Entries about garda

Some weeks ago I spent some days in Gargnano (again!).

It is a beautiful village on the western shore of lake Garda

Via Roma is the main street of Gargnano. Here you can find several shops and a hotel.

Gargnano has a small harbour surrounded by some cafes and shops.

There is even a restaurant at the harbour....

Near the harbour there is a short wooden promenade on the lake.

Here you see part of a building overlooking the lake.

There are several buildings on the lake.

The old core of Gargnano is made of several stone houses. It is uphill from the harbour.

There are only a couple of shops in the old core of Gargnano.

Most of the shops are on the lower area of the village.

Osteria lo Zuavo; the restaurant I mentioned before, is located at the harbour.

Here they serve various typical Italian dishes. It is a budget restaurant.

I strongly recommend you this place!

Trofie al pesto is one of the dishes you can have at this restaurant.

One day I took a very long walk to get to Villa Feltrinelli.

This mansion was built at the end of the 1800. From 1943 to 1945 Benito Mussolini lived here.

Today Villa Feltrinelli is a luxury hotel.

It is not allowed to visit this mansion; except for one day a year.

This is the only picture I was able take of Villa Feltrinelli.

Surely you can see this villa from afar if you are on a boat.

Muslone is a village on a mountain. It is some eight kilometers from Gargnano.

It is part of Gargnano.

There are no shops and cafes in Muslone. Here you can only find a small grocery shop.

You can enjoy a great landscape over the lake from Muslone.

Toscolano Maderno is a commune made of two villages.

I used to visit Maderno (one of the two villages) in order to have a cup of coffe or a ice cream.

I didn' t like Maderno.

There is an interesting thing to see in Maderno. It is saint Andrew church.

This church was built at the beginning of the XII century. It was probably built on the remains of another building.

A nice private garden overlooking the lake.

Caffe Centrale is a nice cafe confectionery in Maderno. It is the right place to have an ice cream.

This cafe is located in the main square of Maderno; near saint Andrew church.

Another "not to miss" place to visit in Maderno is the confectionery Carlo. It is in the old core of the village.

Here they have a large selection of cakes and pastries. You can also buy slices of pizza and bread.

I didn' t visit Toscolano; the other village which form Toscolano Maderno.

I only visited the saints Peters' and Paul' s church there.

This is the parish curch in this village. It was built in the XVI century.

It houses several large paintings by a Venetian painter; Andrea Celesti.

When I was in Gargnano I revisited Gardone Riviera a couple of times.

Gardone Riviera is a tourist resort not far from Gargnano.

It is made of two area; Gardone di Sotto (the lower village) and Gardone di Sopra (the upper village).

There is a short lakeside promenade in Gardone Riviera. It is lined by some cafes and restaurants.

The Grand Hotel is one of the many hotels you can find in Gardone Riviera.

It was built in 1884. It is a four stars hotel.

The Grand Hotel is a really large and long building.

It has more than 160 rooms; some gardens and a swimmming pool.

Piazza Guglielmo Marconi is the main square in Gardone Riviera. It is surrounded by a yellow portico on three sides.

There are some shops under the portico and some benches as well.

Just behind the main square there is a street with some cafes and shops. There is also a restaurant there.

It was really a good holiday. It was sunny every day. It seemed to be in summer even if it was october!

Almost a week ago I spent some days in Gargnano. I had been to this village last may.

Gargano is a nice village on the western shore of lake Garda; In the Lombardy region.

A visit of the village could start from via Roma. It is the main street in Gargnano.

Via Roma is lined with several shops, some cafes and a hotel.

Almost all the buildings in this street are tall and colourful.

At the end of via Roma there is the harbour. It is by the main square.

I took this picture from a wooden walkway; near the harbour.

Villa di Gargnano is a district of Gargnano. There are some hotels, a couple of shops and some cafes here.

Even this time I booked a room at hotel Lido in Villa di Gargnano.

I explored quite well Villa di Gargnano. I did it in the evening.

Villa has a small and nice harbour.

Another place I revisited was Gardone Riviera. This is a tourist resort not far from Gargnano.

It is made of two areas; Gardone di Sopra (upper Gardone) and Gardone di Sotto (lower Gardone).

In Gardone di Sopra I revisited il Vittoriale degli Italiani.

It is a hillside estate; a monumental complex commissioned by the writer, poet, jounalist Gabriele d' Annunzio.

At Il Vittoriale you can visit various museums, the last residence of d' Annunzio (the Prioria) and the park.

Gabriele d' Annunzio lived in the Prioria from february 1921 until his death in march 1938.

Quite near the entrance of this estate there is a large amphitheatre.

It it still used for performances today. It can hosts around 1500 people.

You can' t surely miss this huge statue of a blue horse at the ampitheatre.

This park is really large. I think it takes a couple of hours to visit it at leisure.

The rose garden.

There is the bow of a ship on the grounds of the estate. It is named Puglia.

This military vessel was donated in 1921 to d' Annunzio by the Italian navy.

On the highest point on the estate there is the Mausoleum.

D' Annunzio and some other people are buried here.

I also visited the Heller garden in Gardone Riviera. It is also known as the Giardino Botanico Arthur Hruska.

This garden was created in 1903 by Arthur Hruska. He was an Austrian dentist and botanic.

In 1988 the Austrian singer Andrè Heller bought it.

He also added a good number of sculptures made by artists as Keith Haring, Roy Lichtenstein and Mimmo Palladino.

Some big koi carps live in one of the lakes of the garden.

There are more than 3000 species of plants into this garden.

A beautiful stilt house. I checked if I could enter, but it isn' t possible.

A nice Buddha.

This statue should represent the god Ganesh.

There are the lavatories at the garden...and a water trick before these.

Almost at the end of the garden there is a cafe.

This garden is opened from march to october.

It was a good holiday.

More than a week ago I spent some days in Gargnano.

Gargnano is a village on the western shore of lake Garda; in the Lombardy region. It if formed of thirteen districts.

There is a nice harbour surrounded by a number of colourful houses in Gargnano.

There is a good choice of shops on the main street in Gargnano. There is also an hotel and a some cafes.

I spent four nights at hotel Lido. It is very near the lake and it is situaed in Villa; a district of Gargnano.

My room was nice; the food served at dinner was good.

In 1912 the English writer D. H. Lawrence lived with his lover Frieda Weekley von Richthofen for six month in Villa.

The house where Lawrence stayed is still there. It is quite near the hotel Lido. It was refurbished and it is used as flats to let.

Bogliaco is a district of Gargnano. Its old core is really beautiful.

Even Bogliaco has a harbour with colourful houses.

Every september the Bogliaco harbour is the starting point of a famous boat race; the Regatta Internazionale della Centomiglia.

I spotted some beautiful frescoes in the old core of Bogliaco.

I liked a lot the old core in Bogliaco.

The old core in Bogliaco is made of a few streets. It doesn' t take long to explore it.

From the harbour in Bogliaco you can see a beautiful ladscape over Gargano.

The main sight in Bogliaco is a very large mansion. Villa Bettoni. It was built between 1764 and 1767.

It is possible to visit it inside only on guided tours. You have to book it beforehand.

Another place I visited was Gardone Riviera. This is a tourist resort not far from Gargnano.

It is made of two areas; Gardone di Sopra (upper Gardone) and Gardone di Sotto (lower Gardone).

In Gardone di Sopra you can find one of the highlights of Gardone Riviera; il Vittoriale degli Italiani.

It is a hillside estate; a monumental complex commissioned by the writer, poet, jounalist and Gabriele d' Annunzio.

At Il Vittoriale you can visit various museums and the last residence of d' Annunzio (the Prioria).

There is also its burial place and a large outdoor theatre here.

Before my visit to the residence of d' Annunzio I took a short stroll in the gardens of the Vittoriale.

La Prioria (the priory) is the mansion where d' Annunzio lived from 1922 until his death in 1938.

Into this dimly lit villa the rooms are crammed with books, art objects, musical instruments and lost of other things.

Into the Prioria you will visit the writer' s workshop, the kichen, the music room, the bathroom and several other rooms.

Unfortunately it is not allowed to take pictures into the Prioria.

Near the Prioria there is a large room; the Auditorium. Inside you can watch a movie about the life of d' Annunzio.

Morever; into this room; hanged to the roof there is a two seated S. V. A. airplane. D' Annunzio reached Vienna on its board in 1918.

Gardone di Sopra (Upper Gardone) is a beautiful old small village.

In Gardone di Sopra there are some small shops.

There is a good choice of restaurants and cafes in Gardone di Sopra.

Most of the hotels and other accomodations in Gardone sul Garda are located in Gardone di Sotto.

This is he Grand Hotel. A old and long palace.

Gardone di Sotto has a nice, but quite short lakeside promenade.

I liked a lot this holiday, even if it was too short!

Last month I spent some days in Desenzano del Garda.

Desenzano del Garda is the largest town on the southwestern shore of lake Garda. It is the in the region of Lombardy and not far from Brescia.

It was not the first time I visited this town. I think I went there four times.

Desenzano is a good base to visit lots of places on the lake Garda.

There is a castle, a Roman villa and some museums to visit here. Moreover; this town has an interesting old core and some beaches.

One of the nicest spots in Desenzano is the old harbour. It was built for commercial needs around the XV century.

At the old harbour there is a bridge; the ponte "alla veneziana" (the Venetian style bridge) It was erected around 1930.

I like this street. I don' t remember its name. You can find it beside the duomo (cathedral); on its right side.

I am not sure, but it seems to me that fishermen had their houses on this street long ago.

It' s like a street you can see in various Italian sea villages.

Desenzano has an old center worth to explore. It is partly on a hill.

In this picture you can see one of the streets that takes to the castle.

The castle was originally built around the X century and enlarged at the end of the 15th century.

In the 19th century it was used as a barrack (Precisely until 1943).

It is opened to visitors, but I was told there is not much to see inside. Some expositions and other public events are held into the castle.

You can enjoy a very beautiful landscape from the castle area.

Another picture taken from the castle area.

Bar - Ristorante Castellani is a good place to have a large and good pizza. They also serve first courses, as pasta, soups, meats and fish.

This restaurant is hidden in vicolo del Moro; a narrow alley near piazza Matteotti.

Hotel Giardinetto is a small hotel where I booked my room in Desenzano. It is not far from the main square in the town.

The rooms at hotel Giardinetto are modern furnished and the personnel are kind and helpful.

At this hotel they only serve breakfast; a buffet breakfast with lot of food. Cheese, cold cuts, pastries, bread, youghurt and fruits.

Moniga del Garda is a small village; not far from Desenzano. Its name should come from the name of a goddes; Diana Munichia.

There are some beaches in Moniga, but I only explored its old core. I only took some pics that day I was there. I wasn' t in the mood to take pictures.

The main sight in Moniga is the castle. It dates to the X century. It was modified between the XIV and the XV centuries.

The castle was used as a shelter against the enemies for the inhabitants of Moniga.

During the summer the castle hosts several events, as shows, concerts and fairs.

There are some streets with several houses into the castle area.

Another picture taken into the castle precinct.

Sirmione is a nice village situated some kilometers from Desenzano del Garda.

The old center of Sirmione stands on a narrow pensinula.

One of the sight in Sirmione is the castle. It was owned by the Scaligeri family; from Verona. This castle was built around the XIII century in order to protect the village and the harbour.

Another highlight in this village are the Grottoes of Catullus. These are ruins of a large Roman villa. It occupies two hectares at Sirmione' s northern tip.

This construction was associated to Catullus, because the poet Gaius Valerius Catullus had a house in the Sirmione area.

Sirmione also has some thermal springs. The water from these springs is even sold in the whole Italy and maybe abroad.

Across from the castle there is a tiny church; it is saint Anne della Rocca church. It was built in the second half of the 1300 for the garrison of the castle.

As in many old villages one of the things to do is to explore the narrow streets.

The old center is Sirmione is not large.

Saint Mary the major or saint Mary of the snow is Sirmione parish church.

It was built at the end of the XV century on the site of a 8th century Lombard church..

Inside this church you can see a good number of frescoes dated from the XIV to the XVI centuries.

The entrance of the church.

Just outside the church, on its left there is a nice small well.

This is my favourite spot in Sirmione. A private garden with some statues.

Another church worth a visit in Sirmione is the church of san Pietro in Mavino. It is the oldest church in Sirmione.

It was built in the VIII century and finished in the XI century. Inside there are some frescoes dated from the XII to the XVI centuries.

This church is situated on the highest point of the peninsula of Sirmione. It is a bit of a trek to get there.

The only downside of Sirmione is that it can be very crowded at times.

While going back home I spent less than two hours in Torri del Benaco. This lakeside village is some 20 kilometers far from Malcesine.

Even Torri del Benaco has a castle. It houses a museum. It dates to the late 1300. I didn' t visit, but I will do next time I visit this village.

There are also some narrow streets in this village and some nice spots.

There was a party in this street the day I visited Torri del Benaco.

Torri del Benaco has a good choice of shops, cafes and restaurants.

This clock tower served as a meeting place for the politician of Torri; long ago. I suppose they gathered inside it.

Riva del Garda is a nice town situated at the northern tip of the lake Garda. It is around one hour by car from my village.

In the spring and summer it is a very touristic town.

There are lots of colorful houses in this town.

Via Piave is one of the nicest streets in this town.

Contrada Marocco is a neighbourhood in Riva del Garda that has nothing to do with Morocco. This area that takes its name from landslides; practically these are big stones where several houses where built here. Marocche is the name of big stones in the local dialect.

Here you can see various old houses, a square with a washing trough and an ancient palace; Palazzo del Vescovo (the bishop' s palace).

I suppose this is one of the oldest areas in Riva del Garda.

Palazzo del Vescovo; the bishop' s palace.

Piazza III novembre is the main square in Riva del Garda.

Here you can see the town hall built in the XV century joined to Palazzo Pretorio (XIV century). Opposite this palace there is a very ancient tower; the Apponale tower. It was built towards 1200 and raised in 1552.

On its ground level there were warehouses for salt and wheat and other stores. It was also used as a prison. During the WWI the tower was an observation post. You can enjoy a beautiful landscape over the main square of the town and other areas from its top.

Piazza III Novembre is partly surrounded by XIV century porticoes. There are some shops and a good restaurant - pizzeria (see restaurant hotel Centrale) under these.

Here you see the small square joined to piazza III Novembre.

Sometimes when I visit Riva del Garda I have lunch at the restaurant of hotel Centrale. This is a large three star hotel located at the main square of Riva del Garda.

I don' know how many dinner rooms there are at this hotel. One of these is under the old arcades. It is closed by glass, so that people could eat there even in the winter.

There are various dishes on the menu at this restaurants. There are even several fish dishes and a good choice of pizzas. Pizzas at restaurant Centrale are very large.

You can do several boat trips to various villages or towns from Riva del Garda. There are ferries, hydrofoils and motorised catamarans that opearate all year.

For instance you can go to Limone and Malcesine.

Limone lies on the north-western shore of the lake. Its name comes from the latin word "limen", which means border. It is a small town with cobbled streets, some churches, various shops, cafes and restaurants.

Malcesine is located almost opposite Limone. Its main sight is the castle which was probably built in the first millenium a. C. by the Longobards and modified through the centuries. Today it houses a couple of museums.

There is a fortress in Riva del Garda. La Rocca. It was built in 1124 and altered through the centuries. Today it houses a museums with paintings,pictures and archaeological finds.

Malcesine is a beautiful lake side resort situated on the eastern shore of Lake Garda. It is some 60 kilometers far from Verona.

It has a beautiful old core made of a maze of narrow cobbled lanes and stone houses.

Malcesine has a good choice of accomodations, restaurants, cafes and shops. It is a very popular summer holiday resort.

I suppose this should be one of the narrowest street in the world. Vicolo Picalof.

Here you see another picture of this narrow lane.

A stone house with a balcony. I like this spot.

Close up of the balcony.

A house with a coat of arms on its facade.

The castle is the main sight in Malcesine. Its name is Castello Scaligero. It was probably built by the Lombards around 500 A. C. on a previous fortress. In 590 it was destroyed by the Franks. They rebuilt it in 806.

It was occupied by the della Scala family from 1277 to 1378. Later, the Visconti family from Milan and the Republic of Venice hold it. Then it was in the hands of the French and the Austrians. During the period of the Austrian rule, which ended in 1866 major renovations work took place inside.

Today the castle houses a museum of natural history; a room dedicated to the German writer Goethe and his visit to Malcesine in 1786. Some areas of the castle are used for various entertainments and for temporary exibitions.

The castle has a tower. You can climb it to its top and enjoy a beautiful landscape over the town.

Part of the castle from afar.

In this picture you see part of the harbour. It is surrounded by a good number of cafes and restaurants. From the harbour you can take a boat to other resort on the lake as Limone or Riva del Garda.