Holidays Lake Garda (Italy) - Travelogue

In the beginning of September 2000 my girlfriend Christine and I (accompanied by our dog) went to the Lake Garda. After six hours of driving we at first needed a lodging, where we could stay with our dog. We liked to get an apartment in Limone or Riva in the North of the Lake preferably with view to the Lake. We had to learn, that you can only drive very slow around the Lake and finally reaching Limone we were really disappointed, because the main street didn't look very pretty. there was nothing special to see, of what our friends told us before. Narrow streets upside the mountains and no place to go for a walk with a dog. Even up the mountains on our way to Tremósine, there were many fences around the meadows. No place for a dog, but a place having wonderful views on the lake.

A little bit desperate we went back to Riva and on to the Lake Ledro. It was nice over there, but a little bit to quiet and boring for us. It's only a place for a trip, than for a longer stay. Finally we went to the south of the lake, thinking that there might be a better chance for getting an apartment where dogs are allowed. After another drive of 1 1/2 hours from Riva to Desenzano, we finally found a nice, modern a not so expensive lodging. The Residence Hotel Kristall Lago was build in 1995 and has got a beautiful pool area surrounded by some two floor high apartment ouses. We had an apartement with view to the pool and to the lake. The only bad thing was the appearance of a burglar. I surprised him one night waking up by accident and seeing someone creeping into our living room under the 50cm opened venetian blind. Seeing me he turned around and fled as fast as he could. Fortunately he had not enough time to steal something.

View from our balcony to the peninsula of Sirmione (on the left) to Desenzano

Residence Hotel Kristall Lago

Bardolino

Our first trip led us to Bardolino, a pretty village in the southeast of the lake. There you can walk along the shore, marvellously, eat some ice cream or take a look at the pretty small lanes of this village. I prefer the region next to the port and the long promenade.

At the port of Bardolino		Place next to the port



Lane in Bardolino		Central lane beginning at the port

Tremósine - Limone

In spite of our bad first impression of Limone we gave it another chance. At first we went to Pieve de Tremósine to have a view from the famous "Schauderterrasse" (balcony of shudder) of the restaurant Miralago. Standing close to the low parapet and looking straight down to the lake, you really can feel a little shudder on your back.

View down from the "Schauderterrasse"		View from the "Schauderterrasse" to Pieve

Driving on to Limone, we took a small road from Pieve to the lake, leading us through a narrow gorge. Reaching Limone we went to the centre of the village and came to a not very cheap car park (like in nearly all villages). But what a change to our first view of Limone. A well-groomed promenade with beautiful small lanes was what we found now. It was different to Bardolino, because everything seems to be a little bit more narrow, than in the South, but it was impressing to see this village lying on the foot of a steep mountain. What i liked most, was the high number of flowers in the small lanes and on the promenade.

Pedestrian precinct of Limone on the shore		... straight down on the foot of the steep rocks


Small port in the old town		In the old town


Another small lane		Staircase in a lane

Torri del Benaco

... is situated only a few miles in the north of Garda and is a pretty village, which is not as famous as it's larger neighbours. Here you can also find some beautiful lanes, a port, a promenade on the shore and a castle.

Garda

Garda is like Bardolino and Torri del Benaco a pretty village in the southeast of the lake. We were a little bit disappointed, because we liked the other villages more; maybe it was the weather, that was not so good this day. Garda is a place"to see and to be seen". On the long promenade there's a great number of restaurants and cafés where you can sit down, relax an view to the lake.

Sirmione

Sirmione is a very special place. You can reach the old town only by passing the bridge of it's castle and suddenly seems to be in a different world. Nice old houses, pretty lanes and many beautiful places with cafés, restaurants and ice cream parlours. Walking around all this peninsula, at first you'll have to cross the narrow lanes before you'll reach the larger part of the peninsula. On a day with good sight you'll have a beautiful view in all directions; the west with Salo, the east with Garda and Bardolino and the north with the mountains on both sides of the lake getting more narrow. We really enjoyed Sirmione and think it has to be seen on a trip to the lake garda.

Malcésine

Our last trip led us to Malcésine. From Desenzano it needs some time to get there, because it's in the northeast of the lake. At the foot of the Monte Baldo mountains Malcésine has got a little bit more room to spread out, than Limone on the opposite side of the lake. There's also a small pretty port, and many pretty lanes which are mostly situated a little bit in the back because there's not really a promenade on the shore. The landmark of Malcésine is an impressing castle, that could be reached by crossing the lanes. Some of my photos are still missing, but one day they will follow!!

Desenzano, general informations and comment

Desenzano was the loser in our holidays. Making so many trips around, we always have been to tired to spent some time in the centre of this nice town. In spite of, or even because of living there we visited the beautiful old town only twice and only for a short time. It's really agreeable to saunter in the lanes, having dinner, going out for a drink, or just enjoying the mild climate. Desenzano is also very good situated, because there's a motorway only two miles away from the town and you may reach Mailand, Verona, Venice or, how we did, even Rimini (about 2 1/2 h) very fast. It's as well good situated if you want to reach the famous villages at the lake. And now some more tips.

1. Most of the tourists come from Germany. It's spoken German (of course mostly Italian) and above all in Limone and Malcésine, but also in the famous villages in the south. English shouldn't be a problem, too.

2. Because of the many tourists and many crossings of villages you need much time and much patience driving the around the Lake Garda. In September there was not so much traffic but even then we needed much time; that means a drive of 50 km (35 miles) lasted longer than one hour. The way from Garda to Malcésine is the fastest part.

3. There's so much to be seen, that one week is much to short for all. If you want to enjoy your trips, only visit one village a day (except they are only a few miles apart). We didn't visit Riva, Saló or the Monte Baldo mountains, or had time to go to Verona, Mailand (Milano), Gardaland, or Venice.

4. Holidays at the Lake Garda surely is nothing to relax only or to bath. The beaches are not beautiful and there's so much to see, that you just don't want to relax and do nothing.

5. Who wants to go shopping finds a big shopping centre called "La Grande Mela" near Verona (coming on the motorway from Sirmione). There's a big supermarket and more than 120 shops inside of it.

Comment:

At the Lake Garda you can relax very good even not being a mountainbiker or a surfer. The view to the opposite shore in the north of the lake is really impressing above all if you look from a hill or mountain down to the lake. In the south of the lake, if the weather is not so clear, you may think you're looking on to the Sea. The famous villages are all having their own grace and are much more beautiful than the villages on the Mediterranean Sea.

A bad point is the high number of tourist, what sometimes is a little bit sinewy. Nevertheless the situation of the Lake Garda is wonderful and being there you can fell a very special atmosphere. I think I'll try to visit the lake at least once a year for a long weekend because there's still much to be seen. Anyhow, we enjoyed our trip to the Lake Garda very much and have to say that the Lake Garda is always worth a trip!!!

The End !!! Translated 05.05.2001

Back to Lemonpage: Reiseberichte aus Spanien, Frankreich & Italien