In the common opinion of tourists and the Italians themselves, Lago di Garda is considered the most beautiful lake in Italy. It was formed by glaciers at the end of the last Ice Age and nowadays Lake Garda is the largest and cleanest of the Italian lakes and one of the most stunning lakes in all of Europe. Lago di Garda is surrounded by impressive and very picturesque Dolomites mountains to the north and by beautiful green hills to the south that reach the flatland of the river Po. Its shores are literally dotted by numerous small towns and villages with medieval heritage. Unsurprisingly, one could easily imagine making an entire vacation of visiting them.
Peschiera del Garda history goes back to the ancient times when the town was an essential strongpoint for the Romans, who called this settlement Arilica. Since the Middle Ages, Peschiera del Garda was a strategically located city used as a military center guarding the outflow of Lake Garda into the Mincio River. Therefore, it’s not surprising that Peschiera has impressive fortifications and its defensive system is visible both on land and on water. The majority of the Peschiera del Garda fortress which can be seen today initially dates from the 16th century. Peschiera Old Town lies within them, on the island, while the rest of the town occupies the banks of the Mincio River.
Travel tip: Peschiera del Garda forts, castles, towers, fortresses, prisons and museums are tourist-friendly and there are many spots that offer flawless perspectives onto the waterways of the Mincio River and Lake Garda.
It’s really worth seeing all pentagon-shaped fortifications surrounding Peschiera del Garda Old Town that have been registered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Porta Verona is the main sight to behold and one of the two entrances to the very heart of the Old Town.
Travel tip: Porta Verona is a very imposing building but at the same time its gates are quite narrow, therefore common traffic jams can ruin your sightseeing so plan your visit accordingly.
Travel tip: As far as the museums are concerned, the locals highly suggest visiting the Museo della Pesca (Fishing Museum), but even though it’s free, it’s only open on Saturdays.
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| Santuario della Madonna, Peschiera del Garda, Lake Garda | Veneto, Italy | source: Wikimedia |
3. Enjoy a network of picturesque waterways
Whether you’re out for a walk, a boat ride, or just stopping by, Peschiera del Garda is a perfect place to appreciate lovely views on Dolomites mountains, Lake Garda and Mincio River waterways. If you prefer to stroll around town, you should definitely take a closer look at Peschiera scenic harbor area, its beautiful canals (there is even an option for a gondola ride) and a waterfront promenade along Lake Garda. You will be amazed by its turquoise water and the truly Mediterranean Peschiera del Garda climate. Also, we recommend embarking on one of the Peschiera del Garda boat trips or tours to fully enjoy the spectacle of the area.
Travel tip: We highly advise against visiting Peschiera del Garda during the blossoming chestnuts period (second half of April), especially when the weather is warm and windless. There are so many of them in Peschiera del Garda Old Town that their smell can be too powerful to enjoy a relaxing stroll, while their effect on allergy sufferers might be painful.
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| Peschiera del Garda waterway, Lake Garda | Veneto, Italy |
4. Relax at unique Bracco Baldo beach
Peschiera del Garda Bracco Baldo beach lies at the shore of the cleanest lake in Italy, so we assure you that swimming in Lake Garda is perfectly safe. Keep in mind though, that the pebbled and fenced Bracco Baldo beach is not a typical beach because it’s canine-friendly. There are even large bowls, water buckets and a shower for dogs. Despite this, Bracco Baldo beach is as clean as the water in the lake – with a minimum amount of seaweed and algae.
Travel tip: You can rent a set of 2 sunbeds and an umbrella for 15 EUR (a dog lounger is for free!). There are also nice restaurants and cafes nearby and a pedal boat rental point with slides (10 EUR for 1h).
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| Bracco Baldo beach, Peschiera del Garda, Lake Garda | Veneto, Italy |
5. Choose from a wide range of water sports
If you love water sports, Peschiera del Garda is the right place for you. Since Peschiera is truly surrounded by the water (it sometimes even looks like the island), there are numerous possibilities to explore and enjoy its fascinating waterways and Lago di Garda itself. You can easily rent all types of floating vessels in Peschiera del Garda. From simple pedalos and stand-up paddles to fast motorboats and larger sailing boats. Jet skis are also available.
Travel tip: Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy, therefore its constant, quite strong winds can be annoying at the very least. Fortunately, Peschiera del Garda is located in a natural bay, where the wind is much less noticeable.
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| Peschiera del Garda, Lake Garda | Veneto, Italy |
6. Have fun in theme parks – Gardaland and Canevaworld
For those of you who travel with kids or would like to have a different type of activities, Peschiera del Garda is a perfect base to enjoy some of the best theme parks in Italy.
Gardaland, a world-famous entertainment park and one of Europe’s top theme parks, is roughly 4 km from Peschiera del Garda. It’s roller coasters will have you quaking in your boots, while it’s new, first in Europe, Legoland water park will guarantee the maximum amount of fun.
Canevaworld, located 5 km from Peschiera del Garda, is actually two parks in one – a Movie Studio (a park inspired by cinema settings that is full of amusements and hi-tech attractions) and the most popular and largest Aquapark in the area.
Travel tip: If you have more time to spare than you should also visit Parco Natura Viva, where you can drive through the Safari Park or you could visit a pleasant Parco Giardinó Sigurta, which is said to be one of the five most beautiful gardens in the world.
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| Blue Tornado in Gardaland, Lake Garda | Veneto, Italy | source: Wikimedia |
Peschiera del Garda travel tips
1. It takes only 13 minutes to go from Verona Porta Nuova train station to Peschiera del Garda (3,60 EUR). Also, express from Peschiera del Garda to Milan will take you there in less than an hour (express to Venice is around an hour and a half). Peschiera del Garda’s train station is about 1 km from the center of town. You can walk, or take a taxi from the station.
2. While in Peschiera del Garda, you can hire a boat, take a voyage on a ship or the hydrofoil to lakeside towns, (we recommend Sirmione and Bardolino) in a short space of time. Watching breathtaking Lake Garda views directly from the surface of the lake is a wonderful experience by itself.
3. Peschiera del Garda is popular even outside of the main season because it’s a significant business community with various shops, shopping centers and plentiful good restaurants where you can sample local wine (Bardolino) and specialties. Anyway, always remember about the Italian siesta between 1 P.M. and 4 P.M when most stores and premises are closed.
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