Lake Garda

Lake Garda, also known as Lago di Garda, is the largest lake in Italy. It is a beautiful place for holidays in northern Italy, sitting between Brescia and Milan to the west, and Verona and Venice to the east. The lake is surrounded by stunning mountains, including parts of the Italian Alps, the Garda Mountains, and the Brenta Group. Long ago, during the end of the last ice age, glaciers shaped this special area. Today, the lake and its sunny shores are shared among three provinces: Brescia to the southwest, Verona to the southeast, and Trentino to the north.

Etymology

In Roman times, the lake was called Benacus and some people thought of it as a god named Benacus, linked to the god Neptune. Today, it is most commonly known as Lake Garda. This name comes from a town called Garda on the lake’s shore and has Germanic roots. It dates back to the Middle Ages and means a “place of guard” or “place of safety”.

The older name, Benācus lacus or Benaco, likely comes from Celtic language and may mean “horned”, referring to the lake’s many points or promontories.

Geography

The northern part of Lake Garda lies in a dip inside the Alps, while the southern part sits in the upper Pianura Padana. The lake's shape is typical of a moraine valley, likely formed by an ancient Paleolithic glacier. Though glacier marks are clear today, some think the glacier filled an older dip made by river erosion millions of years ago.

Lake Garda's watershed is smaller than its surface area. The lake stretches 52 kilometres (32 mi) long, but its watershed is 95 kilometres (59 mi). The eastern side runs parallel to the lake, while the western side winds more. High peaks in the area include Presanella and Adamello. The watershed splits into four parts: a plain, the lake surface, and two land sections west and east.

South of the lake, between Brescia, Mantua and Verona, hills form a round shape from old glacier activity during past ice ages. The main river flowing into the lake is the Sarca River, with others like the Ponale River and small streams. The only river leaving the lake is the Mincio River.

Lake Garda's mild climate lets special plants grow, such as olive trees, parasol pine, and even some rare citrus trees for this latitude. Ancient poets wrote about the lake's gentle winds. These winds blow from the mountains to the plains in the morning and back in the afternoon.

Lake Garda is full of diverse life. A special fish called carpione lives only here and is in danger because of fishing, pollution, and other fish. Lake trout grow up to 50 centimetres (20 inches) and live deep in the water. The area around the lake has warm winters, letting olive trees, vines, and lemon trees grow. In spring, wildflowers like primroses and irises bloom, and birds and small animals live there too.

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  Parco Giardino Sigurtà is a park with many plants and flowers.

Countryside around [Desenzano](/wiki/Desenzano_del_Garda). Vines grow in the southern part.

Olive trees

Lemon trees in [Limone](/wiki/Limone_sul_Garda)

History

People have lived around Lake Garda since very old times. We know this because we have found old tools made from stone. These tools show that people were here during the Middle Paleolithic time.

Later, during the Bronze Age, people built special houses on stilts in the lower part of the lake. These houses were later abandoned during the Iron Age.

In Roman times, the area around the lake became part of the Roman Empire. Romans built many roads and settlements here. One famous battle happened at Lake Benacus between the Romans and a group called the Alamanni.

During the Middle Ages, the lake area was ruled by different groups, including the Lombards. Many towns around the lake grew and became more independent.

In more recent times, the area was involved in many wars, including the Napoleonic Wars and the Wars of Italian Independence. During World War I and World War II, the towns around the lake were affected by battles and bombings.

Myth and legend

According to old stories from Greco-Roman mythology, the River Mincius was said to be the child of the Lake Benacus.

In old German Sagas, Garda was home to Ortnit.

Towns and villages on the lake

Lake Garda has many towns and villages around it. There are 26 places, called comuni, near the lake. The biggest one is Desenzano del Garda with 29,179 people. Next are Arco with 17,857 people and Riva del Garda with 17,518 people.

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  Desenzano

Riva

[Lazise](/wiki/Lazise)

[Salò](/wiki/Salò)

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  Malcesine

[Toscolano Maderno](/wiki/Toscolano_Maderno)

[Limone](/wiki/Limone_sul_Garda)

[Torri del Benaco](/wiki/Torri_del_Benaco)

[Peschiera](/wiki/Peschiera_del_Garda)

Economy

Tourism

Lake Garda's economy mainly depends on tourism. Even back in Roman times, beautiful villas were built along the lake's shores, used by wealthy families. In particular, Sirmione was a favorite place because of its warm springs.

Tourism as we know it today began in the late 1800s, starting in the north-western part of the lake. One of the first tourist spots was Gardone Riviera, where the first small hotel was built. Over time, it grew into the grand Grand Hotel Gardone Riviera. The restaurant there is famous worldwide for its great views and tasty pasta dishes.

More hotels and villas appeared nearby, and after the famous poet Gabriele D'Annunzio built the Vittoriale degli Italiani, the area became even more popular. On the other side of the lake, tourism started later, around the 1930s, when a road was built along the shore. Since the 1950s, tourism has changed. Some people come to stay for a long holiday, while others visit just for a quick weekend or a few hours. Both types of visitors have changed the area quite a bit.

In the second half of the 20th century, many fun parks were built along the lake. The biggest is Gardaland, Italy's largest theme park with many exciting attractions.

Lake Garda is also great for sport tourism. Places like Riva, Torbole, and Campione are known for their windy weather, which attracts people who enjoy sail, windsurf, and kiteboard. The Centomiglia Regatta is held there every year.

Transport

Ship transport is provided by Navigazione Laghi. A daily ferry service connects major towns on the eastern and western shores of Lake Garda. The service runs from Desenzano del Garda to Riva del Garda, via Peschiera del Garda, Salò and Malcesine.

The region can be reached directly via the Milan-Venice railway, with Desenzano-Sirmione and Peschiera railway station.

Buses are faster alternatives to ferry services. On the eastern coast, ATV (Verona Transport Company) provides at least five daily bus routes between Verona and Garda, with one route extending to Riva del Garda. Trentino Transporti provides daily bus routes between Riva del Garda and Rovereto or Trento. On the western coast, SAIA (Brescia Mobilità) provides regular bus services between Desenzano del Garda, Salò, Gargnano and Brescia.

The lake is located at the centre of a crucial node between Brescia, Verona and Trento, and is therefore easily reachable via the transversal infrastructures of the Po Valley and those of the Brenner-Rome axis:

Lake Garda is also served by a road network that runs along the entire lake and is made up of the following infrastructures:

• State Highway 11 Padana Superiore, from Desenzano del Garda to Peschiera del Garda
• State Highway 45bis Gardesana Occidentale, from Salò to Riva del Garda
• State Highway 249 Gardesana Orientale, from Peschiera del Garda to Riva del Garda
• State Highway 572 di Salò, from Desenzano del Garda to Salò

Strada della Forra in Tremosine is part of the State Highway that connects Salò to Riva del Garda.

Panoramas

Here are some beautiful views of Lake Garda from high places.

Panoramic view from Monte Baldo of Lake Garda

Panoramic view of Lake Garda from Cima Comer