via porto vecchio - Desenzano del Garda
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It’s more than a simple tourist itinerary: Lake Garda’s west coast and hinterland are a treasure trove full of flavours, tastes, panoramic attractions, and historic and cultural sites. Since 2001, the area stretching from Sirmione to Limone sul Garda has been the object of an intense promotion activity thanks to the not-for-profit association “Strada dei Vini e dei Sapori del Garda”. Let’s find out what the most fascinating tours and food&wine attractions are.
Lake Garda Wine and Flavour Route – a 360-degree holiday experience
Nature, landscapes, and a large offering of walk and bike paths, easily accessible beaches, swimming, but also culture and food are the highlights of this region. A dream holiday on Lake Garda, a highly sought-after destination for those who are looking for a comprehensive holiday.
To enhance the tourist experience, Lake Garda Wine and Flavour Route has selected about 100 members between wineries, hotels, agritourisms, oil mills, local farmers and producers, museums, and institutions all complying with a strict quality protocol and able to guarantee high-quality products and services.
Are you ready to plan your holiday? Start from here!
Wine, olive oil, and other Lake Garda delicacies
A corner of paradise which never stops surprising you: stunning nature in Sirmione; gentle morainic hills in Valtènesi; wonderful views from Tignale, Tremosine, and Limone; and promotion and preservation of local food&wine traditions.
The area promoted by Lake Garda Wine and Flavour Route includes the region where the highly appreciated DOC wines Lugana, Garda Classico, San Martino della Battaglia and D.O. Valtènesi red and “chiaretto” are produced. Other strictly local specialties are:
- Garda DOP Extra-virgin olive oil, delicate and very digestible;
- Lake fish: clean and with abundant fish, the waters of Lake Garda are the home of trout, eel, coregone white fish, pike, perch, sardine, alborelle, and precious carp;
- Fresh and aged cheese: in addition to Grana Padano DOP and Provolone Valpadana DOP, Valtènesi and Tremosine formaggelle are also in high demand.;
- Valtènesi truffle: white and black;
- Grappa made with Groppello or Lugana grapes;
- Cured meats, among which coppa aged in Garda Classico red wine, soppressa bresciana, and salame col filetto;
- Lake Garda lemons, signature fruit of the area grown in historic lemon gardens recently restored and reopened to the public.
A 100% authentic tradition which is promoted and preserved thanks also to the support of local producers and agritourisms, as wells as the guided tours and tastings that they organise. From Wine Tour of Valtènesi to Hiking with a sommelier, check the section “Taste in Brescia” and choose the experience that best fits you and your family.
Lake Garda Wine and Flavour Route: suggested itineraries
The association Lake Garda Wine and Flavour Route has designed several customisable itineraries, from day trips with winery and oil mill tours to multi-day trips. These itineraries showcase local products and at the same time are a great opportunity to learn about this area from the perspective of culture, archaeology, landscape, museums, and also sports. The most practised ones are windsurf, kite surf, golf, horseback riding, and sailing.
There are 11 available itineraries at the moment:
- 5 itineraries by car: “Valtènesi”, “The shores of Valtènesi”, “Lugana and San Martino”, “From Salò to Sirmione”, “Parco Alto Garda Bresciano – Upper Lake Garda Park”;
- 6 itineraries by bike: Sirmione – Lugana (32 km), Bedizzole – Valtènesi (30 km), Desenzano – Lonato – Salò (44 km), Salò – Rocca di Manerba (33 km), Corna Vecchia (MTB, 19 km), Salò fraz. Serniga (MTB, 16,5 km).
Along the road there are affiliated accommodation facilities ready to offer the best local hospitality and dishes made with traditional raw materials paired with local wines.
From the cultural and panoramic perspective, you can’t miss Desenzano Castle, Lonato del Garda Roman Forges, the complex of San Martino della Battaglia Tower, Museum, and Ossuary, and Catullus Grottos in Sirmione. Moving north along the coast, we highly recommend visiting Rocca di Manerba, Vittoriale degli Italiani, and Paper Mill Valley with the Paper museum in Toscolano. Inside Upper Lake Garda Park, you can’t miss Lake Valvestino, a true Eden where nature is still in its pristine state.
For details about the itineraries, check the official tour map. To learn more about the region, its typical products, and the Wine Route member list, visit the official website of Strada dei Vini e dei Sapori del Garda.
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