Lake Garda (Italian:
Lago di Garda or Benaco) is the largest lake in Italy. It is located in Northern
Italy. It is in an alpine region and was formed by glaciers at the end of the
last ice age. The lake and its shoreline are divided between the provinces of
Verona (to the south-east), Brescia (south-west), and Trento (north). 
FORMATION AND ISLANDS:
the northern part of the lake is narrower, surrounded by mountains, the major of
which belong to the “Gruppo del Baldo”. The shape is that typical of a morain
valley, probably having been formed under the action of a Paleolithic glacier.
The lake has five islands, the largest being Isola del Garda. Nearby is the Isola dei Conigli or San Biagio. Both face San Felice del Benaco, on the Brescian side. The three smaller islands are Isola dell'Olivo, Isola di Sogno and Isola di Trimelone.
CLIMATE: the temperate climate favoured the growing of some mediterranean plants (such as olive-groves) and contributed to make Lake Garda an important tourist place. Famous, but not so widespread as in the past, are the LIMONAIE (Lemon and cedar hauses)
WINDS: ORA It’s the most constant and famous wind. It blows with a speed of 10/12 metres per second, starting during the first hours of the afternoon and lasting until the evening.
Localities and sights
TORBOLE: the municipality of Nago-Torbole contains the subdivisions: Torbole, Nago, and Tempesta.
Sightseeings: Saint Andrea church, Goethe-travel, Penede castle, Marmitte glacial era wells;
Windsurf and Sailing: The secrets of Alto Garda Trentino are kept by the winds that during every season unfurl a multitude of coloured sails. Winds with which men have been working and amusing themselves for ages. ORA reaches Torbole from the South, after running through the whole length of the lake and here it causes a remarkable wave motion.
RIVA: is located
at the north-western corner of Lake Garda (70 m above sea level). Mount
Rocchetta (1,575 m) rises steeply to the west, with Mount Baldo (2,218 m) to the
east. This location makes Riva del Garda one of the most spectacular spots
around Lake Garda. Riva del Garda belonged to the republic of Venice and later
to the Austro-Hungarian empire until 1918. Since 1918 Riva del Garda has been a
part of Italy.Sightseeings: The Civic Museum is located in the Rocca, a medieval fortress placed on the lake, bounded by a canal with lifting bridge; the Apponale-Tower, near the port; the Bastione, a venetian fort built on the slope of Mount Rocchetta, at 160 mts high. Notable are: Lake Tenno, Lake Ledro with its paleoethnographic museum, and the Varone falls of great geological interest.
SIRMIONE: The eventful history of the Penisula has had many hights and lows, but Sirmione has never lost its magic. Sirmione is simple and complex, young and old, full of life and movemeunt but also silent and contemplative.
Sightseeing: Grotte di Catullo, Scaliger Castle, Spa Establishment, near the spring Boiola, where water has a temperature of 69°; the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, 15th Century, built on an ancient pagan temple.
DESENZANO: on the south-western end of the Lake is with its 20.000 inhabitants the only proper town on the Lake. Already during the Middle ages Desenzano was an important trading place in Northern Italy. The well restored business houses along the harbour Porto Vecchio and in the old town are reminders of a glorious past. Desenzano offers a rich night-life with its many discos and bars. But there are also numerous possibilities: swimming pools, riding stables and tennis courts which are available throughout the whole year.
Sightseeings: the Town Hall: of XVI Century; the Cathedral: dedicated to Saint Mary Maddalena, that keeps in its interior the beautiful picture of the “Last dinner” of Gianbattista Tiepolo; the Castle: is situated on a hill, where’s the medival centre of Desenzano, has been re-built many times but it dates back to the 15th Century; Santa Maria de Senioribus: Carmelite Convent of 15th Century; the Villa Romana: built between 3rd and 5th Century b.C., has on its interior some wondelful mosaic and some fresco-rests.
GARDONE RIVIERA:
is the town of Gabriele D’Annunzio (an italian poet), his House after the II
W.W. , creating the VITTORIALE DEGLI ITALIANI , making in this way Gardone
Riviera more famous. Today Gardone is one of the most important place of Lake
Garda,with its charming historical centre, its narrow streets, its amazing
lakeside and its marvellous Villas.Da vedere: Villa Fiordaliso, house of Claretta Setacci, Mussolini’s partner; botanic Garden of Hruska, built at the beginning of 20th Century, has in its interior over 2.000 type of plants; the Vittoriale, ex Villa del Cargnacco built on '600, that Gabriele d'Annunzio bought as his Residence.
MALCESINE: is one
of the most intresting villages of Lake Garda; dominated by the ancient Castle,
symbol of the east-side of the lake; In 1786 in Malcesine lived for a short
period the german poet Wolfang Goethe.Sightseeings: the Castle, scaliger fort, whereScaliger Museum is situated; Palazzo dei Capitani del Lago, venetian-style that today became the Town Hall; Church of Santa Maria della Fontana (17th century) and the Church of Santo Stefano. Mount Baldo with its marvellous lanskapes, famous skying station, reachable through many streets or with the new cableway.
LIMONE: ist name
comes from latin, limes = limit, because it was the last place of western
lakeside, very closed to the limit between Italy and Austria, on the Ponale
street.
