What to see on Lake Garda: 10 artful destinations

Lake Garda: the deep blue of its crystal-clear waters, the green of lush vegetation, but also the white and gray of the mountains that surround it, and then again the austere colors of castles and forts that contrast with the rich colors of the life of aristocratic villas. Here, nature bursts forth generously before facing the harsh climate of the Alps, but it is also an important crossroads of Italian and European history. Since Roman times on the shores of this great fjord that points straight from the Po Valley to the heart of the Alpine region kings and queens have passed, as well as poets, writers and artists, and all of them have left their legacies. Among islands, inlets, towns and villages rich in monuments and places to visit here there is an unparalleled atmosphere in which to lose oneself and be enraptured by. Here are ten unmissable stops on a trip to Lake Garda, ten places to see.

1. The castle of Sirmione

Set on a narrow peninsula on the Brescia side of the lake, Sirmione was an important military outpost for centuries. The jewel of this town rich in history is surely the Scaligero castle, which is located just at the end of the long tongue of land that reaches from the coast into Lake Garda. The 14th-century fortification is, like its dock, still perfectly preserved and is divided from the mainland only by a large drawbridge. From the dungeons up to the great corner tower and the guard walkways from which one dominates not only the lake, but also the surrounding area, there are many treasures hidden within these walls that, legend has it, are also haunted by the ghost of Hebengard who mourns his Arice and wanders the halls on stormy nights.

2. Catullus’ caves

A short walk from the center of Sirmione, it is possible to step back 2,000 years by visiting the archaeological area of the Catullus caves. Positioned at the tip of the peninsula stands a Roman villa dating back to the first century AD that dominates the entire Lake Garda basin from above. The villa occupies an area of about 2 hectares and is surrounded by an olive grove with more than 1,500 plants, while inside the archaeological area one can also visit the Sirmione Museum, which displays Roman artifacts from all over the lower Garda area.

3. The Vittoriale degli Italiani.

Fast cars, war planes and then again an open-air theater, a small temple and even a ship set among the terracing of a hill. All this and much more is the Vittoriale degli Italiani in Gardone Riviera, on the Brescia side of Lake Garda. It is an absolutely unique place that disruptively realizes the genius of its creator: the vate Gabriele D’Annunzio, who is buried here and who, starting in 1921, entrusted its construction to architect Giancarlo Maroni so that the place would represent the memory of the poet’s inimitable life and the exploits of Italian soldiers during World War I.

4. Upper Garda Museum in Riva del Garda.

Right on the northernmost tip of the lake, in Riva del Garda, on the Trentino side of Lake Garda, stands one of its most admired jewels. Inside the Rocca, whose construction was begun in the 12th century, is one of the Mag’s venues along with the Apponale Tower and Fort Garda on Mount Brione. In the Riva del Garda Picture Gallery one can admire the landscapes portrayed by those painters who were fascinated by views of the lake in the 19th century and the works of artists such as Pietro Ricchi, Vincenzo Vela and Francesco Hayez. Also of great fascination, however, is the section devoted to archaeology where of find stelae statues dating back to the Copper Age.

5. Limone sul Garda

Perched on the northern shore of Lake Garda, Limone is a corner of the Mediterranean overlooking the Alps. Famous since ancient times for its mild climate, it is the northernmost place in Italy where one can find citrus crops, which are a true excellence here on a par with extra-virgin olive oil. Limone sul Garda, however, is also a popular destination for travelers not only for its lemon groves, but also because here it feels like living in a real tableau vivant with the deep blue of the lake acting as an evocative backdrop to breathtaking views framed by the village’s pastel-colored houses. Whether you want to get lost in the narrow alleys rich in history or walk suspended between water and sky on the lakefront Limone is a must-see on your visit to Garda.

6. The Cathedral of Salò

Behind its unfinished facade is one of the finest examples of late Gothic architecture in northern Italy. The Cathedral of Salò is dedicated to Santa Maria Annunziata and was built in the 15th century to a design by architect Filippo Dalle Vacche da Caravaggio. Inside the church are numerous valuable works including canvases by Romanino, Moretto, Zenone Veronese and Paolo Veneziano as well as several frescoes by Antonio Vassilacchi known as l’Aliense. Also important are the legacies of Jacopo Palma il Giovane, who not only drew up an initial plan for the rebuilding of the choir but also contributed by creating a large Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

7. Roman villa and Antiquarum of Desenzano.

Desenzano is one of the main gateways to Lake Garda, but among its fashionable streets it also hides some real historical and artistic treasures. Prominent among them is the great Roman villa, one of the most important examples of late antique buildings in this corner of Italy. The remains of the great house date from between the late 1st and 5th centuries AD and are most famous for its splendid mosaics. Nestled in a beautiful green area is the adjoining archaeological area that houses the Antiquarium, where a rich selection of materials from the villa is displayed.

8. The Mu-Sa of Salò

The 16th-century spaces of the church of Santa Giustina house a museum that traces not only the great, and even tragic, history that had Salò as its center, but also more than that. Also housed at MuSa is the Civica raccolta del disegno, a stable collection fund established by a group of tried-and-true citizens in 1983 that brings together graphic evidence of Italian art from after World War II to the present. The committee composed of Attilio Forgioli, Flaminio Gualdoni, and Pino Mongiello, among others, donated the fund in 1985, which today can count on about 600 drawings. Browsing through these authentic masterpieces one can take a journey that starting with the works of Filippo De Pisis, Romolo Romani and Carlo Martini leads the visitor to the works of giants such as Lucio Fontana, Osvaldo Licini and Mario Sironi.

9. Roman villa in Toscolano Maderno

Another valuable testimony to the past of the Brescian shore of Lake Garda is located in Toscolano Maderno. It is, like the other archaeological sites of Sirmione and Desenzano sul Garda the remains of a Roman villa whose treasures are still partly to be discovered. At present only the remains of the southern sector of this imposing building overlooking the lake dating from the 1st century AD have been brought to light. The villa, which featured a large fountain as long as almost 50 meters and underwent interventions and transformations over the following centuries always all marked by the pursuit of luxury and opulence. The part visible today includes several rooms in which large paintings and mosaic floors still stand out.

10. Sorlini Museum of Art in Calvagese.

Unthinkable for an art lover to leave Garda without a visit to Calvagese and the splendid Sorlini Museum. Here inside a typical 17th-century Brescian palace is the MarteS where 183 works, divided into 14 rooms collected by the Luciano Sorlini Foundation, have been housed since 2017. Calvagese is home to all the works from the collection put together by the Brescian entrepreneur who put together works by some of the greatest Venetian painters of the 18th century such as Tiepolo, Canaletto, Gianatonio Guardi, and Giovanni Bellini along with works by masters of the Lombard school such as Pitocchetto, Savoldo, Bramantino, and Palma Il Vecchio.

What to see on Lake Garda: 10 artful destinations

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