The ultimate city guide to Bardolino, Italy

The town of Bardolino is on the eastern side of Lake Garda, about 30 km from Verona. It is in a gentle-sloping area that faces the blue waters of the lake to the west and the morainic hills to the east.

Among the places of artistic and cultural interest, some churches stand out. First of all, the Church of San Zeno: it is one of the most beautiful Carolingian churches in our country, built in the second half of the 9th century with the lateral arms of the Latin cross plan that still house the original decorations. Formerly part of the monastic fief of the Abbey of San Zeno, it is one of the few churches in the Verona area to have been spared from the terrible earthquake of 1117.

It’s also worth going to see the Church of San Severo, which was built in the 11th century and has beautiful frescoes from the 12th, 13th, and 14th centuries; the remains of the ancient monastery of San Colombano, which was built in the 11th century; the Pieve di Santa Maria, which has the oldest early medieval inscription in the area; the Romanesque church of San Vito in the town of Cartelline; and the Church of San Nicol.

In addition to the churches, the area around Bardolino is full of beautiful villas from the 1800s. Some are in large green parks, while others are hidden among the simplest houses in the country, ready to surprise people who don’t expect such beauty.

Equipped with a beautiful park, extending over the entire northern part of Bardolino Bay, is Villa Bottagisio; the park of Villa Guerrieri, on the other hand, is in via San Martino, directly overlooks Lake Garda, and preserves the remains of an ancient fortress within its borders. After the war, the park of Villa Bassani Raimondi, via Fosse, was unfortunately destroyed, while Villa Marzan, the most beautiful in the municipality of Cisano, was recently renovated. Finally, Villa Giuliari-Gianfilippi and Villa Betteloni deserve a look.

Bardolino was born as a small village, but over the centuries, the original nucleus was enlarged several times, increasing the size of its walls from time to time. Today it is possible to admire the remains of the 12th-century walls, of which a small but charming portion remains.

Events and festivals in Bardolino

The famous Regata delle Bisse is the most important event that Bardolino takes part in every year. It is put on by the Bisse del Garda League, of which Bardolino is a stage along with many other towns on the shores of Lake Garda. Between June and August, many boats compete for the prestigious, symbolic award of the flag of the lake.

But sport is not the only passion that beats in the hearts of the locals: great importance is also recognized for music, thanks to the national piano competition “City of Bardolino”, organized by the Bardolino Philharmonic, an ancient and prestigious musical association long active in the area. The competition, which takes place in May of each year, is a valid opportunity to make themselves known for talented young artists, who have the opportunity here to compete with candidates from all over Italy.

For those who enjoy the pleasures of the palate, Bardolino is a great place to visit in May for the Chiaretto Festival, in October for the Grape Festival, or in November for the Novello Festival. In December, there are usually Christmas markets from the 6th of the month until the Epiphany. Last, the traditional bell festival in the spring and the Sagra degli Osei in September bring a lot of people to Cisano.

Useful information: how to get there and when to go to Bardolino

You can fly to Bardolino from the nearby Valerio Catullo airport in Verona, which is 31 km away. From there, you can take public transportation to get to Bardolino. Otherwise, if you want to use the train, the most advantageous station is Peschiera del Garda, which is about ten kilometers from Bardolino. By car, along the A22 motorway, just take the Affi exit and follow the signs.

Bardolino is a good place to go on vacation at any time of year because it has a mild climate. Thanks to the influence of the lake, the lowest temperature in the winter is only -2 °C, and the highest temperature in July and August is not more than 28 °C.The wettest months of the year are May, June, and August.