Highlights
Sightseeing in Verona
Verona makes an excellent day trip or evening out. Oozing romance, this pretty, riverside city comprises medieval lanes, elegant palaces, Roman heritage and museums filled with art. Verona is also the setting for Shakespeare’s iconic ‘Romeo & Juliet’. Embark on the special trail dedicated to this famous love story, highlighting points of interest like Juliet’s balcony. Verona’s summertime opera season is a huge event in the cultural calendar, a time when world-class performers draw crowds to the atmospheric Roman Arena. Book tickets in advance.
Lakeside Towns
Lake Garda’s picturesque shores are dotted with charming towns, each ready to be explored. Visit the attractive lakefront town of Riva del Garda, boasting leafy gardens, inviting shops and a selection of world-class ice-cream parlours. Wedged between steep slopes and the lake, enjoy a meander around Malcesine’s maze of hidden alleys, or discover the beautiful town of Lazise and its quaint harbour. Desenzano is adored by locals and visitors alike; narrow streets wind down from the pretty castle to the shore, where there’s a small harbour and larger marina lined with great bars. Meanwhile, nestled on a finger of land pointing into the lake, Sirmione's cobblestone streets and medieval squares bustle with colour and life.
Food and Wine
Thanks to a perfect micro-climate, grapes flourish in the hillside vineyards around Bardolino, a town famous for its wines. Connoisseurs keen to swig the local delights can follow the wine route, ‘La Strada del Vino Bardolino,’ calling in at the likes of the Zeni Winery & Wine Museum. This is a fantastic place to get a feel for the traditions and special processes of wine-making, as well as sampling and purchasing your favourite label. There’s also the 'Festival of the Grape' held annually in the first week of October, showcasing the best local produce in the form of food and drink.
Spectacular Scenery
Comprising striking mountains, alongside the beautiful lake, Garda’s scenery will be sure to captivate you. North of Riva, walking or driving excursions give access to some of the region's most dramatic scenery, including a waterfall at Varone. At Malcesine’s pretty port, a cable car whisks you up to the high grassy summit of the Monte Baldo ridge, where the air is cool, clean and fresh, the views are sensational, and welcoming cafés await stacked with paninis, cakes and ice-creams. Walkers can begin high-level hikes from here.
History
Alongside its scenery and natural treasures, Lake Garda showcases a number of historical spots. Visit Riva del Garda’s waterfront, dominated by one of Garda's fortresses, the Rocca, which contains the town's museum. Marvel at the remains of a Bronze Age settlement at Lake Ledro, before discovering the crags and fortifications of Castello d'Arco. While showing evidence of pre-historic dwellings, the town of Lazise is renowned for its medieval heritage - in particular, the well-preserved city walls and six-towered Castello Scaligero, the latter an impressive backdrop for summertime concerts. Other points of interest include the 13th-century San Zeno church and the 12th-century San Nicolo church.
Family Fun
When it comes to theme parks, the area around Lake Garda certainly delivers. Gardaland Amusement Park is Italy’s largest and regarded by many as one of the world’s best, with rides including the adrenalin-inducing Blue Tornado and Raptor roller coasters. You can also find Movie Studios Park, featuring more rides, shows and stunts, while Aqua Paradise Park offers hours of watery fun for the entire family. Last up, Bussolengo is a local wildlife zoo known for its safari-style experience.
Nature & Gardens
Giardino Sigurtà features ornamental ponds and lakes, a medicinal herb garden, woodland, maze and topiary-sculpted bushes. All of this is surrounded by carpets of tulips, irises, roses, lilies and asters, each bursting into bloom through the different flowering seasons. Another gem is Giardino Botanico Fondazione André Heller on the Gardone Riviera, showcasing plants, ponds and sculptures with a Japanese twist. North of Riva del Garda, Parco Grotta Cascata Varone is known for its scenery, caves and amazing waterfall that spans a 100m drop – view from above and below, thanks to purpose-built walkways.