Sport & Culture

Casa Mellini Apartments on Garda Lake

 
 

Sport, Food & Culture

With a surface measuring about 370 km², Lake Garda (or Bènaco) is Italy's largest lake. Surrounded by morainal mountains it has a fjord shape and pace and a really mild Mediterranean climate. The localities around the Garda Lake that belong to the consortium are 20 municipalities sitting along the Lombard lake shore have charming hamlets, rich enogastronomic offerings, historical baths and luxuriant nature just right for the all the openair sports available.

 
 
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Fine dining

Surrounded by mountains to the north and embraced by the rolling moraine hills to the south, Garda in Lombardy is a meeting point between the Alps and the Mediterranean. In the fish from the lake, and in the extra virgin olive oil, the wine and the citrus fruit we rediscover the flavours of the Mediterranean. In the mountain cheeses, in the cured meats, honey, truffles and in the wild game, we find the strong taste of the Alps. The trip through the flavours of Garda in Lombardy starts from the sunny shore. Bulwark of lake heritage is the production of Lugana, a great white wine that is known all over the world.

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SPORT AMENITIES

The lake, with its 370 square km and 158 linear km of coastline, is a unique environment for recreation and fun. Even the inland is a large natural gym in the open. With the lake in the background, the hills and Benacensi mountains offer endless possibilities to do sports: hiking tours are offered daily for hiking lovers, many routes and paths specifically designed for lovers of Nordic walking and for fans of mountain biking, cycling in the green on bike paths and routes suitable for the whole family or vent your desire for thrills on the breathtaking downhill rides. Or go horse riding, climbing, do archery, tennis or try your hand at Go-Karting. In Winter Periods on the Monte Baldo you can enjoy skiing with a stunning view

 
 
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MUSEUMS

The paths of man’s work are exceptional and unique, like the one you can go on in the Valle delle Cartiere and that of the ancient gardens of lemon groves, lemon houses, archaeological monuments which are unique in the world. History is written in the places where the Battle of Solferino and San Martino, one of the largest and bloodiest battles of the Risorgimento took place, or on the mountains of the Alto Garda, along the old border line which, until 1918, separated Italy from the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, full of testimonies of the first world war. A more recent historical journey takes us to the Italian Social Republic, which went down in history as the "Republic of Salò"; the Italian Vittoriale, final resting place of the poet Gabriele d'Annunzio and his greatest masterpiece; also the Ugo Foundation from Como to Lonato, the museum centres, the interesting architecture, the testimonies of liberty that tell of the magnificence of the "Belle Epoque", the permanent exhibitions, the nearby cities of art such as Mantua, Brescia, Verona which are only a few miles away.

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CASTELS AND MONUMENTS

 Indulge yourself in a cultural holiday on Lake Garda to learn about our landscape’s history. The spectacular prehistoric pile-dwellings of Lucone di Polpenazze, San Sivino in Manerba, Lavagnone in Desenzano/Lonato e Lugana Vecchia in Sirmione date back to Bronze Age. They became a World Heritage in 2011 and are under the protection of the UNESCO . The remains of ancient Rome are extraordinary: the large villa at the tip of the Sirmione peninsula, which is the most magnificent example of a private building in all of northern Italy and probably belonged to the Latin poet Catullus; the archaeological sites of Desenzano del Garda and Toscolano Maderno. Equally charming is the path that leads to the discovery of Romanesque churches: Sant’Andrea in Maderno, Sant’Emiliano in Padenghe, San Francesco in Gargnano are just some of the extraordinary Romanesque monuments that you can find in almost every small village on the lake shore. In addition to the strongholds of faith, there are medieval castles, defensive strongholds of the ancient Benacensi villages. Exceptionally preserved are the castle of Valtenesi, in Moniga, of the lake and the Scaliger castle of Sirmione are splendidly preserved. 

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GOLF COURSES

Along the Lake coast, there are six golf courses, all in settings of great environmental value and which are able to meet, from technical point of view, all the needs of enthusiasts. Open 12 months a year. Lake Garda is a paradise for those who love “ The Great Old Game”. Gardagolf hosted three time the Italian Open. Palazzo Arzaga hosted the Senior Italian Open in 2008.

 
 
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Oil and Wines

 Renowned throughout the world are Garda’s wines, already well known in the time of the ancient Romans: Virgil praises them in the Georgics, Claudianus and Catullus in their poems. Today, along the banks of the lake and in the hills inland, the vineyards are an integral part of the landscape. Among the variety of grapes grown on the rolling hills: Lugana doc, Valtenesi Doc, Valtenesi Chiaretto Doc and San Martino della Battaglia.
Another excellent product from the shore of Lake Garda is the Garda DOP (Protected Designation of Origin) Extra Virgin Oil, the result of a very special climate, passion and centuries-old traditions of artisan care and the strict controls that the DOP imposes. Intense and authentic fragrances arise from inland and from the mountains: the mountain cheeses, from cow’s and goat’s milk, fresh and aged, which have their unmistakable aromatic characteristics of grass and fragrant flowers of the mountain pastures and the famous Grana Padano. High quality and niche products that also come from the moraine hills such as saffron and the moraine salami De.co (Designation of Local Origin) of Pozzolengo, a locally designated product.