Lake Garda’s Enchanting Gems: Explore the Most Picturesque Towns
Lake Garda cities to visit
Nestled between three regions—Lombardy, Trentino-Alto Adige, and Veneto—Lago del Garda (or Lago del Garda), the largest body of water in Italy with a catchment area of 2290 km2, 52 km long and between 16 km and 16 km wide, 42 km long, and a maximum depth of 346 meters, is a very popular tourist destination both for a picnic during the day and for a weekend or an on-the-road holiday with stops in the many towns that dot its shores.
Because it was formed by glaciers, it has an elongated shape. Its long tail is in the north and ends in the town of Riva del Garda, which is surrounded by the mountains of Monte Baldo and Monte Rocchetta on the east and west. To the south, in the middle of the Po Valley, the towns of Desenzano del Garda and Peschiera del Garda mark its ends.
Itinerary on Lake Garda
Planning a vacation on the lake is not hard at all. No matter where you are coming from, you can just take the Gardesana road, which goes all the way around the lake and is over 150 km long. If, for example, we start from the western shore in Lombardy, Sirmione, which is at the end of a very thin peninsula that sticks out into the lake, might be the most interesting place.
It is known for the beauty of its medieval historical center, which is where the famous Grotte di Catullo are located. These are the remains of a Roman villa where the poet lived. This could be your first stop on the way to Desenzano del Garda, a seaside town with a long history that is close by.
Manerba del Garda
Proceeding north, a stop in Manerba del Garda allows you to appreciate the spectacular Rocca, which seems to watch over the lake from the top of the promontory, while just 10 km further north, the city of Salò is famous—as well as for its historic center—for having been the capital of Mussolini’s Italian Social Republic for a year and a half when the Second World War was drawing to a close.
History and art lovers might be interested in the monumental citadel built by D’Annunzio (the Vittoriale of the Italians) near Gardone Riviera. The SP9, which leads to the lakes of Valvestino and Idro, starts in the next town of Gargnano. As you go around the Gardesana in a clockwise direction, you come to Tignale, which has a small beach and a well-known marina.
A little farther north, Tremosine’s Terrazza del Brivido, which is 350 meters above the ground, has a beautiful view of the lake and the mountains. We are now in the Riviera dei Limoni, where fields and greenhouses give way to citrus groves that go on for kilometers until you reach the town of Limone sul Garda.
A short distance away is the border with Trentino, and Riva del Garda, a well-known seaside resort that windsurfing fans especially like, has the best view of the water. From here, the “descent” along the Veneto side of the east coast begins, but not before taking a look at the nearby spa town of Torbole.
Malcesine is 13 kilometers further south and is one of the most famous places on Lake Garda. Its fame comes from its beautiful location and the medieval Scaliger Castle, which inspired the German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and was the site of an important demonstration of diving from very high places a few years ago.
Brenzone
The trip can continue to Brenzone, which has Roman ruins, and further south to Torri del Benaco. Benaco was the ancient Latin name for the lake, and the area has a rich history, with many different rulers who left behind amazing buildings like the Scaliger Castle, which is different from the one in the nearby town of Malcesine and is now a museum with the same name.
Further south, the municipality of Garda has a lot of churches, villas, aristocratic palaces, and the peninsula of Punta San Vigilio, which is owned by the Guarienti di Brenzone counts and is the subject of many legends.
Bardolino
Not too far away is Bardolino, a beautiful town that gives its name to a wine and has many villas from the 19th century. Now that the lake tour is over, it’s time to go to the famous Gardaland, which is halfway between Pacengo and Peschiera del Garda. This is the place that Italian kids know best.
Peschiera del Garda
Our tour around the lake ends in Peschiera del Garda. This is the last stop on a route that has something for everyone, from food and wine to nature walks to relaxing in the spas or swimming in the cool Benaco waters.
What are the most beautiful villages on Lake Garda?
- Sirmione (Brescia)
- Malcesine (Verona)
- Lazise (Verona)
- Desenzano del Garda (Brescia)
- Riva del Garda (Trento)
- Salò (Brescia)
- Bardolino (Verona)
- Limone sul Garda (Brescia)
- Tremosine (Brescia)
- Torri del Benaco (Verona)
- Manerba del Garda (Brescia)
- Gardone Riviera (Brescia)
- Nago-Torbole (Trento)
- Garda (Verona)
- Peschiera del Garda (Verona)
