The most beautiful villages of Lake Garda
Find out more about Lake Garda´s prettiest villages
Italy is home to many small and medium-sized villages, or “borghi”, of great historical and artistic importance. The most beautiful borghi are selected by the association "I Borghi più belli d'Italia" (The Most Beautiful Villages of Italy). These borghi are typically fortified historical centres dating back to the Middle Ages, located in elevated positions and surrounded by agricultural landscapes.
On Lake Garda, you can find charming villages in all three regions: Veneto, Lombardy and Trentino. They have developed over the centuries thanks to their strategic location and the flourishing commerce of the area.
Let's discover together the prettiest places of Lake Garda and its surroundings.
VENETO
Borghetto
Borghetto sul Mincio is an idyllic hamlet of Valeggio sul Mincio in the province of Verona.
The picturesque village was born in complete symbiosis with the Mincio river, and its ancient fortifications date back to the 13th and 14th centuries.
The oldest part of the village has retained its medieval character to this day, with its bell tower, water mills and the famous Visconti Bridge. Originally built as a fortified dam in 1393, the bridge is 650 metres long, 25 metres wide and about 9 metres above river level. It is connected to the overlooking Scaliger Castle of Valeggio.
Borghetto is the ideal stopover during a bicycle ride along the Mincio river cycle path, which leads from Peschiera to Mantua and is 40 kilometres long.
Malcesine
Malcesine is a charming little town on the north-eastern shore of Lake Garda.
The village is dominated by its Scaliger Castle, an ancient fortress that offers stunning views of the lake and surrounding mountains. In fact, Malcesine is an excellent starting point for mountain excursions, thanks to the cable car that leads to the top of Monte Baldo, also known as the “botanical garden of Europe”.
After a day of outdoor activities, there is nothing better than relaxing on the lakefront, watching the hustle and bustle or strolling through the narrow cobbled streets and quaint squares of the historic centre. Fun fact: the hamlet of Cassone is home to the world`s shortest river, the Aril.
San Giorgio
San Giorgio is a charming fraction of Sant`Ambrogio di Valpolicella, not far from Verona, Lake Garda and the other towns of the Valpolicella wine region.
The medieval stone village is perched at an elevation of 400 metres. Its gentle hills are nestled among the olive groves and vineyards of the Valpolicella area. The panoramic view over the hills stretches all the way to Lake Garda and the sunsets up here are truly breathtaking.
This village is rich in history, as is evident by the Romanesque parish church of San Giorgio Ingannapoltron and the Valpolicella Museum.
LOMBARDY
Castellaro Lagusello
Castellaro Lagusello is a medieval village perched on a small hill in the municipality of Monzambano in the province of Mantua.
The charming village is characterised by a well-preserved medieval historical centre with narrow streets, a historical villa, stone houses and a fortress built by the Scaliger of Verona around the 12th century. Next to the castle there is a small heart-shaped lake, which is privately owned and has given Castellaro the nickname "village of lovers".”
Gardone Riviera
Gardone Riviera is a small, elegant town on the western shore of Lake Garda, in the province of Brescia.
It has been a popular tourist destination since the 19th century and was frequented by artists and writers, including Gabriele D'Annunzio, who spent the last years of his life here, leaving an indelible mark with his Vittoriale degli Italiani, a complex of buildings, a park with a lake, monuments, and even an open-air theatre for summer concerts. Gardone is also home to the Heller Garden (or Hruska Garden), a botanical garden with not only a rich collection of plants from all over the world but also works of art and installations by various international artists.
Tremosine
Tremosine sul Garda is a municipality in the province of Brescia that is located on a 600-metre-high plateau above Lake Garda.
In Tremosine, you can find 5 kilometres of the spectacular Strada della Forra, which leads down to Lake Garda. Another highlight is the Terrazza del Brivido, one of the most breathtaking viewpoints on Lake Garda, but be warned if you`re afraid of heights…it is a platform suspended over a void! Terrifying but so worth it!
Typical products of this area the 'formaggella di Tremosine' cheese and lake fish, as well as local wines and olive oils.
TRENTINO
Bondone
Bondone is a small village in the heart of the Trentino Dolomites, on the border with Lombardy region. It is known for its religious devotion, as you can see in the frescoes on the house facades that can still be admired today. A walk through Bondone is like a journey into the past, through a well-preserved labyrinth of cobbled streets, stone walls and houses that magically lead you to the Chiesa della Natività di Maria (Church of the Nativity of Mary). Bondone is not only close to Lake Garda, but also has its own lake on the doorstep: Lake Idro. Bondone is also home to the medieval San Giovanni Castle, which has been recently renovated and enjoys a unique location on a rock. The typical dishes of the area are the yellow Storo cornflour, which is used to prepare the famous polenta, Arctic char, radicchio dell'orso, which has little in common with the radicchio we know, and various types of mountain cheese.
Canale
Canale di Tenno is a medieval village located in the Trentino Alto Adige region at 600 metres above sea level, just a few kilometres from Lake Garda. This charming village was founded in the 12th century and has preserved its medieval structure to this day, with ancient houses built of stone that are connected by vaults and narrow alleyways.
The village is an excellent starting point for mountain hikes, strolls and bike rides.
A local specialty is carne salada, thin slices of beef served pan-seared or raw as carpaccio with a drizzle of olive oil.
When you are on Lake Garda, you can´t miss out on the most beautiful villages to experience their distinctive charm, created by their history, beauty, and secludedness. These villages are unique destinations for tourists seeking an authentic Italian experience.