Lake Garda

Book excerpt: The use of fresh ingredients in Italian cooking seems to put the UK and the USA to shame. The joy of eating fresh tomatoes and excellent olive oil is without equal. It’s hard to travel anywhere in Italy without also enjoying the fine wines that are on offer. Drinking wine with a meal is very much part of the culture here. If you have previously visited many of the larger Italian cities, you can wonder how the region around Lake Garda would compare. You can read in your guidebook that the area is mostly made up of relatively small villages, towns, and resorts. This would be a trip that would be considerably different from previous visits to the country. During your stay on the shores of Lake Garda, you can opt to move around and visit as many of the lakeside villages as possible. You will be delighted to find thriving markets and restaurants in many of them. This is a guide to a visit to the Garda Lake, taking a drive clockwise from Desenzano and touching in sequence the small towns of Salo, Gardone Riviera, Toscolano Maderno, Gargnano, Tignale, Tremosine, Limone Sul Garda, Riva del Garda, Torbole, Malcesine, Brenzone, Torri del Benaco, Bardolino, Garda, Lazise, Peschiera del Garda and Sirmione. All the beaches are described. It also includes a one-day boat ride on the Lake that starts in Peschiera del Garda and then touches the towns of Lazise, Bardolino, Garda, Salo, Gardone Riviera, Malcesine, Limone del Garda, Torbole and Riva del Garda. There are extensive descriptions and photos of the attractions. It contains many reviews for the best-recommended restaurants that are at the location described.