On the other side of the lake: an excursion to the Brescia side

The town of Bardolino, nestled on the shores of Lake Garda, is much more than just a convenient location; it’s also the starting point for exploring many other remarkable spots around our beloved lake. Bardolino, in fact, is the gateway to a true journey of discovery on Lake Garda!

So this time, we want you to think about exploring the other side of the lake, the Brescia side, on a day trip which involves a journey that’s every bit as beautiful as the destination.

Setting off from the ColorHotel, the first stop is Gardone Riviera, an enchanting lakeside village located directly opposite Bardolino. To get there, take the main Garda road, travelling in a northerly direction. After around 20-25 minutes, you’ll reach Torri del Benaco, which is where the real adventure starts.

Arriving at the port of Torri del Benaco, take the car ferry on the Torri-Toscolano Maderno route to the other side of the lake.

It’s worth stopping by Toscolano Maderno, an ancient village that attracts visitors to its historic centre characterised by picturesque alleyways, churches and historic buildings. Particularly worthy of note is Toscolano Maderno’s paper-making tradition, dating back to the 13^th century. You can find out all about this artisan craft and its history at the Museo della Carta.

Once you’ve reached Toscolano Maderno, follow the signs to Gardone Riviera. Here, we recommend visiting the Vittoriale degli Italiani, the historic home of Gabriele D’Annunzio, an Italian poet and author who left an indelible mark on Italy. This place represents the memory of the ‘inimitable life’ of the poet-soldier and houses testimonies and collections linked to the First World War. After staying in Gardone Riviera and becoming entranced by the view of Lake Garda, the famous poet, journalist, soldier and deep patriot from the Abruzzo region decided to buy the property on which the Vittoriale stands today, gathering within its walls memories of the exceptional life of the Italian people during the First World War. The works were entrusted to the architect Giancarlo Maroni, a friend of the great poet.

Not far from the Vittoriale, you can visit the Heller Garden, a botanical garden that’s truly one of a kind. Established by the artist and philanthropist André Heller, the garden is home to around 3000 plant species from all over the world. In addition to the extraordinary range of plants, the garden is further enriched by works of art by famous artists such as Keith Haring, Roy Lichtenstein, Auguste Rodin, Fernand Léger and many others. This fusion of nature and art makes a visit to the gorgeous Heller Garden a superb, and highly recommended, immersive experience.

So there you have a few tips regarding the most interesting places, but our advice is also to lose yourself in the narrow streets, savour the atmosphere of the towns and mingle with the locals. Wandering at leisure inevitably results in discovering hideaway treasures that don’t feature in the guidebooks. It’s so often the chance encounters and the unexpected glimpses of things we don’t even know we’re looking for that stay with us.

For the return to Bardolino, you can come back on the ferry or make a partial tour of the lake. Along the way, take the opportunity to stop in one of the picture-postcard lakeside villages for an aperitif or even dinner before coming back. Whether you decide to skirt the northern tip of the lake up to Riva del Garda, or prefer to explore the lake’s southern reaches, you’ll encounter a series of magnificent views and locations that will guarantee the day trip is one of the highlights of your holiday.