Alluring Lake Garda beckoned us next. Lake Garda, Italy’s largest lake, is about 50 miles from Trento. It is located on the border between three regions: Lombardy, Veneto and Trentino. Lying at an elevation of 213 feet, the lake is 34 long and 2–11 miles wide. It has a shoreline of 77.5 miles and a maximum depth of 1,135 feet. The northern end by Mt. Baldy is narrow, and it gradually widens to the south where it is round. Citrus fruits, olives, vines, laurels, oleanders, cypresses, and palms are grown on the southern and western shores.
We traveled through vine-covered hills full of wineries to Malcesine on the lake where we visited the Castello Scaligero. Malcesine is the northernmost town on the Veronese coast of Lake Garda, on the border with the province of Trento, and is located about 60 km from Verona. It is close to Mt. Baldy.
There are traces of Roman settlement from the second century BCE. Then the town passed through the domination of Goths, Lombards, Scaligeri, Venetians, Austrians, and in 1866 became part of Italy.
The old town of Malcesine is built around the Castello Scaligero, the fortress of the city: surrounded by old buildings, narrow streets, and alleys.
The Castello Scaligero is a classic castle with internal courtyards, battlements, and spectacular views of the lake and town. It dates from the 13th century. You enter by a guard house on the first level to find a Natural History Museum. Then, going up the stairs, you come to Goethe’s room where the sketches of the Lake and of the castle drawn by Goethe during his Italian Journey are displayed. Outside is a small garden with the poet’s bust. Ascending to the next level is a second courtyard, called Rivellino, where you can admire the town, the lake, and the western side of Mount Baldo. On the stairway wall are the remains of a fresco. The views from the Castle were spectacular. The castle courtyards had sculptures made from trash, to emphasize the ecological effort of the area.
After we enjoyed the castle, we headed to an olive oil and balsamic vinegar maker and vintner: Cologna di Tenno. We tasted several olive oils and had a light lunch before meeting our boat in the village of Limone Sul Garda, where we had time before our cruise across the lake to Riva del Garda.
Limone sul Garda sits on the western bank of Lake Garda, and it is one of the most popular towns to visit. We stayed by the port in one of the many cafes to sip Capuchino and wait for our cruise time, enjoying the wonderful views of the lake. Interestingly, the street signs have lemons on them because of the name of the town.
Finally our cruise arrived and we spent the rest of the afternoon on the lake.
When we reached Riva del Garda at the northern tip of the Lake, we disembarked and got on our bus for our trip back to Trento.
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