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Garda ☀️ Lake Garda (what to see, info, beaches)
- Category What see Lake Garda and Verona
What to do and see in Garda, a corner of paradise between history and beauty.
Number of views: 3629Agriturismo - Where to stay overnight
Garda, the impregnable fortress
Three of the most important and prestigious testimonies are certainly the rock engravings of Mount Lippa, which clearly reproduce primitive hunting scenes, but also drawings of animals, crosses, warriors, weapons and labyrinths. Subsequently, in Roman times, the town received the typical urban physiognomy of the period, that is formed by a main street, located between two doors and secondary alleys that are perpendicular to it.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, it saw the incessant presence of the continuous barbarian invasions, which brought to light an aspect that soon became relevant, characterizing it as the nerve center of the entire defensive system of the lake. The name itself is evidence of this aspect, the etymology of Garda, in fact, seems to derive from the German word Warte, meaning fortress. And this is exactly what we were talking about - how his fortress was considered impregnable.
The very name of the lake, which in medieval times was Benacus, changed to Garda, clearly and definitively sealing the crucial role of this locality.
The Gulf of Garda is a natural jewel circumscribed between Monte Luppia to the north and Colle della Rocca to the south from which you can enjoy a breathtaking view.
It was here in the Middle Ages that the Garda Castle stood, so important that the lake changed its name from the Latin "Benacus" to "Lake Garda". Garda is the lakeside town that boasts the most important tradition in professional fishing. An important fishermen's cooperative operates in the town. What is certain is that, albeit with the desire to keep traditions alive, fishing has left over the decades, place to an ever-increasing development of tourism, making Garda today one of the best known places.
There are also numerous naturalistic and geological attractions such as fluvio-glacial stratifications and mills. As for the historic center, it preserves the ancient urban layout intact, made up of buildings that overlook narrow alleys and is rich in villas and parks, preserves Gothic and Renaissance, some of which are attributed to Sanmicheli. The strategic position it enjoys has always made it one of the most popular destinations on the lake also for the excellent accommodation facilities it enjoys among hotels, campsites, residences and landlords.
An added value comes from the various possibilities of practicing outdoor sports: the walk from Garda along the lake to Bardolino is very pleasant, or the various paths on the Rocca di Garda or on Monte Luppia, from which you can get a wonderful view of the famous Punta San Vigilio, a holiday destination for illustrious celebrities over the years (including Napoleon, Tsar Alexander II, Winston Churchill, Prince Charles, King Juan Carlos of Bourbon, Lawrence Olivier and Viviene Leigh).
The charm of this place fascinates today as it was then, it is a corner of Paradise, in front of which one cannot remain impassive.
What to see in Garda
The town of Garda is a small pearl full of architectural and landscape beauties to be admired. Its territory is dotted with truly exceptional historic villas. Villa Albertini is a striking example of this: overlooking the placid waters of Lake Garda, reachable by a walk from the center of Garda towards Punta San Vigilio, it looks like a castle that stands out among the luxuriant trees of the park that surrounds it, enriched by fountains, paths, greenhouses and kiosks.
Villa Carlotti Canossa, built at the foot of Monte Baldo between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, also leaves you speechless for its size, but at the same time for its elegance. It represents a typical Venetian villa and takes its name from its owners: the first were the Carlotti marquises, who had it built, and the second the Canossa marquises, who acquired it in 1920.
Another point of tourist interest is the Palazzo dei Capitani. This historic building of the sixteenth century, built in the Venetian-Gothic style, owes its name to the Captain of Lake Garda, that is, the one who represented the authority of Venice in the territory of the lake and who had to verify that no smuggling took place.
The peculiarity of this building lies in the fact that the square in front of it did not once exist and in its place, but rather, the water of the lake reached it, allowing boats to be able to reach it and even to be moored, tying them to rings affixed to the walls of the porch.
The town of Garda, with its elegant historic center, adorned by an enchanting lakefront with a picturesque and colorful marina, is well suited for walks and taking photographs to be framed once back home. Putting on a good pair of sneakers, you can continue the walk, going through magnificent olive groves, lemon groves and vineyards that surround the town and that characterize this area. There are several easy paths all around, the most suggestive of which is the one that leads to the splendid Punta San Vigilio.
Absolutely unmissable is, in fact, a visit to this peninsula owned by the Guarienti di Brenzone Counts, so beautiful that it is nicknamed the Portofino of Lake Garda.
Another itinerary that can be used in Garda is the one that leads to the top of the hill called Rocca, from which you can enjoy a crazy panorama, which dominates the landscape below.
For those who love to admire the territory on a mountain bike, in the municipality of Garda there are 9 routes, which present different degrees of difficulty. Among all we recommend that of the Valle dei Molini, of an easy but very fascinating level.
Garda is also very popular for its beaches, including the Baia delle Sirene, reachable by walking through the San Vigilio Park, La Cavalla Beach, or Punta Corno Beach. However, you can find small coves along the entire lakefront.
The town of Garda is also famous for its numerous events, including the Palio dell’Assunta in Ferragosto, a Venetian rowing competition held on flat gondolas. The most awaited and folkloric, however, remains the Regata delle Bisse, a Venetian rowing championship with traditional Venetian boats.
Beaches of Garda
✅ Spiaggia La Cavalla (Garda) - go to the beach✅ Spiaggia Al Corno (Garda) - go to the beach
✅ Spiaggia Baia delle Sirene (Garda) - go to the beach
➡️ Map of the Beaches of Lake Garda
Where to stay overnight:
