Review of Lake Garda

Italy is famed for its beautiful cities, with millions of tourists flocking to Florence, Rome, Venice, Pisa and Milan. A recent visit to northern Italy revealed that there is plenty to see away from the big cities.

Every trip to Italy seems likely to set the pulse racing. Previous visits to this dynamic country had included taking in the majestic splendour of Venice, the unique atmosphere of Rome and the architectural delights of Florence.

Lake Garda, in the north of Italy, was one location that had previously gone almost without notice when browsing through the guide books. Hidden away at the bottom of the Italian Alps, the country's largest lake seemed somewhat off the beaten track.

While the Italian lakes may previously have been mentioned in conversation, glances at maps of the area appeared to suggest that there were few major towns and cities in the area. Spurred on by recent reports of a friend who had enjoyed a holiday in the town of Garda itself, I decided to pay the area my complete attention.

I opted to fly to Pisa and then drive up to the area surrounding the lakes. Though Pisa, in the heart of Tuscany, makes an excellent place to commence any visit to Italy, I would suggest that Verona might make a more sensible arrival point for many.

Fellow travellers pointed out that Verona was only about 40 minutes from Garda by car. Lesson learned.

On arriving in Garda, I was both surprised and pleased. The town was rather small, but extremely picturesque. It was popular with visitors, its streets crowded by the masses. Evidently the town of Garda is enjoyed by Italians too, with many choosing the area for their own annual holidays.

With plenty of bars and restaurants, Garda made a fine base for my trip. I'd opted to stay in an apartment in the centre of town, though there were a number of hotels available too.

It was clear to me that Garda was a perfect location for an Italian holiday.

To find out more about Lake Garda in Italy, check out Keith Barrett's other travel articles. This article may be used by any website publisher, though this resource box must always be included in full.

Lake Garda in Italy

Having planned a trip to the shores of Lake Garda, I was excited at the prospect of visiting the area for the first time. I enjoy traveling in Italy, but this was one location that I had not previously reached.

Like many visitors from the UK, my previous experiences of the country had often been limited to the big cities. Rome, Florence and Pisa had all thrilled in the past, but a retreat in a small farmhouse close to the famous lake was being keenly anticipated.

Fortunately, I was not to be disappointed. This part of Italy was to prove just as thrilling as many of the better known locations, if not more so.

The first thing that you can't help but notice here is that the scenery is absolutely stunning. Green, rolling hills give way to more rocky scenes, with the Italian Alps towering over the lake itself.

It's clear that much of the soil in the surrounding region must be very fertile, thus the obvious sights of agriculture that appear to abound. It's also clear from the wonderful, fresh produce that always seems to be available.

As in other parts of the country, a visit to this region is a delight to the taste buds. Pasta, fresh tomatoes and the most glorious olive oil are all key parts of the local diet.

The food is surprisingly simple and yet wonderful to taste. As might be expected, the quality of wines here is also to an extremely high standard.

When combined with the amazing scenery and friendly locals, it was soon easy to see why so many people had recommended a visit to this part of Italy.

It has to be said that my holidays are often dominated by the need to relax, with gentle strolls, long lunches and periods spent enjoying the sunshine.

For those who do prefer active holidays, there were clearly plenty of alternative options, including water sports, hiking and climbing in the mountains.

Lake Garda and its surrounding towns seem to offer a little something for everyone

Visiting Lake Garda in Italy

Lake Garda, the inland lake in north-east Italy, boasts more than 45 kilometres of beaches among its many attractions. It should come as no surprise that this is a region that tourists are increasingly flocking to reach.

On a warm June day here, tourists sit and admire the spectacular Alpine scenery reflecting in the still, delicate waters of Lake Garda. This region of Italy has a unique beauty - a beauty that is making it more and more popular with visitors from elsewhere in Europe and beyond.

The lake is surrounded by an array of pretty villages and stunning medieval towns. With the mountains providing a stunning backdrop, this is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque parts of Italy.

The countryside surrounding Lake Garda is often green - the hills are dotted with farms and vineyards. Many visitors choose to stay in a rented farmhouse or villa, while holiday apartments in the larger towns also provide a good option.

As one would expect of almost any location in Italy, the food in this region is exceptional. Italian families love to make a real occasion of eating out and you are certain to enjoy the varied food on offer. This is a place where fresh vegetables, fruit, fish and meats dominate.

Indeed, many visitors to Lake Garda cannot help but relax. Surrounded by rolling countryside, fantastic mountains, the tranquil waters of the lake and the amazing food in the nearby restaurants, it's not hard to see why.

For those looking for a more active holiday, there are ample opportunities. Lake Garda itself is popular for many water sports, while the surrounding hills and mountains provide an excellent location for walking, climbing and hiking.

Lake Garda and the surrounding areas can provide a little something for everyone.

To find out more about Lake Garda Italy, check out Keith Barrett's other travel articles. This article may be used by any website publisher, though this resource box must always be included in full.

Enjoying Lake Garda

Lake Garda is a popular location in northern Italy where many people are now choosing to spend their holidays. There's an enormous amount to see and do in the area surrounding one of Italy's most famous lakes.

This region can be incredibly enchanting, with its mixture of rolling hills, vineyards, farmland and mountains all reflecting in the great lake. Garda is surrounded by picturesque villages and towns that line the edge of the lake.

As with most parts of the country, there is plenty to enjoy about being on the shores of Lake Garda. Many of the towns and villages have excellent restaurants - perfect for lazy long summer lunches! Italian food is renowned throughout the world - this is the home of pizza and pasta.

For those looking for a more active holiday, you'll find that you won't be disappointed. The lake is a haven for those wanting to take part in water sports. Activities available include sailing, wind-surfing and diving.

The nearby Dolomites are perfect for those wishing to go walking, climbing or hiking. In the winter months you can also ski in the area, ensuring that Lake Garda and the surrounding areas are a great location throughout the year.

There's plenty to entertain younger visitors here too. Gardaland, located at the south-eastern edge of the lake, is Italy's largest theme park, complete with all of the roller-coasters and rides that you'd expect.

Lake Garda is the perfect location for a great holiday. With its pretty villages, excellent restaurants and relaxing nightlife, it's no surprise that more and more visitors are choosing this region as a place for their annual retreat.

There's something for everyone and, with cheap flights from the UK, this part of Italy has never seemed so accessible.

To find out more about Lake Garda Italy, check out Keith Barrett's other travel articles. This article may be used by any website publisher, though this resource box must always be included in full.

Top Five Lake Garda Resorts

The Italian lakes are renowned for their beauty and none are more impressive than the stunning Lake Garda. Surrounded by pretty towns and villages, the area offers a wide range of places to stay.

Deciding which location is best for you will very much depend on the type of holiday that you are looking for. The following list should, however, give you a great starting point, with details on the best resorts around the lake:

1. Garda: This is the village that gave the lake its name. The village has a very traditional feel and hosts an impressive firework display in August each year.

2. Lazise: Ideally located for the nearby theme park that is known as Gardaland. Lazise has plenty to offer, with its historic streets leading down to its bustling harbour.

3. Bardolino: Like Garda and Lazise, Bardolino is located in the popular south-east corner of the region. Well-known for its local wine, the area also produces excellent oils and fishes, meaning that Bardolino is an excellent place to stay for those who love food.

4. Riva Del Garda: One of the finest towns in Italy, Riva Del Garda is located at the northern edge of the lake, nestling at the foot of the mountains. With its gravel beach, the town is popular with those looking to relax, as well as those using this as a base for water sports.

5. San Benedetto: This small village is great for those enjoy cycling or walking, by virtue of being located in the middle of a relatively flat area of land. This is also an excellent place to stay for those wanting to get away from the busier resorts.

These are five of the finest resorts in the Lake Garda region but the best thing about staying in this part of Italy is that you can take the time to explore - it's perfectly possible to include each of the best resorts within your holiday itinerary.

To find out more about Lake Garda Italy, check out Keith Barrett's other travel articles. This article may be used by any website publisher, though this resource box must always be included in full.

Discovering Lake Garda

Lake Garda (In Italian "Lago di Garda" or "Benaco") is The beautiful lakeside towns around Lake Garda (Lago di Garda) have charmed foreign visitors for centuries starting with its first visitor and enthusiast Wolfgang Goethe, who visited it in 1786. The largest lake in Italy (370 km²). It is located in the North-East of the peninsula, about half-way between Venice and Milan and divides the regions of Lombardy, Veneto and Trentino Alto-Adige. It is in an alpine area and was formed by glaciers at the end of the last Ice Age. The Latin name of the lake, Benàco, is of Indo-European origin (perhaps meaning "strongly penetrated") and it was surely already present at the moment of the roman conquest; the current name instead derives from the homonymous city, Garda, that lies 32 km from Verona and, during the Middle Ages, was the greatest exchange and trading center. The shape is typical of a moraine valley: it is probable, in fact, that this portion of the lake was created through the action of a Paleolithic glacier. The river Sarca is the main affluent among 25 tributaries, while the only outlet of the lake is the river Mincio.

Lake Garda measures 51,6 km in length, while the maximum width is 17,2 km. Its perimeter measures 158,4 km and the maximum depth is 346 m.

It is situated at the slopes of the Southern Retiche Alps, between the chain of Mount Baldo to the East and the Alps to the West, from Riva to Salò. Long and slim, the Southern section of the lake, embraced by the gentle slopes of the Riviera of Olives, looks decidedly Mediterranean, whilst, just a few kilometers North, where Monte Baldo rises, it completely changes character and turns into a narrow fjord. Rocks and steep cliffs surmounted by castles and ancient churches steeped in history stand guard over suggestive and graceful little ports.

Tourists are offered all kinds of trips on and around the lake and throughout the surrounding territory: cultural trips, nature walks, sporting activities and sight-seeing.

In order to fully appreciate the lake's beauty, it is possible to leave your car and take a trip on one of Navigarda ferries, preferably choosing the slower itineraries which include almost all the ports on the Veronese shoreline where you can take spectacular snap-shots of the scenery.

Once you've reached Malcesine, it is advisable to catch the cable-car (the new Malcesine - Tratto Spino rotating cable car) and from a height of 1760 metres you have a unique and breathtaking view of the lake.

The lake's flora and the fauna are inextricably linked to Mount Baldo, the "Garden of Europe". The mountain side features one of the most diverse natural habitats in the world concentrated in a relatively small area: olive groves along the typically "Mediterranean" section of the lake, evergreen ilexes and oak-trees; further up the slope you'll find ash-trees and chestnuts-trees whilst, at a height of 1700m, you'll discover lilies, rhododendron's and a spectacular range of wild-flowers of great botanic interest.

Nonetheless, the undisputed "King" of the natural environment along the shores of the lake is the olive-tree: olive-trees have been cultivated here since Roman times and the area's oil-making industry was given an extraordinary impetus by the monks of the medieval abbeys of San Zeno and Santa Maria in Organo.

Also cultivated all over the Veronese hills stretching from the lake to the Valpolicella area, right up to the valleys of Mezzane, Illsai and Tregnago, the region's oil has a deep greenish-gold colour (due to its high chlorophyll content), a delicate scent which leaves a fresh, grassy after-taste, along with a slightly bitter, lemony taste on the tongue. It is ideal with any kind of food, although it is best served uncooked: just a small amount enhances the flavour of any dish. Its characteristics remain intact when it is heated at high temperatures which makes it also perfect for frying.

What makes Garda oil unique is that it comes from groves situated on the world's northernmost latitude. The lake's geographical location and "microclimate" protect the olives from typical parasites and diseases which afflict olive trees in warmer climates.

Italy - Why Lake Garda Is Worth A Visit

Italy is a country filled with colourful contrasts, from the beauty of Venice to the sheer bustle of Rome. In northern Italy, the area around Lake Garda also has plenty to offer.

Foreign travellers have been visiting Italy for decades, drawn by the scenery, culture and history that are so intrinsic to Italian life. While Hemmingway took delight in his stays in Venice, many others looked further north - to the Italian lakes.

Lake Garda, a favoured destination for Franz Kafka, Thomas Mann and James Joyce, lies at the foot of the Italian Alps. Surrounded by pretty villages and towns, it's little surprise that the region around the lake draws visitors from all over Europe.

The climate here is comparable to that found in the Mediterranean regions further south, while the lake itself has a coastal feel. Indeed, it is the accessibility to water sports that attracts many.

For those looking for different forms of recreation, the proximity of Lake Garda to the mountains provides ample opportunities for hiking, climbing and other such pursuits.

There are plenty of choices for where to stay too. Each of the towns and villages that are dotted around the lake have a different feel and atmosphere, meaning that you can really get away from it all in a rural setting, or alternatively seek a more lively town, complete with fabulous restaurants and wonderful views.

This is also a region of Italy that is very child-friendly. The country's largest theme park, Gardaland, is located to the south-east of Lake Garda.

A visit to Garda is suitable for all ages - this is a place that you simply cannot fail to enjoy.