Garda Lake
- Lago di Garda is the largest and most popular of the Italian lakes.
Lying between the Alps and the Po valley, the lake enjoys a temperate
climate and is revered by windsurfers across Europe for its winds.
The lake’s trio of towns Sirmione on the southern shore, Gardone
Riviera on its western edge and Riva del Garda at the quieter northern
end form a neat triangle around the lake. Surfers hang out around
Torbole and Malcesine. Walkers and mountain bikers can ride a cable
car up to Monte Baldo, from where trails abound. In winter you can
ski on its slopes. Sirmione is a popular bathing
spot. Massages, saunas and other sensuous delights can be enjoyed
at the Terme di Sirmione. Sirmione is 5 km east of Desenzano del Garda.
Further north from Desenzano is Salò. Gardaland (little Disneyland)
and CanevaWorld (pools) are famous places around Sirmione. Gardone
Riviera is on the western edge of the lake at the head of
a small inlet. Riva del Garda, on the lake’s
northern edge, has a pleasant old centre of cobbled lanes and squares.
Riva, along with Torbole, is a popular windsurfing
spot.
Torbole is the host to the World Windsurf Championships in June or
July, and a huge Surf Festival at the end of May. Indeed the village
still retains much of its original fishing village charm. Malcesine
is Garda’s other surfing centre. Malcesine’s other must
is the Funivia Malcesine-Monte Baldo, a cable car which offers an
eagle-eye mountain view from its rotating glass cabins during its
panoramic journey up to 1790 m.
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