And stubbornly strove to visit here again and not just passing through, but with feeling, really, for a few days. This wish came true when wishes actually come true - on my birthday.
I will say right away that we were on Lake Garda for two days, and this is very little for such a place. Firstly, because it is simply huge - it will take at least 4 hours to go around the lake by car (without stops), and considering that along this road here and there there will be various interesting places - Mount Monte Baldo, the city of Malcesine, Sirmione, Limone sul Garda and many others, with their castles, restaurants and gelaterias, the detour around the lake will increase many times over. And yet, there are thermal springs, amusement parks, farms where you can taste wine and much more.
City of Sirmione
In general, based on our trip, I made an extremely busy route, so you can transform it as you like - remove something if you have little time or stretch it for more days, if there is an opportunity, so that you can calmly, without exhausting yourself everywhere .
Northern part of the lake. Riva del Garda
We started our journey around Lake Garda by car from its northern part. It is more mountainous and therefore the landscapes here, to be honest, are more impressive than on the south coast. Rocky mountains at the foot of which waves beat, and clouds cling to the peaks - it's worth seeing. The lake is so big that the waves here are very impressive, and given that the opposite shore is not visible, you get the feeling that you are at sea.
Pier in Torbol
In the north of the island, the most popular town is Riva del Garda. It is quite small and there are not very many sights, the main thing that is here is the embankment overlooking the lake and mountains.
In Riva del Garda, you can stop for a couple of hours, see the ancient fortress of Rocca, the Palazzo Pretorio and walk along the streets (very Italian and picturesque - colorful houses, shutters, linen on the balconies, and that's all that we represent with the phrase "Italian town").
And here you can climb the peaks of Monte Roqueta and Monte Brione. These vantage points offer incredible views. If you have too little time to storm the peaks, but you still want to see the panorama of the city, go up to the ancient bastion, it is located at an altitude of 300 meters above the city and the ascent to it will take only 15-20 minutes.
If you are planning to dine in Riva del Garda, then I recommend the enoteca restaurant Enosteria I Momenti, here is very tasty pizza, fresh fish and friendly waiters.
From Riva del Garda to Malcesine
The cities of Lake Garda are small and located close to each other. If you go from Riva del Garda to Malcesine, then on your way there will be more picturesque places - Linfano, Torbole, Navene. Each of them has something that tourists come here for - lake views, cozy restaurants, shops, authentic streets.
street in Malcesine
But our goal is the city of Malcesine. And not even because there is an impressive old castle above the water (which is undoubtedly worth a closer look if you have time), but because it is here that the lift to the most famous and highest mountain of Lake Garda - Monte Baldo is located. The funicular on Monte Baldo in Malcesine is very easy to find - firstly, there are signs, and secondly - in the same direction, to the lift station, besides you there are a huge number of people.
street in Malcesine
Tip: come to the lift early in the morning (it works from 8:00). Hours after 9-10, in order to get the coveted ticket and go to the lift cabin, you will have to stand in line (sometimes several hours). Funicular cost: 22 euros per person (round trip).
In our case, an emergency situation occurred - while we were standing in line for tickets, the lift broke down and the staff did not give a clear answer as soon as it would be repaired. In view of this, we decided to take a chance, because we still wanted to get to the mountain, and went to the top by car. Google gave us two routes, and we chose the one to the north (highlighted in blue on the map below), because we were going to go in that direction anyway. And you know, it was a very right decision, which led to the most memorable moment of the whole trip.
Climbing Monte Baldo
The road to Monte Baldo
So, we are heading towards the town of Garda and immediately after it we turn onto the SP8 road. You will begin to climb slowly, passing countless fields of vineyards, small sleepy towns and villas standing alone among the fields.
Vineyards around Lake Garda
We noticed one tricky feature - grape fields are without a fence and are not protected, only if the grapes are still sour there (verified by experience 🙂), or if they have already been harvested, but if they are ripe, still on the branches and they are about to be harvested, then the boundaries of the field with such grapes are prudently fenced with a metal mesh.
In the area of ​​​​the town of Ferrara di Monte Baldo, the road becomes especially steep (at the same time it is quite narrow and absolutely without fences - that is, you fly away, you fly away) and it gets noticeably colder. In return for these inconveniences, you get simply incredible 360-degree landscapes, fresh tasty air mixed with the aromas of mountain herbs and perfect peaceful silence.
Landscapes near Monte Baldo
There are practically no tourists here, but there are many, many cows grazing in mountain meadows. When the wind blows, the bells around their necks begin to chime loudly in a monotone, making sounds similar to meditation music.
Meadows with cows at the foot of Mount Baldo
This ascent to Monte Baldo was a journey within a journey for us. Here you forget that you have arrived in one of the most touristic places in Italy and have a great rest both in body and soul.
And some more landscapes of Monte Baldo
Path in the mountains. Monte Baldo. Italy
Sirmione is the most popular place on Lake Garda
“Holidays on Lake Garda will not be complete if you do not visit this town” - having met such a message in almost all the reviews about Sirmione, we of course decided to stop by here. We headed to this city immediately after descending from Monte Baldo.
On the road to Sirmione
A small digression: if you have the opportunity and desire, you can stop by Gardaland - a large amusement park in the southern part of the island, on the way to Sirmione. This, for a second, is the third most popular such park in Europe. There are many attractions here, there are “very scary” roller coasters, which will be interesting for adults to ride. The cost of a ticket for a day costs from 34 euros (depending on the method of purchase, buying online on the site is cheaper).
Let's go back to Sirmione.
The plus of this place is that it is really incredibly beautiful, the minus is that millions of people think the same way and this tiny peninsular city is simply suffocated by tourists. No seriously, walking around Sirmione we stood in line on the street. In line to just go! What is so special here?
Fortress of Sirmione
The peninsula is surrounded by an ancient fortress - its walls look very impressive and authentic, it's true. Each house in the city also resembles a small work of art. A sort of little Venice, only with a lake instead of canals. The streets are very narrow, on some of them it is even impossible for two people to pass.
Streets of Sirmione
One of the houses in Sirmione
Another feature and attraction of Sirmione is gelateria. There are a lot of them, just incredibly a lot. In every house (without exaggeration) in this city they sell dozens of types of Italian ice cream in a variety of cones (there were also very huge ones - with half a kilo of ice cream inside, no less). Yes, gelato in Sirmione is really very tasty, but it is expensive here, even for Italy.
The same gelato. Sirmione
Tip: do not buy ice cream in the first shops at the entrance to the city (at the fortress gates), go further, deeper into the streets, closer to the terms, in this area it will be 1-1.5 euros cheaper.
Baths of Sirmione
Healing springs are another feature of Sirmione. There are a lot of spa centers with thermal water, in some of them it can have the very characteristic smell of hydrogen sulfide (but not strong).
Most Popular Thermae– a large complex with saunas, pools with warm water and a view of the lake, the ability to order massages and body wraps.
An adult ticket costs 39 euros (for 5 hours) on weekdays and 43 euros on holidays. It will be safer to make a preliminary reservation by phone or mail.
There is also Terme di Sirmione S.p.A. and Terme Virgilio (but the latter are specifically curative, more than others look not like a spa for relaxation, but like a serious wellness center, which is worth going to with a doctor's referral for specific procedures).
Tip: if you are going to the Baths of Sirmione on your birthday, be sure to inform the staff of the centers about this, because, as a rule, special offers and discounts are provided for birthday people.
From Sirmione we begin to move up again, to the north of the lake, only along its western part. The road here is very picturesque, just be prepared for the fact that sometimes it will take you away from the coast and hide beautiful villas behind the houses.
Here it is worth stopping by the town of Salo (emphasis on the last syllable 🙂) and, of course, Limone sul Garda.
Limone is a very picturesque and charming town. Only the signs with house numbers in the form of lemons are worth something. Here everything is buried in flowers, lemonade is sold on every corner (just be careful, it is very sour, but invigorating). No town on Lake Garda has the same seaside feel as here in Limone.
There are many river buses between Limone sul Garda and Malcesine (one trip costs from 9 to 13 euros), the crossing lasts no more than 20 minutes. Therefore, you can make a trip back and forth and appreciate the scenery of the lake from the water.
Actually, Limone is the final stop of our route, then we go again towards Riva del Garda along the road that goes over the lake (unlike the one on the east coast - it winds along the bottom, near the water).
West coast of Lake Garda
When we passed this section, it was already dark, but the mountains and the lake were clearly visible - they were illuminated by the full moon, leaving a path on the water, and the lanterns and the light of houses on the opposite coast merged into one bright thread at the foot of the mountains.
Where to stay on Lake Garda
There are many hotels here, but finding the right one was not so easy. Firstly, everything is quite expensive (from 100 euros per night for two), and secondly, I want the view from the window to be beautiful, and the balcony, and at the same time there was no noise from the road (which, I remind you, goes around the entire coast, that is, if the hotel is near the water, then there will be a roadway nearby).
Several hotels were included in our shot-list:
- located in Riva del Garda. Its advantages are, undoubtedly, a gorgeous view (remember, I wrote above that it is in this part of the mountain along the lake that the highest ones are), balconies in the rooms (in each), a rooftop terrace, stylish rooms and remoteness (at least not great) from the road that runs along the coast (there is a small park between the hotel and the lake). This is where we wanted to stay, but there was a little confusion and we booked another place (more on that below).
Terrace of the Bellariva Hotel
- – it is located in Limone sul Garda. Hotel with an outdoor pool, private garden, lake view and sunbathing area. They did not choose it for only one reason - because they wanted to stop exactly in the north of the lake, and it is a little lower (but in a flowering and green Lemon).
- ended up stopping here. This hotel did not really fit in with our plans, because the rooms on an adequate budget were, although with a view, but without a balcony, but the superior apartments had private terraces with a jacuzzi, but it cost 253 euros per night. We sighed at these cool rooms with a jacuzzi and decided to book the first option (Bellariva), but mixed up the hotels and inadvertently booked the standard (no balcony) here in Lago di Garda. We realized the mistake only when we were already in the room - with huge windows, but on the first floor and right next to the road. I had to get out of the situation - we went to the reception and said that supposedly it was not indicated on Booking that the room was on the first floor in front of the road, so we were not ready to rent it. And then a miracle happened - a polite girl at the reception apologized for the fact that Booking did not have this information and changed our number without additional payment. The one with the jacuzzi! 🙂
The same terrace with a jacuzzi (photo from the hotel website, because during such a beautiful and soft light on the terrace, we were not in the room, and photos in the dark do not convey all the charm)
Conclusion
Sunset on Lake Garda. Malcesine
Lake Garda is not about “going to see for one day”, you can easily spend a full vacation here: sunbathing on the beach, walking among the narrow streets of cities or vineyards, climbing peaks covered with dense forests. The types of entertainment on this lake are no less than the tastes of local gelato, varieties of wine and pizza toppings, and the landscapes that you will see here will remain in your heart for a lifetime.
PS: If the article was useful to you, you can thank me by booking a hotel for the trip by going to Booking , Thank you!
Rome, Florence, Milan, Venice and other popular Italian cities are overflowing with tourists from all over the world and their number does not decrease from year to year. But in this country, in addition to the rich architectural and historical heritage, there is still something to see - there are many incredibly beautiful and amazing places, and in this article we will talk about one of them.
Lake Garda
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Garda is the largest and most picturesque lake in Italy, located at the foot of the Alpine mountains. The shore of the lake is a favorite vacation spot for Italians and is becoming more and more popular with tourists.
There are many towns and villages around the lake. The most famous: Sirmione, Gardone Riviera, Limone, Riva del Garda, Torbole, Malcesine, Bardolino. There is a very short distance between cities, sometimes up to several hundred meters, so if you stop in one place, you can easily see the neighboring ones.
The easiest way to get here is from Verona, the distance between the city and the lake is only 44 kilometers, and the road will take half an hour.
Leisure
Windsurfing
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In the small town of Riva del Garda, where geese, ducks and swans roam the streets freely and are not at all afraid of people, windsurfing is very popular. And it’s worth it to ride a board with a sail here. Rental companies provide all sports equipment. A set of equipment will cost about 100 euros per day, and classes with instructors will add another 40 euros to the cost.
On the waterfront of Riva del Garda, there are a large number of bars and cafes where windsurfers and young people relax. Therefore, for a drive and a party - here.
Tracking
Photo: unsplash.com / @barchpou
Fans of hiking in the mountains here have a great opportunity to make trekking in the Alps. There are a huge number of routes in the mountains, from one-day to multi-day, from simple to very difficult. The route map can be downloaded either in advance on the Internet (for example), or purchased at the reception of any hotel located on the lake coast.
A large number of trekking routes start in the village of Musaga, located a few kilometers from the shore of the lake. All routes are marked with signs, so it will be extremely difficult to get lost. The routes go through chestnut groves where you can pick the most delicious chestnuts, and lead to alpine meadows where cows graze, as if they came off a Milka advertisement. And in the mountain villages you can buy real alpine milk and honey.
Biking
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Mountain biking is very popular with tourists here. Depending on the level of physical fitness, you can go to the mountains, fairly loading your legs, or take a leisurely ride along the coast, going around medieval cities and small villages with cypress and olive groves.
As in the case of trekking routes, there are a huge number of cycling routes, a map of which can be purchased at any hotel.
The cost of renting a bike: for an hour - 3 euros, for half a day - 10 euros, and for the whole day - 15 euros.
What to visit
Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Crown
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20 kilometers from Garda in the village of Spiazzi, in the deepening of Monte Baldo, on a sheer cliff, there is a temple - the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Crown. The temple was built in the 15th century on the site where the monastic skete used to be. Pilgrims from all over the world come here and it is believed that here, in exchange for a promise or a vow, the saints will help fulfill your desire. But, if you break the vow, then misfortunes will haunt the violator all his life.
Inside the sanctuary, an exact copy of the Holy Staircase was built, along which Jesus ascended to the court in the palace of Pontius Pilate, and on the path leading to the temple, there are 14 halts, symbolizing the stops of Christ on the Way of the Cross.
Under the temple there is a corridor pasted over with millions of photographs of people who have gone to another world. There is a belief that the Mother of God herself grieves over the souls of these people.
Scaliger Castle
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Scaliger Castle is one of the best preserved castles in Italy, built by the Scaliger dynasty, who ruled Verona from 1260 to 1387. During the years of their reign, more than 40 castles were erected to protect their possessions, but no more than ten have survived to our time.
The Scaliger castle is surrounded by a moat with water and high walls with battlements. The 47-meter medieval tower inside is a favorite place for tourists and also serves as an excellent observation deck. The fortress was the most important strategic point - the Scaligers kept their fleet on the lake, the base of which was in this castle. Now ships and boats also come here, fortunately, not military ones, but those on which tourists cruise on the lake.
Gardaland Park
Fairyland Gardaland - the most famous park in Italy - was built by the Italian millionaire Livio Farini after he visited the American Disneyland in 1975 and was so impressed that he decided to build something similar in Italy.
The coast of Garda was chosen as a place for construction, and just six months later the park received its first visitors. Over time, the park became larger, modernized, and now there are 40 attractions in six thematic zones: Sunken Atlantis, Ancient Egypt, Knights of the Middle Ages, Hawaiian Islands, Outer Space, Cartoon Country.
thermal springs
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There are several thermal springs on Lake Garda, which greatly adds to the attractiveness of this place. The most famous are in Sirmione and Lazise.
The first, in Sirmione, was accidentally discovered in 1889 by a Venetian diver at a depth of 20 meters. Ten years later, the Aquaria thermal center was built on this site, which is still in operation and is popular with tourists. Later, several more thermal centers appeared in the city, most of which work at hotels. An adult ticket for the whole day costs 53 euros.
The second, in Lazise, ​​on the territory of the chic Villa Chedri, was discovered in 1989, when the owners of the mansion decided to dig a well. At a depth of 160 meters, hot thermal springs were discovered, after which the owners of the villa decided to turn this place into a thermal resort. Now, on the territory of the park with an area of ​​16 hectares, surrounded by centuries-old cedars, palm trees and flowers, there are 2 pools with thermal water, a grotto was built and fountains work. The water from the springs is drinkable. An adult ticket for the whole day costs 22 euros.
Olive Oil Museum
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Oddly enough, the first olive oil museum appeared relatively recently - in 1988. It was opened by the owners of a small olive processing plant in the town of Bardolino, which stands on the shores of Lake Garda.
Oil has been mined on the coast of the lake for 2000 years: olive trees were one of the first to be cultivated. The museum in 9 rooms presents the entire process of extracting oil from olives from antiquity to the present day. But what tourists like most of all is that in the museum you can finally understand the intricacies of the taste of different varieties of olive oil - there is a tasting room here, and they also sell cosmetics with the addition of olive oil.
And we also have
Of the many ancient towns on the shores of the lake, we advise you to choose the northernmost one - Riva del Garda. Despite the location, it is just as warm and comfortable here as in the south of the reservoir, and lemons, olive trees and palm trees are just as pleasing to the eye. At the same time, the mountains here are much more picturesque: the rocks surround Riva from three sides and hang over the water. Therefore, even sophisticated travelers will not be able to hold back the sighs of admiration! Yes, however, it’s not worth it - it’s better to fully enjoy the beauties of nature and the town,
full of architectural sights.
We advise you to stay in one of them - in the palace of the late XIX century, which is occupied by the Lido Palace hotel. Its feature is that behind the facades of a historical building, modern interiors with high-tech elements are hidden: a lot of glass, wood and metal, muted colors, unusual details. In general, not at all what you expect to see inside a classic mansion surrounded by a lush garden, but this is precisely what makes it special charm!
The discreet interior of the Lido Palace rooms does not distract from the main thing - stunning views outside the windows!
If you want a room with the best view of the lake, take one of the suites on the top, panoramic floor: you can even look at the calm waters of Garda and the boats darting across it from the bathroom. An incredibly relaxing sight! For even more relaxation, contact Centoundici SPA: take a steam bath, breathe in the salt room, swim in the pool, admiring the greenery of the garden.
By the way, you can swim in the lake. The water in it is quite refreshing (+ 22-25 ° C), soft, like mineral water, and incredibly clean! Therefore, by the way, they love diving here. And here is a real expanse for fans of windsurfing, kayaking, paddle surfing and yachting. Fans of hiking and cycling will also have something to do: there are many routes available to them.
Garda offers dizzying - in the truest sense of the word - walks!
In the evening, the best solution is to dine at the Il Re della Busa restaurant. Book a table on the terrace overlooking the lake and sample amazing dishes from Michelin star Giuseppe Sestito. Believe me, all the time you will be surprised how diverse you can relax on the lake!
BONUS
Tenuta San Leonardo in the foothills of the Dolomites - one of the most famous wineries in Italy. Grapes have been cultivated here since the 10th century, and the winery itself is located in a former monastery. Only three varieties of wine are produced here, but they are known all over the world!
Museum of Contemporary Art MART in the city of Rovereto is one of the largest in Europe: only the permanent exhibition has more than 15 thousand exhibits, and there are also temporary ones! The museum building itself is also a work of art, so it is worth paying enough attention to it.
UNIQUENESS OF THE LAKE
The lake has that extraordinary atmosphere that pacifies and soothes. But in addition to the silence and smoothness of the waters, it conquers forever with the luxury of nature: the purest blue waters, white swans, alpine mountains with snow-capped peaks, richness of greenery and flowers.
It is better to see the whole lake by car or bus, but since every city has a port, you can get from one city to another by boat or boat.
Resorts located on the lake: Castelnuovo del Garda, Bardolino, Desenzano del Garda, Peschiera, Gardone Riviera, Limone and others. The most interesting and colorful are Sirmione and Riva del Garda.
Scenic and serene RIVA
The north of Lake Garda is not crowded and is a little closer and higher than the mountain, but there are no thermal springs. The largest city in the north is Riva del Garda with a magnificent promenade area.
There is where to swim, you can rent a bike and ride around the area or go windsurfing, kayaking, or you can climb the Alps in Malcesine (also a good place to stay). Riva del Garda is the perfect place if you really need to relax.
In addition to the unearthly beauty of nature, the city has interesting sights that are worth seeing if you wish: the City Museum, the Inviolata Church (Baroque), Palazzo Pretorio (1375), San Rocco Square, the 34-meter Torre Apponale Tower, Garibaldi Square and other urban valuables, as well as the waterfalls of Varone.
It is worth noting that Italians often prefer holidays in Riva, and they are very capricious in terms of relaxation, so this characterizes the resort only on the positive side.
TERMS OF SIRMEONE
The most famous resort in the south of the lake is the peninsular city of Sirmione. It is famous not only for its beaches, but also for its unique baths, and an impressive fortress, which gives it an unreal, fabulous look. The fortress is small, but very interesting - a fortress wall and towers that grow right out of the water.
The highest tower (47 meters) is used as an observation deck. If you want to see something, you can climb the Scaliger castle, see the grottoes of Catullo (the ruins of a villa that belonged to the family of the ancient Roman poet Gaius Catullus).
Nearby is the town of Castelnuovo del Garda, where the giant amusement park Gardaland operates, as well as a water park, an aquarium, a safari park and a botanical garden. After a stay in Sirmione, everyone returns delighted and full of energy.
Verona has the closest airport to Garda. But it can also be reached from Milan or Venice. From all these cities, trains and buses follow to the lake.
The cost of a Kiev-Verona flight with a transfer starts from UAH 2.5 thousand. From Verona airport to the lake by car it takes about 1 hour (40-60 €). By bus - about 2 hours (about 6 €).
But it runs along the entire eastern and northern shores of the lake, which is impressive. It takes 20 minutes to get to the lake by train (10 €). Resting on Lake Garda, you can visit Verona, Venice and Milan.
Bon Voyage! See you at Lake Garda!
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Why go and what to see on Lake Garda
Lake Garda is one of the largest lakes in Europe, a popular beach and sightseeing resort with many attractions and entertainment. Atmospheric resort towns are scattered along the coast of the lake, like pearls, they offer tourists a developed infrastructure and a rich history. In addition, Lake Garda is framed by beautiful mountains, climbing which you can see Garda at a glance. The swimming season lasts on the lake from June to September, the rest of the time the resort is also popular, in the off-season tourists often come here for sightseeing purposes, since the cities of Garda have preserved many historical and architectural monuments, and the nature of the lake is famous for its beauty all year round.
In the summer, you can do various water sports on the lake (including extreme ones such as windsurfing, for example), ride sightseeing boats and, of course, swim and swim, for this there are well-equipped beaches in almost every lake town. On the eastern shore of the lake there is a water park Gardaland for the whole family. While relaxing on Lake Garda, you can also make day trips to larger cities in northern Italy, such as Verona or Brescia. The infrastructure of the resort is quite diverse, you can choose accommodation options for a different budget, the same applies to food (cafes, restaurants, bars of different price ranges).
Michael Bertulat/Desenzano
Climate and weather on Lake Garda
The climate of Lake Garda is mild continental. From the north, the region is sheltered from the winds by the Alps, so sharp weather changes are not typical for Garda, and this applies to any time of the year. In summer, the weather on Lake Garda is sunny, precipitation is negligible, the air temperature stays at +22 to +26 degrees, rarely higher. When climbing mountains, the temperature may decrease, it is recommended to wear long-sleeved clothing. The swimming season opens in June and smoothly ends in September. September and May are ideal months for active hiking and sightseeing. It can be quite rainy here in April and October, but this is perhaps the only period when the weather on Lake Garda is characterized by precipitation.
Son of Groucho/Limone sul Garda How to get to Lake Garda
The nearest cities to Garda with international arrival airports are Milan and Verona (120 and 45 km respectively). Both Milan and Verona have direct flights from Moscow, the travel time is no more than 3-3.5 hours. Flights are operated by Aeroflot and Alitalia. Also on this route you can fly with a transfer by European airlines, then the travel time will increase in proportion to the time spent on the transfer. To get from other cities of Russia, you will need a connection in Moscow. You can check the flight schedule and book tickets on special search engine sites:
You can also get to Garda by ordering a taxi or renting a car. Both methods are relevant, because between the cities there are high-speed routes that are as convenient and fast as possible for movement. You can order a taxi in advance on the transfer services:
- the city is purely historical. The number of architectural and historical monuments here is simply overwhelming. Among the main buildings of the city are the Duomo Vecchio Cathedral, the Duomo Nova Cathedral, the ancient Roman Pantheon, the Broletto Palace, the Brescia Castle, the Monastery of St. Julia, the Martinengo Pinakothek and much more. This list is quite extensive, but the historical center of the city is compact, therefore, with the exception of the castle of Brescia, everything else can be seen by moving from one attraction to another.
Pedro/Verona, city view Thermal springs on Lake Garda
On Lake Garda, contrary to popular belief, not only a beach holiday is possible. On the southern coast of Garda there are several useful sources of thermal waters at once. They are focused on . You can get to Sirmione with a small change in Desenzano from almost any major city in Italy. The most famous thermal spring on the territory of Sirmione is the Baiola spring, which has a whole range of useful properties. The waters of this particular source are used in the thermal complexes of Catullo, Virgilio and Aquaria. Also, using these waters, spa treatments are carried out in some 4 * and 5 * hotels in Sirmione.
The Baths of Catullo and the Baths of Virgilio are known for their preventive treatments, including inhalations, hydromassages and mud baths. Terme Aquaria is more of a spa area with 3 pools, a sauna, a relaxation room, and massage treatments. All Sirmione baths are open all year round, so you can use the services of the thermal complexes regardless of the season. Many tourists specially come to Sirmione in the "low" season (from November to March inclusive) for this type of holiday.
Yilmaz Oevuenc/Castle of the Scaligers Beach holidays on Lake Garda
Almost any resort town on the coast of Lake Garda has at least small beach areas, to say nothing of the recognized resorts, which mainly specialize in beach holidays. The beaches of Lake Garda are different - sandy, small pebbles or large pebbles and rocky, it all depends on the particular resort and its distance from the mountains. In some places, instead of beaches, you can find special bridges and stairs with which you can plunge into the lake.
The swimming season on Lake Garda lasts from June to September, the water warms up quite well in the summer months (+23, +25 degrees), even though Garda is one of the largest and deepest lakes in Europe. Nevertheless, on the coast, in places equipped for swimming, there is usually a gentle entrance to the water, so you can relax with children, for example, here without hindrance.
Popular beaches are Desenzano Beach, Spiaggia d'Oro and Porta Rivoltella Beach, the advantages of these beaches are that they are sandy. V Sirmione the beaches are mostly small pebbles, but also suitable for families. The beaches of Santa Maria di Lugana and Spiaggia Porto Galeazzi are in demand here. Between Sirmione And Peschiera del Garda there is an equally popular place to relax - Spiaggia Punto Gro beach (pebble cover). Spiaggia Punto Gro is equipped with everything you need, there is also a free car park.
As for the northern coast, the local beaches are surrounded by beautiful mountains and forests, which adds extra color to the area. One of the most picturesque beaches in this sense is the so-called pine beach in Riva del Garda. It got its name because a few meters from it begins a pine mountain and a magnificent series of mountain landscapes. Also in Riva del Garda, the beaches of Sabbioni and Miralago are popular.
There are also several small beach areas (Spiagia Tifu, for example), but you need to understand that the town is located at the very foot of the mountain, so the beaches here are pebbly. But there are no beaches in the usual sense as such, there are only bridges and rocky areas, tourists also swim here, but entering the water itself is not always convenient. As for, a wonderful equipped beach of Lido di Fasano is located a few kilometers from the resort. This beach is public.
Dan Kamminga/Beaches of Peschiera del Garda Sights of Lake Garda
In addition to architectural and natural attractions, on Lake Garda you can also find a lot of all kinds of entertainment for the whole family. The following are amusement parks and water parks that will diversify your stay on vacation:
- perhaps the largest amusement park in the vicinity of Garda. Local attractions are divided into different categories from the simplest to the truly extreme! The place is perfect for family holidays. The feature of Gardaland is that you are unlikely to find local rides in any other parks in the world, each of the rides is unique;
OceanariumSeeLife- right there, not far from Gardaland, you can also find an aquarium in which not the inhabitants of the lake live, but real marine animals and fish. The oceanarium is quite extensive, often tourists combine visiting Gardaland and the aquarium;
Movieland Studios- This is also an amusement park, but made based on famous action films. Here you can learn about the “kitchen” of filming: how stuntmen perform stunts, what is sometimes behind the action scenes. The park is so interesting that you can spend at least a whole day here! By the way, it’s definitely worth staying here until the evening, because. you can see the most beautiful fireworks show;
A parkJungleAdventure is a now popular ropes park in a wooded area that allows you to feel the true spirit of adventure. Obstacle routes are available for both adults and children;
Sigurta Park and Safari Park Natura Viva- These are mostly walking parks with amazing nature and local inhabitants. You can walk here at least a whole day, and still you will not go around the entire territory. In Sigurta Park, you can also move around on sightseeing trains, and in Natura Viva Park on special off-road vehicles like a “safari tour”. In the Natura Viva park, in addition to the zoo, there is also a botanical garden and a dino park;
Kaneva park- This is one of the largest water parks on Lake Garda. It is located near Movieland (you can buy a common ticket to enter both amusement parks). Here you can find such slides as Splash, Kamikaze, Wind Lagoon, Raging River, Typhoon, Twin Peaks, Black Hole and much more. Attractions are divided into children's and adult zones.
Spencer Wright/Gardaland Hotels on Lake Garda, Italy
Accommodation on Lake Garda is very diverse - it can be standard hotels, bed and breakfasts, apartments (or apart-hotels), guest houses, and holiday homes. The price range also varies greatly depending on the star rating of the hotel and the services offered. It should be noted that there are actually no all-inclusive hotels on Garda, food options are most often only breakfasts, but this is typical for all of Italy, and not just specifically for relaxing on Lake Garda.
Since the resorts of Lake Garda are usually small towns, it is recommended to book accommodation in advance, so you can find the best option in terms of price / quality. Early booking is best done 2-3 months before the start of the high season. You can find a suitable hotel / apartment in the resorts of Lake Garda, as well as check the availability for specific dates on specialized services for finding hotel offers:
Booking - hotel reservations in 120,000 destinations around the world;
roomguru - the best deals from thousands of hotel booking sites.
When choosing a hotel, pay attention to such parameters as location, availability of a private beach area, type of food, parking availability (if traveling by car).
David Blaikie/Gardone Riviera Travel insurance
Going on a trip to Lake Garda or any other part of Italy, do not forget to take out a travel insurance policy, which is mandatory already at the stage of applying for a tourist visa. You can take out insurance on your own without leaving your home. There are special services for this:
- online insurance for people traveling abroad and traveling in Russia;
- O online service for choosing and buying travel insurance with the ability to compare offers from various insurance companies;
You can buy a policy online and then print it on a regular printer. Insurance must be attached to the documents for a visa, you also need to have it with you at the time of passing through passport control upon arrival at the airport. Please note that the minimum amount of insurance coverage for a trip to the Schengen countries (including Italy) is 30 thousand euros. Medicine in Italy is paid and quite expensive, so having insurance with you is not a luxury, but a necessity. If you plan to engage in active sports, it is better to include this option in your insurance.
Romtomtom/View from Monte Baldo We will be happy to answer your questions in the comments!
Photo at the beginning of the article: Antonangelo De Martini
