Trip to Lake Garda

"Magnifica patria", the "glorious homeland" is what the Venetians called this wonderful area, and it has been sung about by many poets. The ancient (Latin) name of the Garda Lake was Lacus Benacus, which is said to have come from an ancient deity Benacus. The lake was formed during the last ice age by the mighty Etsch glacier, which shaped the 25 km long, 2.4 to 17 km wide basin. The Garda Lake is large, covering 370 km² and is up to 346 m deep; it is fed from the north by the rivers Sarca, Ponale, and Campione, which then leave it in the south as Mincio and flow into the Po.

On the south shore, we also find the oldest traces of settlements, remnants of pile dwellings from the Bronze Age (around 2,000 BC). Ligurians, Venetians, Etruscans, and even Gauls settled here, before the Romans conquered and systematically developed the area. In the Middle Ages, the rulers in the region changed frequently, and the Scaliger from Verona became particularly significant, building numerous castles around the lake, as did the Visconti from Milan. In 1405, the Venetians conquered Verona and the Garda Lake, bringing a nearly 400-year period of flourishing trade and growing prosperity to the region. After the Napoleonic Wars, the Habsburgs ruled the Garda Lake until 1866, when it fell to the newly founded Kingdom of Italy, with only the northern shore remaining under Austrian control. After the First World War, the entire area finally became part of Italy. Today, three quite different provinces - Brescia, Verona, and Trento - share the lake.

Due to its scenic beauty, the charming towns and villages on its shores with their attractions and cultural offerings, and not least because of the wide variety of sports activities, Lake Garda is a popular destination for day trips and longer holiday stays. Accordingly, the range of accommodations, campsites, holiday apartments, and hotels is rich. Whether you prefer accommodation with a family atmosphere or a modern wellness hotel, a stylish old palazzo, or a trendy design hotel: the hotels on the shores of Lake Garda meet the highest standards, and there is suitable accommodation for every holiday wish.

The climate at Lake Garda is mild, even sub-Mediterranean, with warm summers and mild, low-precipitation winters. The Dolomites shield the lake from cold northern air currents, while the valley opens up to the sunny south. This pleasant climate makes Lake Garda ideal for a relaxing or wellness holiday. Mediterranean and subtropical plants thrive here wonderfully, with figs, wine, and olives being grown, and even lemons in some places. Palms, oleanders, bougainvilleas, hibiscus, and acacias adorn the gardens and parks, giving the places around the lake their enchanting flair.

Lake Garda is a true outdoor paradise, and it can rightly be called the largest sports area in Europe. The holiday and leisure activities primarily include all kinds of water sports: swimming, sailing, windsurfing, fishing, but also new trend sports such as wakeboarding or kitesurfing are possible here under optimal conditions. Anglers should note that the fishing regulations in the three Garda regions are different! The lake is also extremely interesting for diving, with its varied underwater landscapes and rich fauna making every dive an experience.

The surrounding mountains, on the other hand, offer plenty of opportunities for hiking and mountain biking. Especially the mountains on the north shore around the holiday resorts of Riva, Arco, and Torbole are popular with bikers. Whether you are a beginner or a professional, the trails all impress with their fantastic natural scenery and panoramic views. Nordic walking, horseback riding, tennis, and climbing are also on offer, as are adventure sports such as canyoning, rafting, or paragliding. Golf enthusiasts will find several wonderful courses, mostly on the southern shore of the lake. Even in winter, you can spend an active holiday at Lake Garda, as there are numerous attractive ski and cross-country skiing areas in the vicinity. Many hotels around Lake Garda are specially geared towards sports enthusiasts. Mountain bike hotels, golf hotels, or hotels for sailors and windsurfers each offer special service and facilities, so that there is nothing lacking in an active holiday.

There are five islands in Lake Garda, the largest being Isola del Garda near Salò. It is owned by the Borghese-Cavazza family, and the imposing castle, Villa Borghese, and the magnificent park can be visited. Just south of it lies Isola San Biagio - also known as Cypress Island - in the bay of Manerba. It is a popular excursion destination and so close to the shore that you can wade across. Occasionally, jazz concerts are also held on San Biagio. The other islands are Isola del Sogno in the dreamy bay of Val di Sogno, the "Fortress Island" Trimelone with the remains of a fort from the First World War, and Isola degli Olivi off Malescine.

The main town on the narrow north shore of Lake Garda is Riva del Garda. Despite its growth and many hotels, the small town has managed to preserve the charm and atmosphere of its medieval city center. The most significant attraction is the water castle built by the Scaligers, which houses the Museo Civico. 3 km from Riva is the famous Varone Waterfall, which spectacularly plunges around 100 m deep through a walkable rock funnel.

The neighboring Torbole, where Goethe stopped on his trip to Italy in 1786, is a center for windsurfing. The constant winds here provide ideal conditions for surfing and attract thousands of surfers to the holiday resort every year.

Garda on the eastern shore of the lake is famous for its lavish, Mediterranean vegetation. The extremely popular holiday resort is characterized by the picturesque harbor and the beautiful lakeside promenade.

Just a few kilometers south of Garda is Bardolino, the center of the famous wine-growing region of the same name. Especially worth seeing are the two churches San Severo and San Zeno. The latter was built around the year 807 and is one of the rare examples of Carolingian architecture in Upper Italy, while the Basilica San Severo impresses with highly interesting Romanesque frescoes and a Lombard crypt.

Sirmione is certainly one of the most charming and most visited holiday resorts on Lake Garda. The old town is picturesque on the peninsula jutting into the lake, with access guarded by the Castello Scaligero, considered the most beautiful water castle in Italy. The warm thermal springs of Boiola, Virgilio, and Catullo, rich in sulfur, bromine, and iodine, were already known to the Romans and made Sirmione one of the most important spas in Upper Italy. At the northern end of the Sirmione peninsula are the "Grotte di Catullo," the remains of an impressive Roman villa with thermal facilities, the largest archaeological site in the region.

Desenzano is the largest city on Lake Garda and comparatively less influenced by tourism. The charming city center with the old port is worth seeing. Here, too, there are - in the middle of the city - the excavations of a Roman villa with remarkable floor mosaics.

Salò on the west shore of the lake is not only a popular holiday and bathing resort but also a shopping center. The rather inconspicuous exterior of the Santa Maria Annunziata Cathedral is a significant example of late Gothic architecture and surprises with the extremely magnificent design of the interior. A shining example of Art Nouveau in Upper Italy is the "Villa Laurin," which houses a very exclusive romantic hotel.

The holiday resort Gardone Riviera, just a few kilometers north of Salò, is located in the center of the "Riviera die limoni," the "Lemon Riviera." Here is "Il Vittoriale," the monumental villa of the Italian poet Gabriele d'Annunzio, which he inhabited from 1921 until his death in 1938. Today, the 9-hectare area houses, among other things, a war museum and an open-air theater, and the living spaces and the mausoleum can also be visited.

Many other, mostly smaller holiday resorts, such as Gargnano, Malescine, Torri del Benaco, Lazise, or Toscolano-Maderno, are located around Lake Garda. They are all worthwhile holiday or excursion destinations, especially if you value peace, relaxation, and wellness on your vacation.

Finally, Lake Garda also scores points with its proximity to the major cities of Brescia and Verona, with their wide range of culture, attractions, theaters, restaurants, and shopping opportunities.