Outdoors in Italy’s Lake District

Visiting Italy usually brings to mind Rome and Florence, pasta and cappuccinos, cobbled streets, frescos, museums and plenty of crowds. However, you can visit Italy and enjoy an entirely different kind of holiday that’s packed with hiking, yachting, lounging on unspoilt beaches and exploring enchanting towns that surround breath-taking lakes.

Lake Garda is a good choice for those who like the outdoors but also want to explore a bit of northern Italy as well. The

largest lake in the country and located between Brescia and Verona, Lake Garda gives access to busier centres like Riva and Peschiera as well as quieter destinations on the Gardone Riviera and in Salò. Visitors eager to see Europe’s romance capital, Venice, also have easy access via the fashionable destination Desenzano on the southern plain of the lake.
Rich in history, Lake Garda is a treasure trove for visitors eager to read and learn about how the lake was formed by a glacier during the ice age, which resulted in its unique axe shape. The surrounding high fertility of the soil makes for abundant flora and fauna that are insulated by nearby mountains and supported by the warm, Mediterranean climate. Exploring the area, you can also come across impressive castles like the Castello di Malcesine and the old port of Desenzano del Garda.

There’s a wide variety of things to do, particularly for children, who will enjoy a visit to Gardaland. One of the most popular theme parks on the continent and located on the eastern shores of the lake, Gardaland has adrenaline-packed rollercoasters, water rides and even an interactive ghost train. There’s also plenty to do along the shores of the lake under the striking backdrop of the Monte Baldo including cycling, hiking, horseback riding, boating, fishing and much more.

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