On the shores of Lake Garda there are plenty of charming towns and picturesque villages that attract tourists from all over the world and offer a lot of culture and entertainment in addition to the beautiful nature. It is very difficult, almost impossible, to choose the most beautiful holiday resorts from their multitude. All of them have their special charms. But a few names are repeatedly mentioned by fans as the most beautiful places on Lake Garda . They include Tremosine sul Garda, Limone sul Garda, Riva del Garda, Malcesine and Brenzone.
Riva del Garda
The city is located on the northern tip of Lake Garda and is considered by many to be the “capital” of the Italian lake. It is the second largest municipality on the shores of Lake Garda and has around 13,000 inhabitants. Mighty mountains surround Riva del Garda and attract many mountaineers, climbers and mountain bikers every year. But the city is also a paradise for bathers, sailors and surfers. After all, it has the longest and most beautiful sandy beach and the best wind conditions on Lake Garda. Probably the most popular spa town on the lake, it also has a particularly mild climate, many sights in the immediate vicinity and a very special charm.
One of the sights is Piazza Tre Novembre, a square in the middle of the old town with three palaces in the Lombard-Venetian style. There is also the Torre Apponale, part of the old city fortifications. Also worth seeing are the baroque parish church of Santa Maria Assunta and the city fortress La Rocca with the Alto Garda Museum. Archaeological finds from the region are displayed there and there is a large collection of paintings. About 200 meters above the city, on Monte Rocchetta, are the ruins of the Bastione, an ancient fortress from which you can enjoy a spectacular view over the city and the lake.
Tremosine
The village is located above a gigantic steep rock face on the western shore of Lake Garda on a plateau in the “Alto Garda Bresciano” National Park and is often called “the balcony of Lake Garda” because of its location. Up here, the mountains are close and the landscape lush green. There are beautiful hiking trails, great via ferratas, mountain bike trails and opportunities to play tennis, kite sailing and canyoning. If you are looking for peace and muse, you will find it in Tremosine as well as action and power. And of course there is also a beach life, at the foot of the steep wall in the district of Campione, on a headland directly on the lakeshore. This picturesque part of Tremosine can only be reached by boat or through a tunnel. Special sights of Tremosine are the spectacular rock formations, the church of San Giovanni Battista, the hermitage Eremo di San Michele, the Museo di Tremosine and the Terrazza del Privido, a show terrace with a breathtaking view of the lake. The online portal gardasee-magazin.com writes about Tremosine:
Thanks to the mixture of mountainous and flat areas, Tremosine is considered one of the most scenic places on Lake Garda.
Limone sul Garda
The small town of Limone is also located on the western shore of Lake Garda. It is built in terraces on a steep slope and the houses in the upper small streets seem to practically stick to the rocks. However, the tourist center and the old town are located directly on the lake. There is a beautiful wide lakeside promenade, many shops and restaurants, boat moorings and some small beaches. In the old town there are architecturally interesting Venetian buildings, but also small fishermen’s houses. The Palazzo Gherardi and the small church of San Rocco, just above the pier of the large excursion boats, are well known. The 17th century church of San Benedetto rises above the town. It is known for two paintings by the artist Andrea Celesti and a baroque wooden crucifix. Also above Limones is the Sopino waterfall, where the water of the river of the same name rushes into the depths.
Malcesine
The tourist town of Malcesine is located directly on the eastern shore of Lake Garda and is often called the “Pearl of Lake Garda”. The former fishing village now lives almost exclusively from tourism and is the municipality with the most overnight stays around the lake. But Malcesine is still not too crowded, but still a place with a lot of charm and a very special flair. Above the village, the mighty mountain massif of Monte Baldo rises over 2000 meters into the air and is ideal for hiking and climbing tours. You can take a cable car up to an altitude of 1760 meters. Visible from afar, Malcesine’s landmark, a mighty historic Scaliger castle, rises above the old town. The many small alleys that lead down to the lively little harbour also look medieval.
Brenzone
This small town is also located on the eastern shore of Lake Garda. In Brenzone, the clocks go a little slower than in Malcesine, the place offers a mixture of originality, tradition and tourist highlights. The villages that make up the municipality extend from the lakeshore to the slopes of Monte Baldo up to mountainous heights. In the old town, on the beach promenade and in the pretty little harbour there are many cosy restaurants that have regional specialities on the menu.
