River at Day Trip: Verona, Lake Garda, Italy - Courtesy Jakub Halun

Day Trip: Verona

Primarily known as the setting for Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet, Verona is also an important UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its medieval architecture and city design. Dedicate a full day to exploring this charming city and wandering the narrow streets, stopping at local landmarks such as the preserved Roman arena, the legendary balcony of Juliet, the bustling Piazza Signoli, the Arch Scaligere and the 12th-century Duomo.

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Top View - Gardaland Amusement Park , Lake Garda, Italy

Gardaland Amusement Park

This vast theme park, one of the largest in the world, is full of heart-pumping thrill rides and amusements that are sure to entertain kids in a charming Italian setting. Indagare Tip: Avoid peak times when the park can get very busy.

Indagare Tours: Hiking

Serious hikers have more than ample opportunity to explore the mountains surrounding Lake Garda. Beginner walking tours can be arranged, but for seasoned outdoorsmen, Indagare can arrange full- or half-day hikes, including one to the top and along the ridge of Monte Baldo, which stands at just over 7,000 feet high, and others along the historical trails of World War I. Indagare members can contact the Bookings Team to arrange a guided hike.

Sea View - Indagare Tours: Private Boat Excursion , Lake Garda, Italy

Indagare Tours: Private Boat Excursion

The best way to take in Lake Garda’s dramatic landscape (and navigate between the towns, which are much farther by car) is by boat. From the water, one can navigate the massive lake on a vintage Riva boat, with stops at some of the major sights including Isola del Garda and Sirmione. Indagare members can contact the Bookings Team to arrange a private boat and a guide.

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Hills at Isola di Garda ,  Lake Garda, Italy

Isola di Garda

The largest island on Lake Garda, Isola di Garda is privately owned by the aristocratic Cavazza family, but has been open to visitors since 2002 for guided tours. The island is home to a spectacular neo-Gothic villa as well as lush gardens and a preserved park.

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Aerial View - Malcesine Cable Car , Lake Garda, Italy

Malcesine Cable Car

For panoramas of Lake Garda, take the Malcesine Cable Car to the top of Monte Baldo, one of the highest peaks around the lake. The cabins provide 360-degree views of the stunning landscape during the ride, but the views from the top of the mountain are unparalleled.

Aerial View-Salò ,Lake Garda, Italy

Salò

Founded by the Romans, associated with the Republic of Venice in the 15th century and established as Mussolini’s de facto capital of the Italian Social Republic, Salò, the largest city on Lake Garda’s shores, has had a long and storied history. Today, its picturesque promenade is the perfect spot to admire views of the lake and wander the town’s palazzos and narrow streets, which are lined with historic monuments, the grand Duomo and many shops and restaurants.

Aerial View-Sirmione ,Lake Garda, Italy-Courtesy Manfred Heyde

Sirmione

Once the destination of choice for the ancient Roman elite, Sirmione is now an incredibly well-preserved historic town and one of Lake Garda’s most historic attractions (human settlements date back to the 5th millennia BC). Located on a peninsula on the southern edge of the lake, Sirmione is surrounded on three sides by water and only connected to the mainland by the 13th-century Scaliger Castle’s drawbridge. Ferries connect the towns of Lake Garda to the commune, where some of the most striking Roman ruins (Catullo’s Grotto, the remains of a massive villa located on the tip of the peninsula) are located. Indagare members can contact the Bookings Team to arrange a guided hike.

Aerial View - Vittoriale degli Italiani , Lake Garda, Italy

Vittoriale degli Italiani

Perhaps the most peculiar sight on Lake Garda is the Vittoriale degli Italiani, a nine-acre hillside estate on the Gardone Riviera that belonged to the eccentric Italian writer Gabriele d’Annunzio until his death in 1938. The expansive grounds include d’Annunzio’s residence, an amphitheater, boathouse, mausoleum and the 300-foot naval ship Puglia, which d’Annunzio had placed in the gardens in 1925. D’Annunzio was a fierce opponent of the Italian fascist government and their alliance with Nazi Germany, so in an effort to keep him away from the political center in Rome, the government funded the expansion of his estate and donated impressive works of art to d’Annunzio’s collection.

Watersports

Italy’s largest lake is also one of its most clean and clear, for excellent swimming and watersports. Surprisingly, Lake Garda boasts great scuba diving. Divers can explore the crystal waters and the incredible boat wrecks (some from World War II), rock slopes and the statue of the Silent Christ, an 10-foot-tall sculpture by the artist Germano Alberti that lies on the lakebed. Any number of other watersports (sailing, windsurfing, etc.) can be arranged through hotels.

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