Follow your own pace and our advice and you will experience the best of the little jewel of the Olive Riviera. Whether on foot or by bicycle, on your own or with an experienced and certified guide, one weekend will be enough to fall in love with a varied and fascinating territory, including stimuli, suggestions, panoramas, cultural stops and culinary digressions. At Garda there is plenty to see and do, and it’s all at your fingertips!
DAY 1
SWEET MORNING, DISCOVERING THE VILLAGE
Start sweet, take time for a breakfast of local pastries. In one of the center’s pastry shops or sitting at a small table overlooking the lake, accompany your coffee with sweet fogassa or San Vigilini, Winston Churchill’s favorite shortbread and raisin cookies. Stroll through the narrow streets and alleyways of the historic center, among the hidden and most picturesque glimpses, following the traces of the past, among the noble palaces and historic stores. The style of architecture is reminiscent of Venice, but Garda retains the atmosphere of the old fishing village. Leaning against the western gate of San Giovanni is Palazzo Fregoso: the Renaissance poet Bandello is said to have written a novella about Romeo and Juliet right here, inspiring Shakespeare’s masterpiece. Another 16th-century architecture is the elegant Palazzo Carlotti, which with the Clock Tower is the most striking entrance to the historic heart of Garda. The palace stretches to the lakefront and ends with what was once the town’s dock, the Losa.
THE CALL OF THE WATER AND A 0 KM LUNCH
It’s time to take a break in the sun, enjoying the colors and scents from Garda’s lakefront. From the shade of the Losa’s arcade you can stroll to the harbor, where small fishing boats snooze alongside pleasure craft and elegant sailboats. Prefer a stroll between water and olive trees? You can follow the Garda lakefront in the direction of Punta San Vigilio. Lunchtime is approaching. For a snack spreading a towel on the beach Al Corno is a great idea. To take more time to indulge in local flavors, the advice is to head back toward Piazza Catullo and sit at a table in one of the many lake-view restaurants where you can enjoy a Garda menu of local fish, dressed with olive oil from the Riviera degli Ulivi and accompanied by a bubbly Garda Doc wine.
FISHERMEN'S STORIES AND AN APERITIF AT SUNSET
Early in the afternoon discover the delightful Territorial Museum of Lake Garda. Get up close and personal with the memory and roots of the area amid old-fashioned nets and hulls, black-and-white photographs, archaeological artifacts, and a faithful reconstruction of the Pal del Vò, the natural boundary between the waters of Garda and Sirmione and a symbol of Garda fishing. It’s time to experience the lake; to see the bay from a different perspective, hop on one of the fishermen’s boats that offer guided tours with all the amenities on board. Enjoy the breeze, the scents of the water, the views of the shoreline, the views of the noble villas and their gardens at the water’s edge, hearing stories and secrets of the lake from the voice of those who were born there and sail it every day. By request, one can go as far as Pal del Vo’, and then approach the splendid Punta San Vigilio, and disembark at the Locanda San Vigilio, an ideal place for a sunset aperitif, the kind that has bewitched kings and emperors, artists and men of letters, poets and actors from all over the world.
DINNER WITH GREAT CHEFS AND A SAIL UNDER THE STARS
The experiences of the day can be found at the table, in the flavors of Garda recipes, the authentic ones of traditional taverns and inns, and those interpreted by the great chefs of historic and starred restaurants. For a memorable dining experience, rely on the cuisine of Giancarlo Perbellini, for years a star in the Michelin firmament, in his Locanda ai Beati. Or to the never dull interpretations of Andrea Costantini, soul of the kitchen at Regio Patio mentioned in the Michelin Guide. The evening has just begun. The thermal breeze blows over the bay. It’s time for an overnight sail with a skipper from the Garda Italian Naval League. Simply make a reservation to enjoy a night offshore. Ten knots of wind freshen the air, stretch the sails and push you over the water. On shore the evening lights, above those of the stars.
DAY 2
IN NATURE, ON FOOT OR BY BICYCLE
If you were regenerated on the first day, today it’s off to discover the nature that surrounds Garda. Follow your own pace, whether it be walking or cycling, because on foot or by bicycle you will be greeted by an area with gentle features and intense colors. Leaving the lake behind you, the landscape becomes green, the hills are designed by vineyards and shaded by olive trees, and by walking along white paths and roads little traveled by traffic you will reach vantage points from which to enjoy the most beautiful views of the Gulf of Garda. Dedicate the morning to an outing in nature. If you want to move on foot, choose the path between Val Longa and Le Colle, a walk among the vineyards, or walk the Pignoi-Beati loop. With a little more climbing, from the Valle degli Ulivi you cross the village of Canevini to reach the Rocca Vecchia, to gain one of the most striking viewpoints of the lower lake and discover the origins of ancient Warda, which gave its name to ancient Benacus. If your passion is biking, there are many alternatives to satisfy it, whether on beaten bike paths or even more challenging dirt roads. If you prefer a route that is also suitable for families, you can easily pedal on the bicycle path along the old railway, which connects Garda to Bardolino and continues to Lazise. If, on the other hand, you’re looking for dirt, you can choose gravel routes that hug the Gulf of Garda by climbing the Rocca to the south and Mount Luppia to the north. Don’t have your own bike? No problem. In Garda you can easily rent a muscle bike or e-bike and have one of Garda’s experienced bike tour guides organize a tailor-made tour for you. Between nature, gourmet stops and postcard views, the fun is guaranteed.
WELLNESS AT THE SPA OR IN ACTION AT THE GOLF CLUB
After a light lunch overlooking the lake, The afternoon, on the other hand, is perfect for unwinding after exertion, focusing on wellness and body care or perhaps trying something completely new. If your mantra is “rest” let yourself be welcomed into the rejuvenating environments of Gardacqua’s Spa, including saunas, pools and customized treatments. Want to experiment? Then choose your element first. If you prefer the water, the advice is to try a SUP session at Al Corno beach, where you can leave on a free excursion or rely on a school that will give you the right advice to take off on a Stand Up Paddle. If you discard the blue, two golf courses await. The manicured greens at Cà degli Ulivi Golf Club, amid olive groves and small ponds, offer 18 holes plus 9 holes that overlook the Gulf of Garda from above.Alternatively, Poiano Golf Resort, with its brand new two holes and driving range, is the ideal place to take your first lesson with a Golf Academy instructor.
A ROMANTIC SUNSET AT PUNTA SAN VIGILIO
The sunset colors the evening; to enjoy it to the last the perfect place is Punta San Vigilio. From the beach overlooking the Bay of Sirens, lying under a cabana is the most holiday-like way to sip an aperitif. The alternative, in cocktail attire, is the small harbor of San Vigilio, sitting at a small table on the pier of the Locanda San Vigilio, the most romantic spot on the entire lake.
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