A day in Garda is full of stimuli, suggestions, views, cultural stops and culinary digressions. The old town and lakefront, a sunny beach and sunset boat ride, quality shopping and a fabulous dinner. There is plenty to see and do in Garda, and it is all within easy reach.
SWEET MORNING, DISCOVERING THE VILLAGE
Start sweet, take time for a breakfast of local pastries. In one of the center’s pastry shops or sitting at a small table overlooking the lake, accompany your coffee with sweet fogassa or San Vigilini, Winston Churchill’s favorite shortbread and raisin cookies. Stroll through the narrow streets and alleyways of the historic center, among the hidden and most picturesque glimpses, following the traces of the past, among the noble palaces and historic stores. The style of architecture is reminiscent of Venice, but Garda retains the atmosphere of the old fishing village. Leaning against the western gate of San Giovanni is Palazzo Fregoso: the Renaissance poet Bandello is said to have written a novella about Romeo and Juliet right here, inspiring Shakespeare’s masterpiece. Another 16th-century architecture is the elegant Palazzo Carlotti, which with the Clock Tower is the most striking entrance to the historic heart of Garda. The palace stretches to the lakefront and ends with what was once the town’s dock, the Losa.
THE CALL OF THE WATER AND A FISH LUNCH
It’s time to take a break in the sun, enjoying the colors and scents from Garda’s lakefront. From the shade of the Losa’s arcade you can stroll to the harbor, where small fishing boats snooze alongside pleasure craft and elegant sailboats. Prefer a stroll between water and olive trees? You can follow the Garda lakefront in the direction of Punta San Vigilio. Lunchtime is approaching. For a snack, spreading a towel on the beach at the Horn is a great idea. To take more time to indulge in local flavors, the advice is to head back toward Piazza Catullo and sit at a table in one of the many lake-view restaurants where you can enjoy a Garda menu of local fish, dressed with olive oil from the Riviera degli Ulivi and accompanied by a bubbly Garda Doc wine.
FISHERMEN'S STORIES AND AN APERITIF AT SUNSET
The early hours of the afternoon can be spent in the Lake Garda Territorial Museum, the ideal place to get closer to the memory and roots of the area. The nets and hulls, black-and-white photographs, archaeological finds, and in the center the reconstruction of the Pal del Vò, which still indicates the most fishable part of the Garda. A local icon and a natural boundary between the waters of Garda and Sirmione: the Pal del Vò was positioned by members of the Corporazione degli Antichi Originari di Garda, which has been handing down the memory of fishing on the lake for centuries. It’s time to experience the lake; to see the gulf from a different perspective, hop on one of the fishermen’s boats that offer guided tours in safety and with all amenities on board. Enjoy the breeze, the scents of the water, the views of the shoreline, the views of the noble villas and their gardens at the water’s edge, hearing stories and secrets of the lake from the voice of those who were born there and sail it every day. By request, one can go as far as Pal del Vo’, and then approach the splendid Punta San Vigilio, and disembark at the Locanda San Vigilio, an ideal place for a sunset aperitif, the kind that has bewitched kings and emperors, artists and men of letters, poets and actors from all over the world.
DINNER WITH GREAT CHEFS AND A SAIL UNDER THE STARS
The experiences of the day can be found at the table, in the flavors of Garda recipes, the authentic ones of traditional taverns and inns, and those interpreted by the great chefs of historic and starred restaurants.
For a memorable dining experience, rely on the cuisine of Giancarlo Perbellini, a Michelin star for many years, at his Locanda ai Beati. Or to the never mundane interpretations of Andrea Costantini, soul of the kitchen at Regio Patio cited in the Michelin Guide.
The evening has just begun. The thermal breeze blows over the gulf. It’s time for an overnight sail with a skipper from the Garda Italian Naval League. Simply make a reservation to enjoy a night offshore. Ten knots of wind freshen the air, stretch the sails and push you over the water. On shore the evening lights, above those of the stars.
Do you have more days available? Discover all the itineraries.
