The most beautiful villages of Lake Garda
Situated around the lake or located in the provinces surrounding it, there are many small villages where you can enjoy the atmosphere of bygone times.
These include Cassone di Malcesine and Limone sul Garda, as well as other small towns around Lake Garda that have become known as “The Most Beautiful Villages of Italy”, such as Tremosine, Castellaro Lagusello, Borghetto sul Mincio, Rango nel Bleggio, Canale di Tenno and, further afield in the province of Mantua, Sabbioneta.
All the most beautiful villages around Lake Garda are within easy reach of Sirmione.
Cassone di Malcesine
Overlooking the eastern shore of the lake, Cassone can be reached from Sirmione by car, along the Gardesana Orientale road, or by ferry boat.
It is located in the town of Malcesine and is a medieval village crossed by the shortest river in the world, Aril or Ri, which rises and flows for about 200 metres before plunging into Lake Garda.
It is a lovely place to visit all year round and displays a charming nativity scene perched on the Aril river at Christmas and it also holds the traditional Cyclamen Festival during the summer.
Limone sul Garda
You can reach Limone sul Garda from Sirmione by ferry boat or by taking the Gardesana Occidentale road to the top of the lake.
Limone sul Garda is the starting point of the most popular bicycle and pedestrian path on Lake Garda, which you can also use with rented bicycles.
In addition to the walkway, attractions in the area include beautiful beaches, such as the long Tifu beach, and walks in the surrounding area, where you can admire the 15-metre-high Sopino natural waterfall and explore the Sentiero del Sole (Sun Trail) with wondeful lake views.
Tremosine e la terrazza del brivido
From Sirmione, Tremosine can be reached by car along the Gardesana Occidentale road and then along the inland roads, the road from Limone, the Tignalga road from Tignale or the Strada della Forra road.
Terrazza del Brivido, located in the town of Tremosine, can be translated as the “Terrace of Thrill”. It owes its name to the fact that it is situated on an overhanging cliff that an incredibile view of the Lake and mountains and it gives visitors the feeling of floating in air.
The route up through the Strada della Forra, carved into the rock of the mountain, to Pieve di Tremosine is very impressive. From here you can take the many paths from Tremosine to the surrounding villages, feasting at the end of the walk on the delicious local Tremosine cheese. The Strada della Forra will reopen to the public in 2022. For more information contact the Tremosine Infopoint on +39 0365953185 or email: info@infotremosine.it.
Castellaro Lagusello
Castellaro Lagusello is a very old village that has an enchanting setting at any time of the year. It is located in the moraine hills at the lower end of the lake in the Monzambano area. It can be easily reached from Sirmione by car using the internal provincial roads.
Castellaro Lagusello is also the venue for enjoyable events such as its Christmas market and the spring Flower Festival, as well as Castellaro Buskers, a festival of street artists who come to provide entertainment in the historic town centre for a few days in the summer.
Borghetto sul Mincio
From Sirmione you can drive to the town of Borghetto in Valeggio sul Mincio, by going in the direction of Peschiera del Garda and then taking the regional road 249 Gardesana Orientale towards Valeggio.
In Borghetto sul Mincio you can stroll through the village, enjoy the romantic charm of the old houses and water mills, have lunch in a restaurant on the river or in the trattorias and restaurants in the surrounding area, try the tasty Tortellino di Valeggio, or you can rent a bike and ride along the cycle path and appreciate the wonderful views of the river Mincio.
Rango nel Bleggio
To get to Trentino and visit Rango nel Bleggio you can leave from Sirmione by car and take the A22 motorway to Trento Sud and then in the direction of Madonna di Campiglio and Comano Terme, or by train to Trento and then by bus.
Rango nel Bleggio is a marvellous dive into the past: in this village, part of the town of Bleggio Superiore, you can rediscover the shapes and objects of times gone by, with its stone houses, vaults, cellars and porticoes. In December you can explore its delightful Christmas Market.
Canale di Tenno
The medieval village of Canale di Tenno can be reached by car from Sirmione in the direction of Riva del Garda, on the Gardesana Occidentale road, or by taking the A22 up to Rovereto; to get to Canale it is necessary to pass Tenno and then take the SS 421 Laghi road for another stretch.
Immersed in the atmosphere of the Trentino mountains, Canale di Tenno is a small village with all the charm of times gone by, where you can stroll through the narrow stone streets and enjoy the peasant objects and trades of the past, as well as visit the Giacomo Vittone House of Artists.
Every year the village is the scene of charming Christmas markets and the fascinating Rustico Medioevo themed event.
Sabbioneta
Located about thirty kilometres from Mantua, Sabbioneta can be reached from Sirmione by car following the provincial roads through the moraine hills and the province of Mantua.
Founded by Vespasiano Gonzaga, the last representative of a secondary branch of the great Mantuan dynasty, it was built as an ‘Ideal City‘ with its striking irregular hexagonal shape and well-preserved walls that surround it.
It is a place of great charm, situated on a plain, and it has many attractions that can be seen on a day trip: the main sights include the Teatro all’Antica or Teatro Olimpico (theatre), Palazzo Ducale (The Ducal Palace), Palazzo Giardino (The Garden Palace) and the Galleria degli Antichi (The Gallery of the Ancient).
The most beautiful villages of Lake Garda: the map
If you want to visit the most beautiful villages of Lake Garda, you can find them all in the map below:
