| Lake Garda is the largest and most popular lake in | | | | worldwide.Probably thats why over 15 million |
| Italy.It was formed in the last Ice Age and covers | | | | people, mainly from foreign countries visit the lake |
| 370 sq. kilometres, reaching right up into the Alps. | | | | every year. |
| This beautiful mountain location makes it one of | | | | The famous gastronomic products of the area |
| the most spectacular settings in the world. If you | | | | are: Wine, Oliveoil, Asparagus, Fish, Chestnut, |
| stay at any of our recommended hotels or B&Bs, | | | | Cheese, Honey, Tortellini, Truffle and Pumpkins. |
| you will find yourself right at the heart of this | | | | The story of oil-milling from its beginning as a rural |
| landscape. The scenery ranges from towering | | | | activity to the dawning of the technological age, is |
| mountains to lush rolling countryside, beaches, | | | | the theme of the Oil Museum realized by the |
| vineyards and olive groves. | | | | oil-mill in Cisano del Garda. The museum shows |
| The crystal clear waters of the lake are perfect | | | | how oil has been produced in rural society for |
| for swimming and many popular sports such as | | | | centuries. It also tells us the story of a |
| windsurfing and sailing. The local climate is | | | | community without scientific knowledge and |
| softened by the presence of this large body of | | | | means applying itself to the extraction of a |
| water, which makes it comfortable for exploring | | | | fundamentally important foodstuff from a |
| the towns and villages on and close to the lake | | | | precious fruit : the olive. The journey through |
| towns such as Garda, Lazise, Sirmione, Torri del | | | | history is marked by many changes in technology |
| Benaco Bardolino, Limone and Peschiera which are | | | | which remains constant throughout the ages utill |
| wonderful places to visit with a great choice of | | | | the beginning of the twentieth century, when the |
| hotels or just for wandering around the cobbled | | | | growing industry offered opportunities of |
| streets filled with shops, hotels and restaurants | | | | mechanisation. |
| and are home to bustling lakeside markets. | | | | The Wine Museum was created by the Zeni |
| Malcesine, Riva, Gardone, Brenzone, Caprino | | | | Brothers from Bardolino who founded this historic |
| Veronese and Spiazzi are also excellent for | | | | cellar in 1870 for the exhibition of tools: ploughs, |
| mountain-hiking biking and Canyoning and other | | | | heads, presses, manual decanting pumps, copper |
| outdoor sports providing panoramic views of the | | | | tables with the tools required for the production |
| area. | | | | of wine-drums and all the equipment for working |
| The contrast of dramatic mountains and sandy | | | | in the cellar and the grapevines. There are |
| coves make Lake Garda arguably the most | | | | photographs explaining and giving information on |
| beautiful of the Italian lakes.The landscape close to | | | | the D.O.C. wine produced in the area. The |
| the shore has the feel of the Mediterranean, with | | | | museum leads to the cellar where wine can be |
| a mild climate supporting palms and the famous | | | | bought. |
| lemon groves alongside the olives and vines. In | | | | The Wines produced on the Riviera Veronese of |
| the north the mountains rise steeply from the | | | | Lake Garda are successfully exported all over the |
| water forming the sunny southern extremities of | | | | world. The typical ones, granted by brand names |
| the Alps. | | | | of controlled origin, are: the Bardolino, in its |
| In the south, some 50 km away, views stretch | | | | versions Classico, Chiaretto and Novello, the |
| across the Po valley. A nice place to visit towards | | | | Bianco di Custoza, the Valdadige and the Lugana. |
| the northern end of the lake is Malcesine, a | | | | Those who intend to stay in the region have the |
| tranquil village away from the busy part of the | | | | possibility to discover the places where wine is |
| lake but close enough to the lake to enjoy all its | | | | produced, visit the great number of cellars |
| amenities. The boats that link the historic lakeside | | | | situated along the "wine routes" and buy wine |
| towns are an enjoyable way to travel.Do visit the | | | | directly from the vineyard owners. Wine lovers |
| old port of Torbole, the charming old streets of | | | | must absolutely consider a visit to the wine |
| Limone and the castle and Roman Villa in | | | | museum in Bardolino to admire the exhibition of |
| Sirmione.From Malcesine you can take a cable car | | | | the historical tools used in the wine production as |
| onto Monte Baldo for some mountain walking and | | | | well as a photo-gallery of all the DOC wines |
| superb views. Walks on the lake shore from Lazie | | | | produced in the area of Verona. |
| or Bardolino also help to work up an appetite. | | | | The Museum Scaligero, located at Torri del |
| There is plenty of time to wander in the villages, | | | | Benaco, is very important for ethnological aspects |
| have a long lunch or take a swim. The walking is | | | | and it shows some objects connected to the |
| all taken at a leisurely pace and does not involve | | | | trades carried out in the area: one room shows |
| any significant ascent but walking down from | | | | the activities of the "calafati", artisans dedicated |
| Monte Bado can test the knees if you do not opt | | | | to repairing fishing boats of inland waters; in the |
| to return by cable car. | | | | room of the inhabitants there is the story of the |
| Lake Garda is a true outdoor fitness center | | | | fishermen guilds of the ancient inhabitants of Torri |
| where all sorts of "active sports" can be enjoyed. | | | | and Garda started in 1452 and still working today. |
| Many tourists visit the lake each year just for the | | | | One section illustrates the rock graffiti of Lake |
| extraordinary opportunities the lake offers on its | | | | Garda which has prehistoric origins. Inside the |
| waters and throughout the inland area.You can | | | | castle a small botanical kitchen garden collects the |
| find just about anything to do!windsurfing or sailing | | | | main plants of the environment of the place |
| yachts of all sizes on this beautiful lake, crowded | | | | (sub-Mediterranean vegetation) and, leaning on the |
| beaches with all sorts of amenities, like jet skies, | | | | southern part of the castle we find one of the |
| and water skiing, mountains to be climbed using | | | | few greenhouses for citrus fruit still working |
| any means, from bikes to hikes along special | | | | around Garda, it dates back to 1760. |
| trails, and the snowy slopes worthy of the most | | | | Other important museums are: the Museo |
| famous winter ski resorts. Right in the middle is | | | | Scaligero at Malcesine; the Civic Museum at |
| one of the most protected natural reserves with | | | | Caprino Veronese; Museo Palazzina storica at |
| lush vegetation, an oasis that is unequaled | | | | Peschiera. |