LAKE GARDA DESTINATIONS

Garda is one of the more characteristic comune on the east Coast of the biggest lake in Italy. Garda town is only 32 km from the city of Verona, and is one of the smallest towns in the whole province.

Sights recommended include the old village of Garda: narrow streets where you can walk between the promenade, Villa Albertini (16th century), the Captain's Palace which is a Venetian Palace (14th century), Villa Carlotti and the 18th century church dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

Also the old Rock of Garda: it stands 300 mt over the town and offers to visitors a wonderful sight over the whole lake, over the same rise it is located the 15th century Carmelite monastery.

Together with San Vigilio: The name of the village comes from Saint Vigilius (San Vigilio), the Bishop of Trento from 385 to 402 A.D. It became famous in 1540 when Agostino Brenzoni built his villa within a small park. Many famous people have stayed at the Brenzoni Villa, including Tsar Alexander, the King of Naples, Winston Churchill, Laurence Olivier, King Juan Carlos and the British royal family. The peninsula of San Vigilio, on which the villa formerly stood, was described by Riccardo Bacchelli as "the most radiant, airy place." The villa was built in the 16th century for Count Agostino Brenzoni and the designer was Michele Sammicheli (1484-1559).

Torri del Benaco is an ancient fishing village sitting on a characteristic cone-shaped hill where Monte Baldo gently slopes towards S.Vigilio Point. it is quite charming with its small port, square, narrow streets and old buildings painted in the same warm shades of Venice. Surrounded by olive groves are new homes, camping sites, tourist resorts and hotels that provide fine accommodations all year round. A ferry service for cars, buses and passengers that unites Torri and Maderno (on the west shore) is available all year round.

The castle was commissioned in 1383 by Antonio della Scala, the last lord of the Della Scala dynasty of Verona, and built upon the ruins of an existing manor house dating back to the late Middle Ages, possibly the 9th - 10th century. Today it contains a small museum with an exhibit of the rock engravings found on Mount Baldo and rooms dedicated to fishing, olive growing, and stone working. A lemon grove with its characteristic enclosures stretches along its southern side. The lemon grove was built in 1753 and is still tended using traditional methods.

Malcesine is clustered around the foot of the castle and the "Captains' Palace", the old town with its small port, squares and streets filled with shops, bars and picturesque restaurants has a magical charm. With more than a hundred hotels, over three hundred apartments, numerous rooms to let, villas and twelve camping sites, Malcesine is one of the most elegant and well-equipped holiday resorts on the lake.

The pleasant mild climate all year round permits walks and excursions in the hinterland and on Mount Baldo, which is known as the "Botanical Garden of Europe" due to its huge variety of plant species. The community covers about 68 square kilometers and also includes the towns of Cassone (3 km south, in the direction of Brenzone) and Navene (3 km north, in the direction of Torbole), an important location for sailing buffs and windsurf fans.

information from Wkipedia and www.lagodigardamagazine.com.