Mount Baldo, the botanical garden of Europe
Monte Baldo has always been considered “Europe’s botanical garden”: it is a natural setting influenced by the presence of Lake Garda that has favoured the area’s luxuriant flora and the presence of a rich and fascinating fauna.
In summer this open-air nature reserve is a destination for hiking or bicycle rides on the paths that climb up from the eastern coast of the lake or the Adige Valley. It is also ideal for paragliding enthusiasts.
How to get to Mount Baldo
From Sirmione you can experience the extraordinary adventure of reaching Malcesine by ferry boat and then going up Mount Baldo using a cable car that operates from May to November. We recommend checking fares and timetables on the cable car and ferry boat websites.
Alternatively you can use your own vehicle and travel by car or motorbike from Sirmione to Malcesine, where you can park and then take the cable car up to Mount Baldo’s summit.
What to do on Mount Baldo
The panoramic cable car is an amazing way to enjoy in the captivating views of Mount Baldo and Lake Garda, without the need for a guide.
You can use it to reach the mountain lodges on the summit of the mountain and experience the astronomical observatory located near the Novezzina mountain lodge and discover how to observe the sky.
Or you can reach and visit the Mount Baldo Botanical Garden, located in Ferrara di Monte Baldo and learn about the many native species that have made this mountain such a unique nature reserve.
Sporting activities on Mount Baldo
You can enjoy many different sporting activities on Mount Baldo.
Trekking activities allow you to discover the area along various walking paths and tracks with varying degrees of difficulty. If you would like to learn more, check out this link.
Other possibilities include mountain bike trails, excursions along the vie ferrate climbing paths, horse riding, paragliding and skiing: you can find specific information at this link.
Hortus Europae: the special features of the flora and fauna of Mount Baldo
As far back as the 16th century, the meticulous work of the herbalist Francesco Calzolari featured the unique flora and fauna found on Mount Baldo, which has earned the name Hortus Europae, or Garden of Europe, as a place where the Mediterranean and Alpine natural environments meet.
It is possible to observe the spontaneous flora in every season – more than 500 species among which the Baldense anemone stands out – and to spot the numerous animal species that live here, including birds, badgers and marmots, the symbol of this mountain, that live alongside those bred by man.
It is not necessary to go on an excursion to Mount Baldo during a specific season: it is a place that gives pleasure all year round.
