The Big Blue: My Mini Guide to Lake Garda

Something curious happened the moment I stepped off the plane. Arriving in Verona on a hot Friday afternoon. In that very moment, it was as if the heat had suddenly melted all my cares away. I was ready to spend 5 days in Italy. With only a GCSE Italian to rely on I was determined to fully immerse myself in the culture.

 

Anyone that knows me or those that have traveled with me know, that I am a planner, and I will plan the whole trip in detail. From how I will get there to downloading local street maps on my iPhone, getting around; the best, cheapest, quickest ways to see the cities I visit including what not to miss out on. I suppose this is what traditional tourism tells us; seeing the standard city sites like landmarks and artworks as if the only things worth seeing. So this trip to Italy, I decided to do things differently. That of minimal planning. I wanted a more sensory and deeper travel experience, so there was no downloading of any maps or extensive research about the best places to eat, drink or museums around town. I was not going to slavishly follow a travel itinerary to the letter.

Arriving at Verona airport I got the bus into Verona train station. The train is only about 20-30 minutes to Desenzano. In the best Italian, I could manage ” Due biglietti, per favore ” as I asked for 2 tickets. From there I caught the train to Desenzano. Checking into the hotel I could already feel the soft and easy breeze from the lake peering at the back of the hotel. Desenzano seems to have this calming effect. I am sure the clear blue lake waters of Lago di Garda(Lake Garda) has everything to do with this. Sitting in the northern part of Italy, Lake Garda is a hidden gem that you almost don’t want to tell people about just in case they all flock there and ruin it before you can say EasyJet!

I decided to split my days there between different towns around the lake. Getting around the lake is done via ferries between towns. Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy, but I totally underestimated the size, thinking that I could easily get from one end of the lake in no time. It takes about 2 hours to get from the southern part where I was staying in Desenzano to get to the northern end of the lake in Riva.

 

 

Saturday was spent in Sirmione, then moved on to Garda and Malcesine on Sunday and Monday for moving on to Milan as my flight was leaving from Milan back to London. With a keen intent of cultivating curiosity about strangers, I struck a conversation with one of the locals on Malcesine. Learning about what the town is normally like when covered in snow as the town caters a whole different tourist in the winter. Salas has been living in Italy for nearly 20 years. Born to Tunisian parents who died shortly after migration. He splits his time between Italy and Tunis in winter. Like birds, he and his family move to warmer climates back to Tunisia when winter covers Malcesine in a blanket of snow.

Malcesine is miles away from Desenzano but you immediately notice the change in weather as you move from south to north. Sitting on the top deck of the boat, no pictures, I just want to enjoy this moment and not live it through the lens of a camera. Watching the blue water quickly turning into white carefree waves as the boat gently bounced on the lake. The low humid had created a soft haze in the air reducing the visibility of the land in the distance making the lake look endless. You would be fooled into believing you were on the ocean at the shire vastness of Lake Garda.The mountain tops basked in foggy cloudy haze almost as if to totally take ownership of the place.

 

The height and vastness of the Dolomites in the distance rendered me speechless. You almost couldn’t tell where mountain tips end and skies begin as the mountains reached up to the heavens as if craving the alms of the sun. The sheer beauty; little houses perched on the hills almost as if to tempt the winter avalanches that no doubt are probably in this steeply mountainous region of Italy. I was weakened by the beauty of the place that I just sat and enjoyed the serenity of the place as we moved from town to town before arriving in Malcesine. I grabbed my bag and followed the paths leading up the hill to the Cable cars on Malcesine…

 

Friday  – Desenzano

 

 

Leaving the rain in London to the Diamond Jubilee celebrators my skin was bathed in this warm(dare I say hot) sun that immediately sends your mood in an appreciative happy dance. Desenzano was 29 Degrees of glowing rays and sits midway between Venice and Milan. With most of the hotels and restaurants perched by the lakeside, making it seem like you are on an island. Everything is within a few minutes walking distance.

 

The ferry to the other towns sits nicely near the shops and you can also book small speed boats for 10Euros each person(4 people minimum). With plenty of shops if you are also aching for a little retail therapy or just sit and enjoy the freshly made pasta or pizza( You will immediately taste the difference compared to any pre-packed store bought usuals when you take Desenzano’s homemade!)

 

Saturday – Sirmione

As you approach Sirmione the Scaliger Castle immediately catches your eye. Sirmione is a beautiful little town only 10 minutes on the boat from Desenzano and sits on a 2 mile-long peninsula.  The Roman Poet Catullus had a villa here and was named after the Grotto of Catullus; the remains of a Roman Villa which supposedly belonged to Caius Catullus. As we wondered through the streets just following the faint scents of spices.

 

My sister and I found ourselves in front of a pizzeria serving the most aromatic freshly stone baked pizzas. Hidden and away from the main tourist trails but still just a few meters from the lake it was perfectly situated. Still filled with curiosity and wondering the little streets we found ourselves the perfect little spot to sit and bask in the sun while we let the lunch settle. Two seats on the edge of the lake, as if they knew we were coming.

 

Hidden in Via  Porto Bianchi on the corner of  Albergo Restorante. Shoes off and feet soaking in the clear lake water. So clear you can see the fish swimming near by and ducks and swans gracefully floating by. If you want to take relaxation further, Sirmione also harbors a spa house right on the lake; Terme Catullo.

Sunday – Malcesine

 

 

You are greeted by the Scaligero Castle as the boat pulls into Malcesine. The 31-meter high pentagonal is clearly visible from a distance with a back drop of Monte Baldo Mountains. The castle entrance is hidden through stoned alleyways on the town. Malcesine is also where you can get a cable car and go to Monte Baldo for the panoramic views of Lake Garda.  

 

Unfortunately on the day we went there was limited visibility so there was no point to go all the way to Monte Baldo because it was covered by clouds. So we stopped half way at San Michele. Even with the slight haze the view from San Michele down the lake was truly amazing. Very picturesque…It would be even better on a clear sunny day.

 

 

Day Trips from Verona

Unless you have an unlimited budget and plenty of time then Verona is a fantastic base to stay and do day trips to Venice, Lake Garda Towns or even Milan. I may have cheated a little as I have stayed in Verona before. Last year I did a 4-city 7-day tour(Verona, Venice, Bergamo and Paris).

 

Trains from Verona are fairly easy and frequent. Verona is also also unspoiled, rich with historical places to visit. Or if you just want to sit in authentic Italian cafes sipping coffee while people watching, then there are plenty of charm in Verona to keep you busy. Verona also has the world’s largest open amphitheater and Juliet’s House(think Shakespear!) or Casa di Julietta is also in Verona.

Lets talk Money!

 

Compared to London, transport is cheap as chips!  The prices I pay to go to Peterborough each week I could have paid for the tickets below and still have change for a slice of pizza.

• Transfer from Verona airport to was only 6euros
• Verona to Desenzano 3.70euros
• Desenzano to Milan 18.50euros
• Train from Cardona(Milan station) to Milan Malpensa Airport 11euros
• Verona to Venice 20euros(last year)
• Urban travelcard(day train ticket – Milan) 4.50euros

Where to stay