After the experience on north lake garda, it is time to move southward. Whether you travel by car or take a ferry or a bus, you will have to decide whether to go south along the east or west coast of the lake.
Going down the east coast, you meet Malcesine, then Garda, Bardolino, Lazise, Peschiera del Garda.
If you decide for the west coast, after Limone you will cross Tremosine, Tignano, Gargnano, Toscolano Maderno and Gardone Riviera, then Salò and Desenzano. Sirmione stands in the middle of the south side of the lake, between Desenzano e Peschiera. Whichever side you decide to take, you cannot miss it!
In order to allow you to choose your favourite shore, here you find a brief description of the main characteristics of each town and what is worth visiting them.
Bardolino / Punta S. Vigilio: This is an ideal combination for a half-day visit. Between Malcesine and Bardolino, you will find a small promontory that extends over the lake, almost an extension to the south of Monte Baldo. This is Punta San Vigilio, one of the most fascinating places on Lake Garda. In the centre stands the sixteenth-century Villa Guarienti, with its lemon house built in Venetian Gothic style. Continuing south along the Gardesana road, you will find Bardolino. Extremely lively town with in which its many shops, bars, restaurants, discos. The centre is very picturesque, with the typical maze of alleys. Of the Scaliger castle that once stood there, only a couple of towers remain. In Bardolino you can visit the ancient Romanesque parish church of San Severo.
Lazise: old, fortified village with ancient walls, the Scaliger castle with its high crenelated towers, the dock with the church of Saint Nicolò, and the Dogana Veneta, the shipyard where the Serenissima repaired the boats it armed for the control of the lake.
Peschiera del Garda: the visit can start with a walk along the sixteenth-century ramparts of the fortress of Peschiera with the monumental gates. After that, visit the centre of the village with Piazza Savoia, the Barracks, the church of San Martino, the Roman excavations, finally continuing the panoramic Voltoni bridge, the monumental Porta Verona.
The east coast of Lake Garda is also known for its amusement parks: Gardaland, Movieland, Caneva World, Safari Zoo in Pastrengo, Sigurtà Garden Park are easily accessible from here.
Tremosine. Reaching the village of Tremosine through the “road of the gorge” (Strada della Forra) is already an unforgettable experience itself, a path carved into the rock, between breathtaking overhangs and natural canyons. Winston Churchill called it the eighth wonder of the world. Once in Tremosine, the advice is to enjoy the peace of its village and the view overlooking the lake, an ideal place for those looking for relaxation away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Gargnano. With the charming streets and squares of the historic centre gathered around the picturesque port, Gargnano overlooks the landscape of the lake and benefits from enchanting views of the mountainous hinterland of the Alto Garda Bresciano Regional Park.
Toscolano Maderno. The Port of Toscolano, the Gulf of Maderno and the innermost hamlets clinging to the mountain profile represent the jewels of the territory. Here you can visit the ruins of the Roman Villa, abandon yourself to the charm of the Botanical Garden and immerse yourself in the gardens with lemon house of Villa Lucia.
Gardone Riviera is the city of the “Vittoriale degli Italiani” designed by Gabriele d’Annunzio and the botanical heritage of the Heller Gardens. The Vittoriale was the home of Gabriele d’Annunzio from 1921 until the poet’s death and represents the self-celebration of his character which is fully shown here in all its clarity. Here it is possible to visit his villa, his collections, the military ship Puglia, donated to the poet in 1923, the open-air theatre and the poet’s tomb, all among the green vegetation of the Vittoriale park and the spectacular view of Lake Garda.
Salò. Set in its bay, the village is the ideal destination for an afternoon walk or, even better, at dinner time. With its clubs, its lakefront and its buildings with a typical Venetian taste, Saló also boasts an interesting Gothic cathedral and the MUSA, an interesting museum offering temporary exhibitions, an interesting collection on the art and history of this town. It is also the city of the violin.
Manerba. The cliff of the Rocca di Manerba overlooks the waters of Lake Garda, creating an observation point that, on clear days, embraces a view from Sirmione to the upper lake. Today the hill, with walking or cycling routes, is the heart of the Archaeological and Naturalistic Park of the Rocca di Manerba del Garda.
Desenzano del Garda is a city full of picturesque corners, such as the Old Port, the Castle and Piazza Malvezzi. One of the most significant places in Desenzano is undoubtedly the Roman Villa in the historic centre, where you can admire exceptional mosaic floors.
Sirmione. This strip of land stretching out towards the waters of Lake Garda, surrounded by medieval walls, is one of the best-known pearls of the Lombard shore of this lake. The advice is to visit the ancient Scaliger castle to fully enjoy a 360-degree panorama, get lost in its medieval streets with the scent of lavender, look out over the waters of the lake from the Roman remains of the “Grottoes of Catullus” and, of course, go down to the well-known Jamaica Beach.
If you do not want to choose a shore, consider that the ferry lines travel from one shore to the other also even in the south. It could be interesting to plan a ferry trip to visit the other side of the lake for a day.
The east coast easily connects you with Verona, Vicenza and Venice, while the west side is better to visit Valeggio sul Mincio and Mantova and to reach Milan, both by car and by public transport. Both Desenzano and Peschiera have a railway station on the line connecting Turin/Milan and Verone/Venice. Consider it if you are not travelling by car and want to catch a direct train to the airport.
The 15-day tour around lake garda is over. We hope we have made you discover some unexpected places and see you soon on Lake Garda.
PS: if you missed the first part of the trip around north lake garda, you can find it here: https://www.palazzoriccamboni.it/en/around-lake-garda-north-lake-garda/.