• Lakes
    • Villages

Discover Alto Garda bresciano

Towns perched on cliffs over the water, with dizzy views. And roads dug out of the rock, as harsh as…

“An inland branch” of the Mediterranean sea for many centuries, the upper Garda lake or “Alto Garda” is the northernmost part of a large citrus-producing area.

 

Lemons are found anywhere. Terraced crops and facilities protecting the plants during winter were first introduced in the Thirteenth century and impressed Goethe during his Italian Journey at the end of the Eighteenth century. Scattered in the territory around the municipalities of Limone, Gargnano and Maderno, these old lemon crops, or what is left today of the old facilities, pay witness to a long history of work, skilfulness and impressive results, visually illustrated in the Ecomuseo della limonaia Pra dela Fam (an ecological museum in the port of Tignale).

The large greenhouse on the lake shore is of great architectural and landscape interest, with the opportunity to taste local lemon-based products (including lemons pickled in salt and flavoured with pepper or chilli pepper). In Limone, a special lemon crop called Limonaia del Castèl, situated under the rocks of Mount Sughera, is also worth a visit, with its profusion of walls and pillars all around and its old growing methods.

 

Lemons and more
Gabriele D'Annunzio, Italian writer and poet, had the merit of making the Limone del Garda village accessible by road. Until 1931, it could only be reached on foot or by boat.
He advocated the completion of construction works of the  Gardesana Occidentale road, which today runs along the Lombard shore of the upper lake.

This village, a favourite among German tourists, retains its old houses around a small port, which evokes an ancient period, when the village was nothing but an area for fisherman. Walking through its narrow alleys you will come across the San Pietro’s church, a patron saint of the place since the Ninth century. Roofs are covered by flat Roman tiles and traces of old frescos can be found under the small portico. The bell tower was partially torn down during World War I to remove a strategic target for an Austrian cannon placed in the nearby Crocette. Limone is also the birthplace of a saint,
San Daniele Comboni, whose house can still be visited to get an insight of the work of missionaries, of both genders, of the San Daniele Order all over the world.

 

Strong emotions
Tremosine overlooks the lake from above on an extensive plateau and resembles more an alpine village than a lake town, with its grazing land and typical mountain activities. Vegetation, however, is typically Mediterranean. A trip to Tremosine, among the most picturesque Italian municipalities, is a totally emotional experience. It only suffices to run along the Strada della Forra, a panoramic road that Winston Churchill defined the ‘Eighth World Wonder’…

The road climbs amidst mountains by exploiting a natural cleavage excavated by the Brasa torrent. Walking or driving through it after sunset is particularly inspiring, better if you do it on a motorbike. The Terrazza del Brivido is not to be missed, i.e. a panoramic terrace suspended at a height of 350 m over the lake surface, for a breathtaking 360° experience, including a view on the Strada della Forra road. The terrace can be freely accessed from the Paradiso Hotel.

 

Green spaces and silence
A site of Community interest for the EU, Valvestino is a paradise for nature lovers. This charming, wild mountain area is a border and transition land, which has been inhabited since prehistory and also crossed by the ancient Romans. During World War I, it was under Austrian rule.

If you walk through a trail leading from Magasa to Mounts Tombea and Caplone, you will meet old military depots excavated in the rock, trenches and masonry outposts, or settlements built on the ground. The barns with thatched roofs of Cima Rest and Denai are also worth visiting. These are the only remains, in the Alpine chain, to bear witness to an old culture and have now been refurbished into comfortable accommodation facilities.

 

 

 

On the same topic

Lago di Como:Bellagio, the pearl

One of the world's best-loved places, Bellaggio lies on the tip of the central headland, offering convenient ferry access to both branches of the lake
  • Lakes
Lago di Como: Bellagio, la perla

Lake Como Itinerary

  • Lakes
Lake Como Itinerary

The Lario for sporty visitors

Walking, water sports, hiking, cycling, climbing, canyoning... Enjoy a summer on the move between Como, Lecco and the Larian Triangle
  • Lakes
The Lario for sporty visitors

Weekend on Lake Garda

  • Lakes
Weekend sul Lago di Garda

Canoeing

Vivere i laghi lombardi in canoa.
  • Lakes
Canoeing

Lakeside and centre of gargnano

Gargnano: one of the most beautiful historical centers of Lake Garda.
  • Lakes
Lakeside and centre of Gargnano

Lago di Garda: the shadow of D’Annunzio

From the Vittoriale degli Italiani to the fifteenth-century Cathedral in Salò, via the Valle delle Cartiere valley in Toscolano Maderno: all the spectacular sights around Gardone Riviera
  • Lakes
Lago di Garda, lungolago Zanardelli

Lago Maggiore Artist’s brushstrokes

Trompe l’oeil frescos, five centuries of pictorial cycles, spontaneous and organised murals: colour is everywhere in and around Laveno Mombello
  • Lakes
Lago Maggiore Pennellate d'artista

Discover Alto Garda bresciano

Towns perched on cliffs over the water, with dizzy views. And roads dug out of the rock, as harsh as…
  • Lakes
Lago di Garda: il lato selvaggio

Centomiglia, sailing challenge on the Garda

Centomiglia: the most important sailing event in Garda and known throughout Europe.
  • Lakes
Centomiglia, sailing challenge on the Garda

Visit Monte Isola

It is perhaps unsurprising that Monte Isola was given the name it was.
  • Lakes
Monte Isola

The Lombardy Shore of Lake Maggiore — Exploring historic villages

Discovering the Lombardy shore of Lake Maggiore, a region characterised by hills, dense reeds, archaeological finds and enchanting villages for you to visit.
  • Lakes
The Lombardy Shore of Lake Maggiore — Exploring historic villages

Lago di Iseo: the pleasant isle

Cars are not allowed on Monte Isola island, where visitors must walk or cycle as they explore the delightfully silent, narrow streets in its villages
  • Lakes
Lago di Iseo: l'amena Monte Isola

The loveliest island in the Lakes

Visit the islands of the Lombard lakes: a dip in little enchanted worlds.
  • Lakes
The loveliest island in the lakes: Montisola, Isola Comacina, Isola del Garda

Lake Maggiore

The Doll Museum. The villages and the districts. Trekking, horse riding and water sports. Advice for experiencing Lake Maggiore
  • Lakes
Vivere il Lago Maggiore

5 lakes to be explored

Not just big lakes: discover 5 other small stretches of fresh water in Lombardy
  • Lakes
Lago d'Idro

Como Photo Gallery

Ideas and ideas for your holiday on the lake.
  • Lakes
Como and its Lake from a to Z hits for an unforgettable vacation

Lago di Garda: castles and legacy

A land of pleasure and invasions, the lower Garda area has a wealth of historic sites, with roots dating back as far as the Bronze age
  • Lakes
Lago di Garda Tra castelli e vestigia

Canyoning in Valmalenco

A unique canyoning route in the Alps
  • Lakes
Speleocanyoning nel torrente Cormor in Valmalenco

Lake Garda Photo Gallery

Photo exhibition to tell the beauty of this territory.
  • Lakes
Discovering Lake Garda with pictures, from A to Z