Lake Garda, Italy. Lake Garda on the map of Italy

Lake Garda (Italy) embodies the most incredible quirks of nature. It is impressive not only for the immense size, but also for an interesting combination of olive plantations, sandy beaches and alpine terrain. Perhaps, it is thanks to this tour to Lake Garda is very popular. Natural beauties are complemented by local sights, historical monuments, health resorts. The climate here always has a wonderful and unforgettable rest. Year-round ready to host guests on Lake Garda. Italy is rich in beautiful places, but this pre-Alpine pond deserves special attention.

general information

The lake is conveniently located between three regions: Trentino, Veneto, Lombardy. Scientists still do not have a common opinion about its origin. Some believe that the reservoir was formed from a glacier, others argue that the version of the tectonic formation looks more realistic. Who of them is right, can only guess. However, this is not so important ...

Lake Garda on the map of Italy is easy to find: it is between Venice and Milan, and the nearest tourist center is located just a couple of kilometers Verona. The length of the reservoir extends to 51.9 kilometers, and the largest width exceeds 16 kilometers. The northern part of Lake Garda (Italy) is surrounded by mountains, reaching a height of two thousand meters. The area of the reservoir is 370 square meters, the maximum depth is 346 meters, the length of the coast is 130 kilometers. This is the largest lake in the country. On its right bank stretches Verona, and on the left - the province of Brescia. The pond is very attractive for tourists, the rest here come both the Italians themselves and foreign travelers. Tours to Lake Garda (Italy) are acquired by families with children, and young people - for every category of people there is a lot of entertainment. On the banks of the reservoir are 84 tent camps, there are 12 schools of sailing, there are 24 high panoramic observation platforms with the possibility of access.

Climatic features

It is a southern pre-Alpine pond with a unique climate. The mountain peaks of the Dolomites never pass a cold wind. In summer the weather remains warm, but not too hot - the temperature does not exceed twenty-two degrees. In winter, the thermometer does not drop below zero. Garda - a lake, the water temperature on the surface of which on average does not rise above twelve degrees. Sometimes, as a result of the fall of atmospheric pressure, a significant rise in water occurs. Sometimes storms happen here, but meteorologists warn about them in advance. Tours to Lake Garda (Italy) are so popular also thanks to excellent fishing. This place is just perfect for catching fish - there are a lot of pike, cod, trout, tench, etc. in it.

Natural conditions

Surrounding landscapes attract attractive landscapes and lush vegetation. Rocky northern mountains are replaced by gently sloping, southern hills. A mild climate creates excellent conditions for Mediterranean vegetation: there are plenty of orange, lemon, olive trees, bergamot, cypresses, orchids, and vineyards. Perhaps, it is because of natural features that the ancient Romans placed their rich villas here and organized a settlement. Certainly not the least role in this was the presence of thermal springs, which are now famous for their curative properties.

A bit of history

This territory people began to develop in the bronze and iron centuries. On the fertile lands, the tribes of the Etruscans, Ligurians, Venetians, Gauls replaced each other. The most significant part of history is the conquest of this area by the Roman Empire. Once Lake Garda was called Benacus. The pond always aroused interest, because it acted as an important strategic place in which the Padina Plain and northern Europe were reported. Those who controlled the lake, controlled and navigation, but for the feudal lords in those days it was especially important. The Romans seized this territory in 963. Milan dukes Visconti owned the lake in the fourteenth century, and already in 1815 it became the property of the Austrian Empire (belonged to the imperial family of the Habsburgs).

Entertainment

Rest on Lake Garda (Italy) is remembered by first-class service. Tourists have the opportunity to have fun in water parks, visit historical monuments, take a walk in a variety of parks, among which is the most beautiful botanical garden in Sigurtha. Lake Garda on the map of Italy is located in the best way, holidaymakers can easily reach the most famous cities of the country: visit romantic Venice, fashionable Milan and, of course, magnificent Verona, where no other tourist has remained indifferent to the thousand-year-old Arena - the open-air opera scene.

Of course, there are all kinds of water activities. The most common are windsurfing and diving, presented at a professional level. Without a doubt, a lot of fun will be provided by a canoe trip, and fishing will give you the opportunity to really feel far away from civilization. Tourists who came to Lake Garda (Italy) can do almost any kind of sport: golf, cycling, tennis, horse riding. There are also walks along the mountain trails. It seems that Lake Garda never falls asleep. Italy is a country of gay people, and here it is felt especially brightly. At night, vacationers are immersed in the atmosphere of bars and discos, and fireworks illuminate the colored lights not only the sky, but the water.

Wind

About this phenomenon should be said separately. Lake Garda (Italy) attracts thousands of outdoor enthusiasts every year thanks to its winds that allow windsurfing. For this water entertainment the most convenient is the northern part of the reservoir, which is called Dyuza. There is always an even wind moving from the mountain peaks. It arises from the difference in temperatures of land and water. A warm soft airflow accelerates the waves at speeds of up to fifty kilometers per hour. Every year in June, the world's windsurfing stars come here for the King of Lake competitions. The most successful time for conquering waves is the velvet season (September).

Lake Garda, Italy: attractions

This place is especially attractive for those who are interested in the history of Italy. Here you will find amazing, yet unexplored sights. Perhaps the most famous of them is the castle in the town of Sirmione, located directly above the water surface. It was erected by the lord of Mastino in the eighteenth century to protect the entrance to the city. The height of the castle is 35 meters, you can get inside only by the lift bridge. In the storehouses of the building are unique collections of medieval and Roman tombstones. Crossing the castle a small passage connects the Christian ancient temple with the ruins occupying the space of two hectares of an ancient Roman villa, which is the largest building of this type in northern Italy.

Another great place in Sirmione is the thermal springs of Boyol, reaching the surface from the eighteen-meter-deep lake, where the water temperature exceeds sixty degrees. It is these sources that have made the city famous as one of the best thermal resorts in the country.

Desenzano del Garda

This city was once founded by the Romans, it was a thriving fishing port of the Roman Empire, and developed as a resort began only in the twentieth century. Now many who come to Lake Garda (Italy), stop right here. There is much to see in the city. What is worth only the towering above Desenzano ancient villa, which looks like a real castle. Not far from it is the Cathedral of St. Maria Magdalena, where the original of the picture of Janbattista Tiepolo "The Last Supper" is kept. In the cathedral for viewing are other works of art.

Wine Museum

You should definitely visit this place. Here, in 1870, the first wine cellars appeared. A lot of photos presented in the museum will show how the region developed winemaking. Going down, you can taste the best samples yourself. The drink, produced in the valley of Lake Garda, is considered to be one of the best in Italy and is exported to many countries. These are the famous brands Lugana, Novello, Bianco di Custoza, Chiaretto and others. The museum has the opportunity to purchase wine for bottling and directly from the manufacturer.

"Gardaland"

Those who want to get vivid impressions and unforgettable sensations, you need to look at the amusement park "Gardaland", located on the very shore of Lake Garda. Here are all kinds of entertainment facilities, not inferior to Disneyland. However, the park has completely different attractions (mostly water), characters and performances. In this place it will be interesting not only for children - adults in "Gardaland" become children and with pleasure turn into pirates, take part in excavations of Egyptian pyramids, tremble with fear in the "Dead loop", travel on the underground river, tickle nerves, hanging upside down In the "Bat". The amusement park gives both small and big things that in everyday life are so lacking: the feeling of a real holiday, in which every person is not just a spectator, but a direct participant.

Other places of interest

On Lake Garda is one of the most modern and large water parks in Italy - Caneva World, you can also visit another large water park, offering many types of water attractions - Cavour. Do not ignore and MovieStudios Park - a place where you can meet the most popular heroes of world cinema.

Those who want to hide from everyday bustle and noise, it is recommended to visit the park Sigurta, which contains rare types of flowers and plants. This is the only park in the whole of Italy, where you can ride a bicycle or car. At the same time it is an ideal place for hiking. The territory consists of fifty hectares and represents a truly green corner of Italy. Park Sigurta is recognized as the best example of park architecture. Artificially created grottoes and lakes are intertwined with picturesque alleys and various compositions from shrubs, flowers and trees.

Another amazing place is Natura Viva. This safari park in the open air, where a variety of animals are collected, including the inhabitants of the terrarium.

Often tourists come to Lake Garda for the purpose of recovery. In this case, you just need to visit the thermal park Villa dei Cedri, which is a kind of natural hospital with thermal springs, which have special grottos designed for swimming. There are also services for hydromassage.

How to get to Lake Garda

The largest airport in the area of the lake is the aerial port of Verona named Valerio Catullo. You can also reach the pond from the airports of Milan: Malpensa, Linate and Bergamo, Venice airport named after Marco Polo, a small Brescia Montichiari airport. From Milan and Venice, you can get to Lake Garda by train Trenltalia, which runs between these places (you should go to Desenzano del Garda, which we already mentioned). To get to the reservoir by car is also not difficult: if the destination is the southern part of the lake, you should go along the A4 (Venice-Milan) highway, and if the northern one - along the A22 (Modena-Brenner) highway; Along the western coast passes the road SS 45 bis Gardesana Occidentale, along the east - SS 249 Gardesana Orientale.

Moving along the lake

Transport navigation began to develop here at the very beginning of the nineteenth century. The possibility of movement is currently represented by several transport lines connecting Riva del Garda, Torri and Maderno with Peschiera and Desenzano del Garda, Malcesine with Limone. There are also special ferry flights along the route from the central part of the reservoir to the upper one. In the summer, motor ships and speedboats cruise along the lake, allowing you to travel at such a speed that you can see most of the sights in one day.

Ultramodern catamarans are considered a feature of the transport system, they can accommodate up to three hundred passengers, and the power is medium between the boat and the ship. Without leaving the car, you can cross the lake on the ferries "Mincio" and "Adamello". The cheapest way to travel between coastal cities is by buses that run both on the east and west coasts.

Finally

Now you know a lot about such a wonderful place, as Lake Garda (Italy). The photos presented in the article will help to feel the atmosphere of this most attractive resort. But, of course, even the best pictures will not produce the impression that tourists get when they come to the lake and saw with their own eyes all its beauty. Having visited this wonderful place at least once, you will gain unforgettable impressions and always keep a piece of Italy in your heart. There is a legend that the water of Lake Garda prolongs people's lives so that they can still go back and forth. The sea of positive emotions and excellent state of health will become the best souvenirs that you will surely take away in memory of this beautiful pond. Do not miss the unique opportunity to relax from everyday life, improve your health, recharge your energy and cheerfulness. Have a good travel!