1 DAY ARRIVAL
Arrival at Lake Garda. Accomodation, dinner and overnight.
2 DAY SIRMIONE, BARDOLINO AND MERMAIDS’ BAY
Breakfast
and day dedicated to the visit of Lake Garda. Lake Garda extends for
more than 50 km from north to south and is divided between three Italian
regions: Veneto, Lombardy and Trentino. It is one of the main Italian
and European tourist destination and certainly contributes to make the
province of Verona an important vacation hub. There are so many places
to visit, experiences to try and things to do and products to taste.
Your trip starts from Sirmione. The poet Catullo call Sirmione “the
pearl of all islands and peninsulas” and indeed It enjoys spectacular
surroundings set between clear blue waters and lush green olive groves.
Visit to the Caves of Catullo, the remains of an imposing Roman villa.
From Sirmione take the ferry to reach the enchanting village of
Bardolino. This town has ancient origins, testified by the old church of
St. Severo, a small example of ancient romanesque architecture whose
deepest layers date back to the centuries that followed the fall of the
Roman Empire and first barbaric invasions. In Bardolino village you can
still find signs of the Scala family control, in the towers and remains
of fortifications. Nowadays Bardolino is one of main tourist center on
the east coast of lake Garda, with its many traditional restaurants but
also the lively bars and clubs.
Bardolino gives the name to the red
wine which is produced on the hills surrounding the village. It's a wine
produced with the same grape varieties of the famous Valpolicella, but
lighter, fresher and more fruity. Bardolino can be found both in its red
and rosé variety. Bardolino wine is the protagonist of the Grape
Festival in October and of the Chiaretto Wine Festival held in November.
Wine, but also olive oil, can be bought directly from producers in many
wineries of Bardolino hills were you can also take relaxing walks on
the Strada del Vino (Bardolino Wine Road). Stop for a visit to Oil
Museum with a tasting of local products after the visit. Before coming
back to the Hotel you will admire Punta San Vigilio, a small promontory
not far from Bardolino. It is one of the most fascinating places on the
whole lake Garda. To one side of the headland a little bay known as
"Baia delle Sirene" (Mermaids' Bay) opens up on a picturesque little
port. At the very end of the point where the parks ends is Villa San
Vigilio, the remains of a Roman villa, and a greenhouse with centuries
old lemon trees, a palace and a small church. Back to the Hotel. Dinner
and overnight.
3 DAY MONTE BALDO EXCURSION
Breakfast
and departure to Malcesine. The northern part of Lake Garda is
completely different from its southern part. Shores narrow and become
rocky and steep, landscape becomes alpine, water becomes cleaner but
also colder, even in Summer.
The eastern Garda shore is dominated by
the Scala family castle of Malcesine, built on top of a rocky promontory
overlooking the lake. The castle is very well preserved and you can
visit It with the guide. In its rooms there are the displays of the
Museum of Natural Science of Lake Garda and Mount Baldo. In summer, in
its inner courtyard, it hosts concerts, music events and weddind
ceremonies. From Malcesine you will take the Mount Baldo rope way which
will take you on top of the highest mountain of Verona province. Cables
rotate so you can have a 360 degree panorama of Lake Garda and the
surrounding mountains. Stop for lunch in panorama mountain restaurant.
Free time for a walking before coming back with the cable car. Dinner
and overnight.
4 DAY VERONA AND VALPOLICELLA
Breakfast
and departure to Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet. The tour begins
with Piazza Bra and the fountain od Madonna Verona in Its centre, Arena,
Roman amphitheatre from the 1st century ad.C, Castel Vecchio, Porta
Borsari, Piazza delle Erbe picturesque square, Piazza dei Signori,
Scaligeri arc and Juliet’s house with the most famous balcony in the
world. Free time for your shopping. Departure to the wine region of
Valpolicella. It is the hilly region north-west of Verona between the
town and Lake Garda. The name Valpolicella has probably Roman origins in
the words Valle poli cellae, in latin "valley of the many cellars",
proving the ancient wine making tradition of this area. Here it was
produced a red wine, sweet and very concentrated, that the Romans drunk
adding water and spices. Even if Valpolicella is known all over the
world for its famous wines, especially the Amarone, its territory is
made of beautiful landscapes, sweet hills that become mountains as you
move north, valleys with old villages, gorgeous villas, medieval
churches, making it a tourist destination in its own. Stop in a typical
wine cellar to visit Its vineyard and the wine cellar. After the visit
tasting of red wines and local typical products. Back to the Hotel.
Dinner and overnight.
5 DAY GARDONE RIVIERA AND GARDA ISLAND
Breakfast
and departure to Gardone Riviera in the western cosat od the lake. The
waterfront settlement of Gardone Riviera is very much dominated by
tourism, in an amiable and laid-back way. It's a small place with
several hotels, a little piazza sloping down to the lakeshore and a
peaceful lakeside promenade decorated with well-kept flowerbeds.
As
well as being a comfortable place to stay, Gardone has a couple of the
lake's great tourist destinations on its doorstep. The home of eccentric
poet Gabriele D'Annunzio (1863-1938), which he named after an Italian
military victory: Il Vittoriale degli Italiani, is just about the best
tourist attraction on the lake: a pretentious, excessive and rather
bonkers memorial to a very unusual Italian. The town's other prize
attraction is a botanic garden, the Heller Garden, also known as the
Giardino Hruska Botanico, which contains tropical plants and displays. A
short walk uphill from the lakeshore is Gardone Sopra (Gardone above) a
very charming old historic centre to the village, with little
restaurants, courtyards, stairs and flowers. The next stop will be on
Garda Island that you will reach by boat. It owes its charm to the
extraordinary Venetian neo-Gothic villa, designed by architect Luigi
Rovelli in the early 1900s; an imposing harmonic construction, full of
surprising architectural details. Starting its feet, up to the lake, you
will find Italian and English gardens. The island is also known for its
luxuriant and intact vegetation, rich in local, exotic plants, rare and
unique flowers. Together with the guide you will explore this dream
island and afterwards yo will stop for an aperitif on the terrace. Back
to your Hotel. Dinner and overnight.
6 DAY DEPARTURE
NEW 2024 LAKE GARDA
6 days, 5 nights
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