Lake Garda

Garda is the size of a small province: three hundred and seventy square kilometres, a hundred and fifty of shoreline, and three regions around it. The Lombard part is the western shore, from Sirmione to Limone, and it has the highest concentration of campsites in northern Italy.

The lake changes character halfway along. To the south it is wide, shallow and ringed by moraine hills: this is the part with the beaches, the large villages and the families. To the north it narrows between rock walls six hundred metres high, the wind becomes constant, and the sailors and windsurfers arrive.

The winds

Garda has two regular winds that take turns every day: the Peler blows from the north early in the morning, the Ora from the south in the afternoon. That is why the upper lake is one of the best-known sailing grounds in Europe, and why it pays to know what time you go out.

What there is nearby

Sirmione with its fortress and the grottoes of Catullus, Desenzano with its Roman villa, Salo and the Vittoriale at Gardone, Limone with its citrus terraces. Verona is half an hour away, Brescia forty minutes, Mantua an hour. The theme parks are on the Verona shore and in summer are reached by boat.

In August the lake is very full, and the best sites are booked in winter. In May and September the water is colder but there is room and the main road can be driven.