With olive groves at one end, Alpine peaks at the other and a Roman town jutting into the middle of it all, Lake Garda refuses to be put in a box.
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At roughly 370 square kilometres, Lake Garda is the largest of Italy’s lakes and its wide shores are laidback and distinctly unfussy. In the north, pretty limonaie and lemon groves thrive beneath the Dolomites in a glorious microclimate of their own (in fact, the lake is generally milder and sunnier year round than its neighbours). Olives are also grown up here, and the resulting oil is delicate and fragrant – the perfect accompaniment to a long lunch of fresh lake fish. Sailors and windsurfers take advantage of the steady breezes in the north, whilst hikers and cyclists will be kept busy on the hilly trails. On the southern shores, it’s all about elegant promenades and pretty towns, including Sirmione with its Roman ruins and medieval castle, and some of the country’s hottest new restaurants…
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Dolomite-framed and bigger than Como, Lake Garda is the wilder, more outdoorsy of Italy's great lakes. Spend a morning crossing the lake on a private wooden motorboat or sailing yacht, dropping anchor for a swim and an aperitivo. Visit Isola del Garda, still home to the Borghese-Cavazza family, who will walk you through the private gardens themselves. For a little adventure, ride the rotating cable car up Mount Baldo for views over to the Brenta Dolomites or kayak below the cliffs of the northern shore. Inland, head into Valpolicella for Amarone and Ripasso at a family-run winery, and don't miss Verona’s Roman arena and Romeo and Juliet balcony; it’s an easy day's outing.
Whether you're sailing on the azure lake, hiking in the hills, exploring Roman ruins and medieval castles, or indulging in Garda's renowned wining and dining, you'll quickly fall in love with this Italian paradise.
Venture away from the more popular towns to explore the lake’s unsung gems. Get a taste of local life at Salò, a town steeped in history, wander through the cobbled lanes of medieval Borghetto sul Mincio, or peruse the local wineries of Bardolino for a sip of Chiaretto, the area's famous rosé.
Lake Garda is very large and the weather differs from shore to shore. If you're planning on partaking in watersports, it's worth noting that the northern part of the lake has stronger winds more suited to sailing and windsurfing. The southern end is calmer, perfect for swimming and sunbathing.
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