I spent a week exploring a corner of Lake Garda, soaking up stunning views, long sun-baked days and a whole lot of good food. Italy has always had a big slice of my heart and this lovely spot didn’t disappoint.
Our destination was Torri Del Benaco, a gorgeous lake-side town which – while busy and full of life in the evenings – never felt crowded. Each evening we’d wander along the lakes edge, perusing menus, enjoying the live music and watching the swans stealthily sneaking up on unsuspecting tourists.
There are plenty of private beaches close to the town if you fancy a long lazy day at the lakes edge. Technically most of these come at a fee, although we did end up accidentally wandering on to one after a brief scramble down a cliff – not sure this is advised though! Baia del Sirene was a firm favourite, sheltered in the pine trees the bay opens out into a stunning cove where you can swim in the lake until your hearts content.
One of the things I was most looking forward to, and about the only thing we pre-planned to do, was taking the cable car from Malcesine to Monte Baldo’s sloping peaks. A short ride which whisks you up 1760m above sea level in about fifteen minutes, with 360 views of the lake below. If you’re visiting in the height of July, like we were, it’s hard to believe that this is a bustling ski resort in summer, although the distant snowy peaks are a beautiful reminder. It’s a popular spot for paragliders and I couldn’t get used to the slightly surreal way people strap themselves to each other and stroll off the edge of the mountain. Naturally, we opted for the less adrenaline-fuelled way of taking in the views, with a walk right along the peak, meeting some alpacas on the way (!).
In fair Verona… We were hot. Too hot, in fact. So much so that we took our burning British skin to the nearest shady spot we could find which turned out to be the gorgeous gardens of Palazzo Giusti. Found on the east side of the city, a short walk from the centre, the 16th century palace is also home to a sun-dappled garden that will give you all of the Call Me By Your Name vibes.
The snippets of Verona that we saw were beautiful, although I’d advise skipping the Romeo and Juliet themed spots and instead heading to Palazzo Giusti for views across the whole city.
The majority of the week was spent dipping in and out of the lake before heading out with sun-soaked skin for the evening – pure bliss!
Beautiful photos!