9

Trip

notes

Getting there
Thetown of Desenzano, a central
launch pad for Lake Garda exploration
on the southern shore, is on the train line
between Milan and Venice. The lake towns
of Salò, Gardone, Toscolano-Maderno
and Gargnano are all within 90 minutes’
drive of the international airports at Verona
and Bergamo, and about two hours’ drive
from the airports at Venice and Milan.

Stay
Grand Hotel FasanoThis classic
19th-century hotel has history and
atmosphere in spades. Also in the
grounds is the historic Villa Principe,
a hunting lodge once used by the
Austrian emperors.Corso Zanardelli,
190, Gardone Riviera, ghf.it
B&B Villa VittoriaThis boutique
lakefront property has a pool and
eight elegant guestrooms.Corso
Zanardelli, 176, Gardone Riviera, bnbvv.it
Villa SostagaA few kilometres up
the hill from Gargnano, this 19th-century
villa has 19 guestrooms and welcoming
hosts.Via Sostaga, 19, Gargnano,
villasostaga.com

Eat and drink
Alpe del Garda cheese factoryVia
Provinciale, 1, Tremosine, alpedelgarda.it

La Terrazza bar and Il Fagiano

restaurantGrand Hotel Fasano, Corso

Zanardelli, 190, Gardone Riviera, ghf.it

Trattoria RioletVia Fasano Sopra,

17, Gardone Riviera

Trattoria MariettaVia Montecucco,

78, Gardone Riviera, trattoriamarietta.it

Frantoio del BornicoVia Oleificio,

11, Fasano, frantoiodelbornico.it

Grasselli viniCorner Via Oleificio

and Via Resola, Fasano

Panetteria PeroliniVia Benamati,

26, Toscolano-Maderno

LagomarVia Giordani,

11, Toscolano-Maderno

Spirito del GardaPiazza S. Bresciano,

3, Salò, spiritodelgarda.it

La Casa del DolcePiazza Duomo, 1, Salò

Osteria di MezzoVia di Mezzo,

10, Salò, osteriadimezzo.it

Ristorante CanottieriVia Canottieri,

1, Salò, canottierigarda.it

Banco SalumiPiazza Vittorio

Emanuele II, 58, Salò

Osteria al PortoPiazza di Villa,

1-2, Gargnano

BignottiVia Roma, 13, Gargnano

See

Popular sights includeVittoriale degli

Italiani(Via Vittoriale, 12, Gardone Riviera,

vittoriale.it), theRoman ruins at Sirmione

and Desenzano, and day trips to the

Isola del GardaandIsola dei Conigli

islands. There are great day trips, too,

to the DOC wine-producing area of

Valtenesisurrounding the towns of

Manerba and Desenzano, where

Garda’s native grapes, groppello

and chiaretto, are grown. In the

winegrowing town of Picedo,Taverna

Picedoserves local specialties and

wines including an excellent Olivini

Lugana(Via Sotto Raso, 7, Picedo di

Polpenazze, tavernapicedo.it).Don’t miss

the restaurant’s tempura-style vegetable

antipasti and house-made pasta with

porcini – sourced in season from the

nearby alps. TheDue Piniwinery has

an impressive selection of organic wines

(Via Novaglio, 16, Picedo di Polpenazze,

viniduepini.it).Agriturismo del Pratello

is a fun barn of a place serving big plates

of pasta, fresh antipasti, salads and

grilled meats; it’s a farm-stay as well

(Via Pratello, 26, Villaggio Dante Alighieri,

Padenghe, pratello.com).Agriturismo

Dalie e Fagioliserves dishes based

on produce from small local growers

and has an on-trend regional wine list

(Via Campagnola, Manerba del Garda,

45, dalieefagioli.it).

GOURMET TRAVELLER 87