Bardolino
The mild climate, the lake and the fertile hills have always been Bardolino's assets.
It was these same resources that caused this territory to be claimed by emperors, monks and noble families who built castles, palaces and monasteries. Throughout the centuries an extraordinary historical and artistic heritage.
Has formed revealed today by the towers and remains of the Scaliger walls, by the beautiful churches (small masterpieces of Romanesque art) and by the garden parks and Venetian style villas.
Today Bardolino has become one of the most renowned Italian tourist resorts. Here you'll find both the modern and the antique.
In Bardolino wine is the protagonist of the Chiaretto Wine Festival held in May, there's the ancient "Sagra dei Osei" (the Bird Festival) held in September at Cisano, Grape Festival held in October and of the Novello Wine Festival held in November and every Wendsday evening the traditional concert of the Philarmonic of Bardolino takes place in the main square.
The lake and the hills are ideal outdoor sports areas: in fact, Bardolino is host of the most important international Triathlon in Italy. Choices of sports include sailing, canoeing, water skiing, tennis, mountain biking and horseback riding. And, after a relaxing walk along the vineyards of the "strada del vino" (Wine Road), you can take a refreshing jump in the waters of Lake Garda.
Wine and oil can be bought directly from producers, who are usually willing to have their products sampled. There are shops that sell local artisan products and every Thursday morning the market is held in Bardolino. The church of Severo in Bardolino is a masterpiece of Romanesque art (San Pietro and San Vito, as well as the Pieve di Santa Maria in Cisano are of the same period). The fascinating little church of San Zeno of the 9th century is a bit older.
Lazise
The Lazise territory includes the coastal area of the lakeside and a vast internal area made up of morainic hills that gently slope towards the lake, among olive grooves and vineyards dotted with rows of cypresses.
The olive tree, cultivated on crags and side terraces, dominates the view of the hinterland of the coastal area of the lakeside. Vineyards are intensively cultivated in the surrounding lands where many appreciated wine farms are located.
Sirmione
Known to everyone as “ the pearl of the islands and peninsulas” thanks to Catullo, Sirmione is famous for it’s thermal water with it’s healing properties.
Situated on the south bank of Lake Garda, in correspondence with a long and narrow peninsula Sirmione was made even more famous thanks to writers such as Catullo, Stendhal, Lawrence and Goethe that honored its artistic and environmental beauty. To visit: Castello Scaligero – Villa Romana “Grotte di Catullo” – Chiesa di S. Pietro in Mavino – Chiesa di S. Anna della Rocca – Passeggiata delle Muse fino al Lido delle Bionde
