The largest lake in Italy, Lake Garda, is nestled between the Dolomites mountains. It's known for its turquoise water and stunning scenery. The lake is known for its strong winds, which make it ideal for sailing, windsurfing, and kitesurfing. When visiting Italy, you must include Lake Garda on your itinerary. Lake Garda, located north of Verona, is the most family-friendly and water-sports-oriented of Italy's lakes. It is also Italy's largest lake, stretching from the steep Alpine foothills to the Po Valley's northern edge. Beaches line the southern shore, which is backed by low hills, while mountains and sheer cliffs surround the lake in the north, particularly along the western shore. The lake's terrain offers a wide range of activities for sports enthusiasts, from sailing and windsurfing to mountain climbing, rappelling, and mountain biking, all with lake views. At the same time, Lake Garda's location provides a year-round temperate climate, allowing olives and lemons to grow far north of their normal range, as well as a turbulent history that has left several well-fortified castles, Roman ruins, and World War II-related sites. Long stretches of sandy beach, as well as a slew of towns with lakeside promenades and cafés surrounding postcard marinas whose sole purpose appears to be la dolce vita, ensure that Lake Garda has something for everyone. There are so many things to do here that you could easily spend a week here and not run out of things to do. The attractions listed below are organized geographically from the lake's southern end, up the east shore, and down the west shore. International Airport: Valerio Catullo Airport (VRN) Population: 58,981,000 Currency: The Euro Time: UTC +2 Driving side: Right Main Electricity: 230V Official Language: Italian Religion: Christianity
Sirmione is a charming little town at the end of a long promontory that juts out into the lake from the lake's southern shore. Catullus, a Roman poet who lived from 84 to 54 BC, owned a villa at the tip of the peninsula. If you're traveling to Lake Garda by train or via the A4 Autostrada, Desenzano del Garda is where you'll most likely see the lake for the first time. The southeastern corner of Lake Garda, between Peschiera del Garda and Lazise, is home to several entertainment and theme parks. The southeast shore, which rises on the gentle slopes of Monte Baldo in a landscape of olive groves and vine-cloaked fields, is lined with a cluster of four pretty towns. The long ridge of Monte Baldo becomes steeper as it stretches northward, and Malcesine perches above the lake on a spur beneath it.
