called Monte Baldo and Grotte di Catullo. The summit of Monte Baldo (more than 1800 meters above sea level) can be reached by a modern cable car, which is located near the town of Malcesine. The feeling of freedom and wind is a haven for paragliders.

Ordinary tourists, for whom the beauty of Lake Garda is clearly visible from here, should shout:
“I want to hug all this - with my eyes, my heart and my hands...
Why should we look for paradise somewhere when it’s right in front of us?!”

Resort towns on Lake Garda.

The towns located along the shores of Lake Garda are wonderful places where God, according to legend, lit his beacons.

Pieve town resembles an eagle's nest on top of a cliff and ends with a 450-meter slope on the south side of Monte Baldo. Behind it begins the Veneto region.

Town of Sirmione region of Lombardy in the province of Brescia is famous for its castle, which rises directly from the water surface of Lake Garda, ancient Roman ruins, ancient Christian temple, rocky mountains, olives and thermal springs with warm mineral water.

Grotte di Catullo Sirmione can be visited on foot or by electric train.

Grotte di Catullo is the remains of an ancient Greek villa (167 * 105 meters), which is located on the top of a cape that protrudes far into the water surface. There is a museum with frescoes and artifacts found during archaeological excavations.

Town of Garda (Benaco) has only 3.5 thousand inhabitants, and the rest are tourists. The dominant feature of Benaco is the 13th-century church of Santa Maria Maggiore, reconstructed in the 15th century with the addition of Baroque elements, and the baptistery (baptistery). Along the embankment, where the air heats up to +35C in the hot summer months, there are a number of cafes and hotels. The main decoration of the town is Villa Albertini.

Lotseza– a town of changing historical eras: a prehistoric settlement, a Roman village, a medieval fortress. The slopes of the mountain were filled with urban buildings. Previously, fishing and boat manufacturing flourished in the town.

Limone It is notable for the fact that it hosts the World Cup among professional windsurfing. Cruise ships, which travel at a speed of 30 miles per hour between the coastal towns and from which it is good to explore the beauty and attractions of Lake Garda, are adjacent to the fishing port. The harbor channel is surrounded by a colorful mosaic of old houses. Limone has a large market and lemon groves on the hillsides.

Desenzano del Garda– business and shopping mall, port. It is located at the intersection of ancient trade routes connecting southern part continental Italy with the transalpine countries. Medieval castle The mercenary knights majestically coexist with dozens of city buildings.

Porte Portese- a real relic of Lake Garda. If you get used to the noise of motor boats, this is the quietest and most inexpensive vacation spot on the lake.

Garda is the largest lake on Italian territory. Its area unites three regions. It is located on the way from Brescia to the famous Verona. Just a couple of hours' journey separates this beautiful lake from Milan

Lake geography

From a bird's eye view, Garda resembles a heavy axe. The area of ​​the reservoir is 370 square kilometers. The exact length of the lake is 51 kilometers, and the width is only 16 kilometers.

Garda receives its main water supply from the Aril River. The lake is also filled by glaciers that are located high in the Alps. The most deep point Garda is located at a depth of 350 meters.

The lake is incredibly attractive for recreation, tourism and admiring lake views.

Garda is a place with good climate. Thanks to the mountains surrounding the lake, there are never winds or storms there.

This lake is always warmer than the immediate areas next to it.

The story of one name

It is believed that the lake received the name “Garda” thanks to a town in the province of Veneto. According to another interpretation of past events, this name comes from the German word “varda”, which in translation is interpreted as “guard post”.

There is still evidence that Roman governors called the reservoir Benaco. This word translated means “blessed lake”.

Relaxation on green shores

The following regions of Italy are located around Garda:

  • Lombardy;
  • Veneto;
  • Trentino-Alto Adige.

The coast near Verona is called the Riviera of Olives. Olive trees grow in the valley near the lake.

The Riviera of Lemons is located near Lombardy. There, lemon trees are planted on the slopes near the lake.

About a dozen towns are located on the Garda coast. Their traditional brown roofs go well with the broken chain of mountains in the distance, as well as with the ubiquitous greenery around.

Great European figures of culture, science and art have always chosen Garda as their favorite place for comfortable rest. Today, hundreds and thousands of tourists follow their example.

Garda attractions

The city of Sirmione is considered the center of tourism in Garda. It is located in the western part of the lake. It is home to approximately 6,000 people.

The town has its own thermal springs. The Scaliger Castle is a fort, which is the main attraction of the town.

In the Boyola spring the water reaches 70 degrees. Treatment with this water helps with many human ailments.

The city of Salo has everything to do anything you want water sports. Also in the city there are villas for employees of the government of the Italian Republic, which existed under the socialist system.

The Cathedral of St. Mary and the colorful marina make Desenzano del Garda a charming town. Life in this city is vibrant even at night. There are bars, restaurants, and night clubs there.

Malcesine is famous for its museums. There is also a funicular on its territory that can take tourists to the top of Mount Baldo.

Arco Castle is an important landmark of Lake Garda. It was built on the shore of a reservoir around 1000 AD. You can find the castle in the Trentino region. The castle contains medieval frescoes of historical and aesthetic value.

Riva del Garda is famous in the area for its ubiquitous ducks. In this place there is no sandy beaches, but life there is slow and perfect for spending time with family.

Bardolino, surrounded by green islands, also has a lot to appeal to tourists. There is a temple of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker there. Local establishments serve high-quality and tasty wine, and the beaches of Bardolino are always crowded.

Gardone Riviera is an elite place on the Garda reservoir, as if specially created by nature for a languid and aristocratic holiday. This is where the extensive Heller Botanical Garden is located. The city has beautiful villas and well-kept parks, and, of course, excellent views of the lake.

How to get to the reservoir?

From Milan to railway you need to get to Trieste or Treviso. In these towns you can rent a car and get to Garda in just an hour.

There is a train from Verona to Garda. The journey will take only 20 minutes. The destination will be the town of Desenzano del Garda.

lozwilkes/flickr

Garda, my favorite lake in northern Italy, is not easy to see. If you come in the summer, at the height of the season, you won’t see anything: the beauty will be hidden behind the monolithic crowd of vacationers. In winter, risking death from the dampness and piercing wind, you will run from bar to bar, studying the lake from lithographs covering antique holes in the walls of establishments. And only the demi-season months of April and October provide a chance not just to see, but to get a good look at the “fjord” stretching for fifty kilometers, on the shores of which great melancholics have regularly settled for the last two millennia.

For its bays sandwiched by mountains, Garda is compared to the Norwegian fjords

The word “fjord” has to be put in quotation marks when applied to Garda, because it is a lake, not sea ​​bay. But bring any connoisseur here blindfolded to the music of Grieg, and anyone, seeing a narrow strip of water sandwiched between the rocks, will believe that he is in Norway. This is how you have to come to Garda, “blindfolded” - under the cover of darkness. And start the journey not from the wide southern tip, but from the corner in the north of the lake in the town of Riva del Garda, where the lake pretends to be a Norwegian fjord. Run to the embankment in the morning and gasp at the grandiose view: soft folds of gray mountains, white clouds clinging to rocks, water covered with the giant shadow of the eastern shore. By noon the sun hangs directly above the lake, and the theatrical effect disappears, but at sunset in the Gardesan theater under open air give the second act: the wind subsides, the ripples pass, and the mountains, painted pink, are reflected in the mirror of pink water. And tears, even without Grieg, flow from my eyes.

Day one: Rovereto, Pantheon of Contemporary Art

After enjoying the morning views of the lake from the window of the room, I drove... away from Garda - up into the mountains, towards Rovereto. Strange? Not at all. There are several points along the road from which Garda appears in all its glory. In addition, in Rovereto, which has a population of forty thousand people, there is a Mart, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Trento and Rovereto, and this museum was strongly recommended to me by my Italian comrades.

Serpentine followed serpentine, one postcard view followed by another, until beyond the pass the lake disappeared from sight. And another Italy began. Actually, there are three different Italys. The first consists of Florence, Garda, Rome, the island of Capri, the vineyards of Tuscany, Vesuvius, the canals of Venice, Juliet's balcony and other beauties that are recognizable and protected by the world community. The second Italy is a country of motorways. You rush along it at a speed of 150 kilometers per hour, barely noticing mountains, gorges, rivers and stopping only to refuel at Autogrill stations. The Third Italy is a gigantic industrial zone, filling all the space between the first and second. As soon as you leave the historic center of the city or leave the highway, rows of warehouses, piles of factory buildings and giant farms begin. All this stretches to the next historical center or highway entrance. Some people see only the first Italy, others go straight from the highway to large shops and villages selling goods at discounts, the third one is something only a few want to see and are noticed by only a few.

Lake Garda, like everything large, is visible only from a distance and only from above

So, the Garda disappeared over the pass, and before entering the historical center of Rovereto I found myself in Italy number three with all its warehouses and canneries. There was no way to bypass it, and there was no need: the Italy of the industrial zone is just as beautiful as postcard Italy. It’s just beautiful in other ways: you see how passionately and tirelessly the Italians work, how everything we love is created - from Gucci bags to mortadella, how cheese matures and wine ages, how cars and motorcycles are assembled. Moreover, in this Italy the food is much better than in the first (not to mention the second).

Thanks to the Almighty for the navigator, I reached Rovereto, found the museum and its parking lot, and soon found myself in a square covered with a dome of expired steel. The forty-meter dome, designed by architect Mario Botta, turns out to be the same size as the roof of the Roman Pantheon. Like the Pantheon, in the center of the dome there is a hole through which precipitation can get inside.

Portraits of Gardesans from different years in the Mart Museum in Rovereto

The museum itself is located around a square covered with a dome, all the halls are looped. Convenient: architecture leaves no choice, you go and go, move from room to room, without being able to leave the orbit of contemporary art. Architecture is perhaps the most interesting thing you can find in Mart. No, all art is interesting, all the exhibitions in the museum are made inventively and with compassion for the visitor, and if you are drawn to see local artists of the last and the century before last, Mart is just the place to go, but if there are more important things to do, you can safely not go to Rovereto. Moreover, in Riva del Garda there is also a museum and it also has paintings.

Returning to Riva, I spent the evening in the company of fish and whites from Trentino at the restaurant Il Re della Busa, right in the Lido Palace. Chef Giuseppe prepared pasta with lake perch (I'm willing to order perch just because of the name: perch is called "peach" in Italian) and grilled Gardesan eel. For dessert I decided to explore the hotel. The original Lido Palace, built in 1899 (its guests included Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna, King Victor Emmanuel III) was reconstructed several years ago. Another floor (fortunately airy, made of glass) was added to the belle époque style building, and a rusty metal structure appeared in front of the façade facing the lake. A restaurant and a swimming pool were hidden under the structure. Interestingly, the luxurious hundred-year-old park was not damaged during the reconstruction.

Spaghetti with lake perch ragu ("peach") - a specialty of the restaurant Il Re della Busa at the Lido Palace Hotel

Day two: Gargnano, “lemon riviera” and “bad villa”

The next morning I took the Gardesana Occidentale, the road that runs along the west coast of Garda, to Gargnano, the center of the Lemon Riviera. “Lemon” because excellent lemons are grown on the local terraces. I once stayed on the Riviera dei Limoni in one of the best hotels in the world, in Grand Hotel a Villa Feltrinelli. The villa is famous not so much for its incredible park, lemon terraces, architecture, but even more for one of the owners and one of the guests.

The last owner of the villa from the Feltrinelli family was Giangiacomo Feltrinelli, the founder of the Feltrinelli publishing house, which first published Doctor Zhivago, a friend of Che Guevara and Fidel. And the most famous guest is Benito Mussolini, who in 1943–1945 led the Italian Social Republic, known as the Republic of Salò, from the villa. The villa preserves Mussolini's marble bath, the apartments of his confidential Clara Petacci, and a bomb shelter. The bathroom can be used by any guest who has rented the Duce’s room, and the bomb shelter now has a wine cellar. Thick walls to maintain temperature and humidity finally came in handy.

Another site in Gargnano that does not have plaques is the Feltrinelli Palace, the former building of the Duce's government, now a branch of the University of Milan. Right behind the palace is the embankment. I spent the day there, exposing my face to the sun and only at dusk moving to La Tortuga di Orietta, the best restaurant in Gargnano with a Michelin star. Since there was no need to inspect the hotel, I gave the spaghetti with lake fish ragu and the Gardesan whitefish everything in full.

Palazzo Feltrinelli in Gargnano is a mute witness to the most turbulent years of recent Italian history

Clara Petacci, Mussolini's friend, fell asleep on this bed and under this chandelier in Villa Fiordaliso.

Day three: Gardone Riviera, home of the main Italian dandy

On the third morning, still following the same Gardesana Occidentale, I reached Gardone Riviera, a town in which another Italian troublemaker and megalomaniac, Gabriele d’Annunzio, erected a memorial for himself during his lifetime. With the modest name Vittoriale degli Italiani (roughly - “Sanctuary of Italian victories”). Writer, playwright, author of decadent poems, including the romance “Dawn separates light from darkness,” which was immortalized by Enrico Caruso, dandy, military man and even dictator (in 1920, for 130 days, he ruled the Republic of Fiume, which he also proclaimed), d' Annunzio was generally a master of apt words. For example, it was he who in 1918 came up with the name for the huge Milan department store - La Rinascente, “reborn”, meaning, of course, his beloved Italy. So the memorial, which the poet began to build in 1921, when the “rebirth” of the country was in full swing, he named it so that everyone would immediately understand who the true Italian was here.

On the most high point a mausoleum of the writer and his friends was built on the estate of Gabriele d'Annunzio

​Having settled in a 16th-century villa confiscated from a German historian after the First World War, D’Annunzio was finally able to carry out his imperialist plans. Mussolini preferred to keep the eccentric writer in a golden cage far from Rome and gave him hectares of land in the area (a couple of thousand years earlier, a similar thing happened with another poet, Valerius Catullus, who also settled on Garda, or on Lake Benac, as it was called then) . The government created state funds to finance the purchase of plots for D’Annunzio, the army gave him gifts like an airplane, on which the poet flew to “bomb” Vienna with proclamations, and the military frigate “Puglia” (it was brought to the estate and installed on a hill). On D'Annunzio's estate they built an amphitheater (performances are still performed today), a museum and a library, then they designed a mausoleum for the owner and his associates (construction was completed only in the 1950s, twenty years after D'Annunzio's sudden death from a heart attack, and although the Duce gave the poet a state funeral; the ashes were transferred to the mausoleum only in 1963).

The main curiosity of Garda is the house of the poet D'Annunzio: the Italian branch of both the Lenin Library and the Museum of Decorative Arts

Even today, dignitaries can be received in D’Annunzio’s house. The table is already set

But the main curiosity of the estate-sanctuary remains D’Annunzio’s house. It is gloomy: the owner’s eyes, damaged by a flash from a bomb explosion during the war, could not stand the bright light. The rooms are filled with books (about ten thousand volumes in total) and various collections of tortoiseshell combs, bottles, images of deities, porcelain figurines, paper knives (more than thirty thousand items). Two offices: one next to the bedroom - in case inspiration strikes on the bed, the other under the roof. There is even a separate room with medicines (the poet, of course, was a hypochondriac).

I started to feel unwell myself and went down to the lake to Villa Fiordaliso, a small hotel with a Michelin star restaurant. I knocked on the door, they opened it for me, showed me through all five rooms (Clara Petacci lived in one, who, in addition to the apartments at Villa Feltrinelli, wanted to have her own place at a distance), showed ancient tower, standing in the Garda water, was brought into a restaurant and seated at a table. If I had entered the villa in the summer, there would definitely not have been a place for me, but, out of season, they treated me like an exposed Michelin inspector. And yes, the nasturtium pesto and dove with figs were excellent.

With them my cultural and historical weekend ended. I once again promised myself that on my next trip I would stay for a week, get to Salo, the Roman ruins in Sirmione, and the fishing town of Peschiera del Garda. That, instead of the monument to the madness of Gabriele d’Annunzio, I will certainly move to the monument to human love - Verona, which is half an hour away. That in the north of Garda, where the paths are laid along the shore, I will see a couple more sunrises. And then he went to watch the sunset. Once again I didn’t need Grieg.

You just want to jump from the bathing bridges into the clear lake water. True, swimming in it even in summer is a feat

Where to stay, eat and experience around Lake Garda

RIVA DEL GARDA

Lido Palace Hotel

The building, built in 1899, was rebuilt and a restaurant and swimming pool were opened in the park.

Restaurant Il Re Della Busa

Try capelloti with pike and spaghetti with perch ragu. Through panoramic windows you can view the park.

Viale Giosuè Carducci, 10, lido-palace.it, dinner from €65.

Spiaggia Degli Olivi

A former beach pavilion built in the 1930s. Risotto with lake tench and grilled Gardesan whitefish are good, but the place may be closed on sailing regatta days.

Via Giardini di Porta Orientale, dinner from €40.

Museo Alto Garda (Mag)

The museum is located in the coastal castle of Rocca, rebuilt by the Austrians into garrison barracks. Climb Mastio Tower for a bird's eye view of Riva.

Piazza C. Battisti, 3/A, museoaltogarda.it, from 10:00 to 18:00, except Mon (daily in summer), ticket €3, child €1.50.

ROVERETO

Mart Rovereto

The museum contains contemporary art, with late XIX century to the present day, in a building - a masterpiece of modern architecture.

Corso Bettini, 43, mart.trento.it, Tue - Thu from 10:00 to 18:00, Fri - from 10:00 to 21:00, Sat - Sun from 10:00 to 20:00, ticket €13, children's €9.

GARNANO

Grand Hotel A Villa Feltrinelli

The Feltrinelli family villa was purchased from the Italian Republic by the legendary American hotelier Bob Burns and installed 13 rooms in the main building and 7 more in the garden. Best views from the octagonal tower suite.

Via Rimembranza, 38–40, villafeltrinelli.com, rooms from €1,050, including breakfast, drinks in the bar, aperitif and laundry.

Restaurant La Tortuga Di Orietta

Order spaghetti with ragu of lake fish and Gardesan whitefish with local capers, lemons and tomatoes - the restaurant was awarded a Michelin star largely for them.

Via Ventiquattro Maggio, 5, dinner from €65, tasting menu “Aromas and Flavors of Garda” (starter, pasta, main course and dessert) - €85.

GARDONE RIVIERA

Hotel Villa Fiordaliso

Historic Gardesan villa on the water. The hotel has only five rooms, so it is better to book a room a month or two in advance. Please note - the hotel does not have an elevator.

Corso Zanardelli, villafiordaliso.it, rooms from €250.

Restaurant Villa Fiordaliso

Another Michelin star in the Garda area. Choose between linguine with nasturtium pesto and sea truffle, grilled lake eel with caramelized garlic and pigeon with wild mushrooms and figs, with foie gras sauce.

Corso Zanardelli, villafiordaliso.it, dinner from €80, 6-course tasting menu €120.

Vittoriale Degli Italiani

The museum-memorial of the dandy, eccentric and enfant terrible Gabriele D'Annunzio makes it possible to understand that genius and madness are very often things that go together.

Lake Garda (Lago di Garda) is the largest freshwater body of water in Italy, lying halfway from Brescia to Verona, just 1.5 hours from Milan. The lake is divided between three Italian provinces: Verona (in the southeast), Brescia (in the southwest), Trentino (in the north). The name "Garda" is believed to be a corruption of the German word "warda", meaning "guard post". During the Roman Empire, it was called differently - Benaco (translated from Latin as “blessed”).

The area of ​​the lake is 370 square meters. kilometers, length - 51.9 kilometers, and maximum width more than 16 kilometers.

Hidden between the majestic Alpine rocks, Lake Garda was formed here at the end of the last ice age, under the influence of glaciers descending from the mountains. It is thanks to the glaciers that the water here has a slightly emerald tint.

Unique landscapes, picturesque views, pleasant climate attract crowds of tourists here. On the coast, all amenities have been created for them - well-maintained beaches, exclusive hotels, hostels, campsites. The beauty of these places has been famous for a long time; even the ancient Roman nobility loved to spend time here in luxurious villas, enjoying the amazing landscapes - mountain slopes buried in green forests, olive groves, gardens with lemons and cypress trees.

On Lake Garda in Italy there is always something to see and where to relax. It's incredibly beautiful and interesting place, where you can spend a vacation to suit every taste and budget. The local resorts will delight lovers family vacation, sailing, night leisure, active entertainment, quiet walks. And connoisseurs of Mediterranean landscapes and architectural monuments will appreciate the numerous attractions.

Resorts and Attractions

Along the coast of Garda there are many ancient villages, towns with cute streets, gardens and architectural complexes, many of which have survived to this day in their original form. Guests can expect numerous excursions, walking and boat trips, spacious promenades, beaches, luxurious villas, restaurants, as well as a fascinating atmosphere of parks and gardens. Popular active species recreational activities such as windsurfing, and more aristocratic ones - golf, tennis, squash.

Sirmione and Villa Catullus

One of the most popular resorts was the ancient Roman fort city of Sirmione, which occupies an entire peninsula in the south. There are restaurants, bars, hotels, shops, spa complexes and thermal baths, famous for their medicinal properties. The main attractions: the churches of Santa Maria Maggiore and San Pietro in Mavino, as well as the villa of the famous ancient poet Catullus.

The visiting card of the lake is the Grotto of Catullus (Grotte di Catullo). The grotto is the ruins of a huge ancient villa, built around 150 AD. e., on the edge of the Sirmione peninsula.

City of Garda

Another popular resort is called Garda, which is 30 kilometers from Verona. According to one version, the reservoir owes its name to this city. The place is exclusively touristic, with a population of only 4 thousand people. Nearby is one of the most famous amusement parks in Italy - Gardaland, and the Gardaland SEA PARK aquarium.

Riva and Torbole

In the northern part of the reservoir are the cities of Riva and Torbole, famous for their winds, which attract lovers of yachting, kitesurfing, and windsurfing.

Malcesine and Scaliger Castle

On a small cape in the north-eastern part of Lake Garda, on the slopes of Mount Baldo, stands the town of Malcesine. Built around a picturesque medieval fortress Skaligerov. Near the castle, in a small marina, there are small squares and streets full of shops, cozy bars and restaurants that give this place a magical charm. In Malcesine there are hundreds of hotels, villas, and 12 campsites. The main harbor of the city is quite small, but attractive and constantly filled with boats and yachts.

Malcesine is considered one of the most elegant and well-equipped resorts on the Garda coast. In summer, the climate here is more moderate than in the south, which allows you to comfortably spend time going on excursions and walking around the surrounding area.

The main attraction for tourists in Malcesine is the historical Scaliger Castle. The name of the castle comes from the Dela Scala family, which owned it from the 13th to the 14th centuries. It was used, redesigned and adapted for military purposes until the 19th century. Today, guests can freely walk along the fortress walls and climb the main tower, from where they can admire the view of the tiled roofs of cozy Italian houses.

Mount Monte Baldo

Above Garda rises Mount Monte Baldo, also known as the European Botanical Garden, due to the diversity of its growing flora: vineyards, olives, oleanders, etc. The height of the mountain is about 2,000 meters. A cable car runs from the tops of the mountain ranges to Malcesine. You can climb it to a height of 1,760 meters and enjoy panoramic views Alpine foothills.

Mount Monte Baldo is perfect for walks and excursions to natural attractions. Especially on hot days, when the temperature in the mountains is lower and the winds are cooler than the surface of the water far below. In winter, the slopes serve as a base for winter species sports

When the snow melts, lovers hiking And mountain bikes opportunity to pass mountain routes, both simple and extreme.

Limone sul Garda

Another popular resort in Garda is Limone Sul Garda. Arriving here on time summer holidays It is worth preparing for the crowds of tourists filling the already cramped streets. The heart of old Limone is the small harbor of Porto Viccio, from which narrow streets lined with souvenir shops diverge. There are many places in the city where you can have a drink and a snack overlooking the water.

The pier begins in the north of Limone. It is no longer as noisy and bustling as in the center, and the streets pass through numerous hotels, quiet cafes, abandoned lemon groves, and small beaches. To the south there is a more modern part of the city, with a wide promenade, parking, and hotel complexes.

Riva del Garda

Riva del Garda is noisy Italian city on the northern coast of Lake Garda, second in size after Desenzano del Garda. The city is surrounded on three sides mountain ranges Alps Until 1918, it was part of Austria, which greatly influenced it - there is something peaceful in the streets and architecture, not at all Italian. Now this is the Italian region of Trentino-Alto Adige, province of Trento.

There is a slightly different atmosphere here, different from other resorts - at the same time lively and very calm. An ideal place to relax in the squares along the coast and stroll through the cozy streets. Coastline includes a harbour, park, beach.

The main building in the city - Torre Apponale - clock tower Built in the 13th century, with a bell and observation deck. Access to the tower is open to everyone.

Islands on Lake Garda

There are many small islands and five large ones scattered around the lake. The largest of them is Garda Island (Isola di Garda). It was here that Francis of Assisi founded a monastery in 1220. In 1890 - 1903, according to the design of Luigi Rovelli, a villa was built here in the Venetian-neo-Gothic style. Since 2002, the island has been open to visitors.

A little further south is San Biagio (Isola di San Biagio), also known as the “Island of Rabbits”. Like the island of Garda, San Biagio is located closer to the western coast, on the border with the municipality of San Felice del Benaco.

Three other large islands - Olive Island (Isola dell'Olivo), Dream Island (Isola del Sogno), Three Apples Island (Isola del Trimelone) - lie to the north, closer to the eastern side of the lake.

Weather

In summer it is quite hot here - the air temperature often exceeds 30 degrees. This weather encourages the growth of Mediterranean plants, including olives and lemons, which is very rare at these latitudes. The water warms up to 19-22 degrees on average. Climatic conditions greatly influenced the tourism potential of the region, which began to grow rapidly after the Second World War.

In ancient times, poets noted the mild climate and brisk winds of Lake Garda. It's really windy here often. Air currents descending from the mountains regularly sweep across the reservoir, and even have their own names. For example, getting up early in the morning North wind called "Peler". Thanks to the turbulent winds, this place has become one of the most attractive places for windsurfing in Europe.

Movement

The main ways to travel between resorts are by bus and ferry. The main advantage of the bus is its low cost and speed of travel. Bus routes run both along the eastern and west coasts. The operators are Transporti Brescia (in the west) and ATV (in the east).

The ferry, compared to land transport, is very slow and not always cheap, but at the same time it allows you to fully experience the atmosphere of the unique Italian lake. Other varieties also ply along it. water transport: hydrofoils, romantic paddle steamers, small catamarans.

In order to get to know all the sights of Lake Garda better, we recommend purchasing tickets for a sightseeing tour. The routes of such tours pass through most of the settlements along the coast - from Riva in the north to Sirmione in the south.

Information about costs and ship schedules are posted at the piers, and tickets can also be purchased there. Schedules and prices are also available on this website.

How to get to Lake Garda

Nearest major airport is Verona Valerio Catullo airport, you can also fly to the small airport of Brescia. In addition, many people start their journey from Milan, where the airports of Linate, Malpensa and Bergamo are located, or Venice (Marco Polo Airport). There are various ways to get from these cities.

On train it is worth going to Desenzano del Garda-Sirmione station, located in city ​​of the same name and where the TrenItalia trains stop, running between Milan and Venice in particular.

On car It's also quite easy to get to: the southern part is reached by the A4 highway (Milan-Venice), and the A22 highway (Brenner-Modena) runs to the north. The SS 249 Gardesana Orientale road runs along the eastern bank, and the SS 45 bis Gardesana Occidentale along the western bank.

Having traveled up and down all 4 of the most famous northern Italian lakes (Garda, Como, Lugano and Maggiore), I made an unequivocal conclusion for myself - for a long summer holiday The lake is best. You can argue which lake is more beautiful, which is more secluded, where better hotels and beaches. Here everyone has their own opinion, but this article is not about that, but about where vacations are more interesting and varied.

On the lake Maggiorebest place to live in Stresa (Stresa) or in Verbania (Verbania), these are the most Beautiful places, from which you can take a boat to visit the amazing Borromean islands of Pescatore, Bella and Madre with two magnificent castles, you can climb the mountain Mottarone (Mottarone) http://www.stresa-mottarone.it/ and ride down from there on a mountain bike or ride the luge-rail track up there. Near Stresa there is beautiful park around the villa Pallavicino ( Parco della Villa Pallavicino) http://www.parcozoopallavicino.it/ , and boats depart from the pier to Swiss Ascona. A circular railway-water route is also proposed, but I’m not sure that this is interesting - I drove by car through the places where it runs and didn’t see anything outstanding. So, I think it’s worth staying on Lago Maggiore for 2-3 days, no more.

Lake ComoMost often we perceive it as the place where George Clooney lived in his villa in the recent past. He sold the villa, but many famous people They still own property here to this day. The lake is remote from the main tourist routes, the banks are steep, the roads are narrow. All this makes it a little less accessible than other lakes, which is what attracts high society here. The main local entertainment is boat trips and visiting public parks and villas. This is for us tourists, and the powers that be, apparently, simply find peace and solitude here.

Lake Lugano and is not remarkable at all, except for the very Swiss Lugano- a solid, calm, but not very outstanding city. There is also a miniature park “Switzerland in Miniature” (Swissminiatur), but it clearly does not live up to the Klagenfurt “Minimundus” (Minimundus), not until “Mini Italy” (Italy in miniature) in Rimini.

And finally, the lake. Main tourist centers Three coastal towns can be considered: Sirmione, Riva del Garda, Malcesine in conjunction with Limone sul Garda. You can stay in them, but if you want more peace and quiet, then any place from Malcesine before Torri del Benaco. This coast, in my opinion, is the best for living in terms of beauty, location relative to all attractions, and price-quality ratio. The water in the lake is clean and warms up to 24 degrees in summer, so swimming is quite possible, only the beaches are rocky, there are no sandy ones.So, what can you visit, how to have fun on Lake Garda, where to go and what to see.

1. Limone sul Garda

Strictly speaking, from any point on the lake you can swim to Limone Sul Garda to the land of “limonia”, where, indeed, lemons grow and limoncello, a sugary-sweet lemon liqueur, is sold at every turn.

2. Mount Monte Baldo

The climb up the mountain is memorable for its gorgeous panoramas and llamas grazing in the high-mountain meadows. It costs 20 euros, you need to come early, there may be a long line by mid-day. For extreme sports enthusiasts, there is another form of entertainment - going down on a mountain bike; you can rent a bike right there at the lower station of the funicular. And don't forget that it can be cold and windy at the top.

3. Sirmione

The main city of the lake is definitely Sirmione(Sirmione). Himself geographical position very unusual. A long peninsula, several kilometers wide at the base and several hundred meters wide at the end, is separated from Sirmione by a channel and the powerful walls of the Scaliger fortress. In fact, it is an island, and a very beautiful one at that.

My favorite route starts with climbing the fortress and then walking along the right bank to the public beach. The path runs along the shore and in one place there are pipes for discharging excess water directly into the lake. thermal water, as evidenced by the obvious smell of hydrogen sulfide. Take a photo on the pier and then climb up through the olive grove with comfortable benches for relaxation. On the road turn right towards the villa Catullo. There is little left of the villa of the ancient Roman poet, and the need to visit the ruins for a fee always makes me doubtful, but from the entrance there will be a beautiful panorama, so the walk makes sense. On your way back, turn right in the direction of the ancient church Chiesa di San Pietro in Mavino.

Then, continuing forward, you will go to the Baths of Catullo and then to the shopping and entertainment part of the city. The Baths of Catullo are small and purely therapeutic and relaxing. Hot hydrogen sulfide water is supplied to small outdoor swimming pools, in which you just need to soak. They have no other entertainment. The town itself is untouched by modern urban planning and is distinguished by its cleanliness, abundance of flowers, shops, restaurants and other tourist delights. And, of course, crowds of vacationers during the high season.

4. Gardaland

6. Safari Park and Zoo

A very green place, a good place to spend time with children, take a walk, and look at the animals. For example, the enclosure where rhinos and hippos live together is very funny, because in the wild they are not neighbors. If you arrive by car, then drive straight to the gate. They will sell you a ticket from the window, and you will be able to drive your car through the safari park. That is, you will slowly drive through an area where animals roam freely, and only then, after parking your car, you can visit a classic zoo.

7. Sigurta Park

A very large private park, worth at least half a day to explore. You can explore it on foot or rent a bicycle or an electric car, similar to those used on golf courses.

8. Trip to Verona

From almost any city you can get to Verona by regular bus. The city is famous and undoubtedly interesting. The history, dating back to the times of the Celts and Romans, is forever imprinted on the marble pavements. The city of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, rulers from the Scaliger dynasty and the great Dante, has only one significant drawback - it is too touristy. The flow of people wanting to rub Juliet’s bronze breasts never stops for almost a minute, neither in winter nor in summer, neither on weekdays nor on weekends. In addition to historical monuments, tourists are attracted by the boutique street Via Giuseppe Mazzini, where the best brands of almost all fashion houses in the world are presented. Come to Verona, but be prepared for human noise, hustle and bustle. There are many restaurants in the center, but almost all of them are aimed at tourists. The best place, where I had lunch is http://www.listonristorantepizzeria.it/, and their best dish is “Spaghetti allo Scoglio” (spaghetti with shellfish and fruits of the sea).

9. Varone Waterfall

The Varone Waterfall is located near Riva del Garda, but you can’t get there on foot. The waterfall is interesting because the water falls in a cave, and not in the open air. The spectacle is interesting and pleasant, especially when it’s +30º outside in the shade.

10. Thermae Aquardence

Modern baths halfway from Verona to Lake Garda http://www.aquardens.it/. Getting to them other than by car is problematic. The water is thermal, but without a pronounced smell or taste. Large spaces of water indoors and outdoors make swimming comfortable, even with a large number of visitors.

11. Baths of Catullo

Located in the historical part of Sirmione, they are the most famous and popular. The smell of hydrogen sulfide water is not very pleasant, but its beneficial properties and the view of the lake compensate for this drawback. The thermal baths are small, the number of visitors is limited, there is nowhere to swim, you can only lie in the outdoor pools and relax.

12. Thermal Villa Cedri

The pools are located directly in the park in the shade of large trees. This is the main attractive side of this hydrotherapy complex http://www.villadeicedri.it/.

13. Outlets

There are two outlets located approximately at the same distance from Sirmione. One near Mantua http://www.mantovaoutlet.it/. The other one is near Brescia http://www.franciacortaoutlet.it/. Both feature not very well-known brands of clothing and shoes of average quality. There are not many expensive shops. For luxury brands, you should go to Verona or to the outlet http://www.mcarthurglen.com/, located 30 km from Venice.

14. On a boat through coastal towns

15. On foot and by bike

It’s great that starting from Riva ( Riva del Garda) and to the town of Garda there is a cycling and walking trail along the coast. In other places there are also long lakeside promenades, with the exception of the western rocky shore, where, in principle, there is little life. This sets Garda apart from many other lakes. Even if somewhere the path is blocked by a private villa or hotel grounds, the path will go around them and again go out to the water. You can walk along the beautiful coast for several hours and return home by bus or boat.

Result: Garda is one of the most beautiful and interesting lakes Northern Italy. Tropical nature against the backdrop of the snow-capped Alps, clear water, chic and elegance of a fashionable resort combined with excellent cuisine and local wine will not leave anyone indifferent. A great vacation is guaranteed!

If you want to go on a trip to Europe organized by me, look at the current offers for joining groups on my website www.dmitrysokolov.ru

Dmitry Sokolov

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