Round Lake Garda

29km/18mi from Riva on the road which follows the west side of Lake Garda, on the lower slopes of a precipitous hill, is the attractive village of Gargnano (98m/323ft), where the Riviera Bresciana begins. The Villa Feltrinelli, a little way north of the lakeside promenade, was occupied by Mussolini from September 1943 to April 1945 (it is now a department of the university of Milan).

About 3km/2mi beyond Garda is the promontory of San Vigilio (fine views), set amid cypresses (1540; no admission).

Bardolino (68m/224ft), to the left of the road is the little Romanesque church of San Severo (eighth and 12th centuries), with frescoes (12th and 13th centuries).

Bogliaco, with the large country house of Count Bettoni (park).

The terraced garden was designed by Pierallini.

Desenzano del Garda (67m/221ft; pop. 20,000) at the southwest tip of Lake Garda, has an old castle and remains of a Roman villa of the fourth century A.D. (mosaics). From Desenzano S.S. 11 runs along the south end of the lake.

Garda (69m/228ft; pop. 3,500) is a small old town. A footpath leads up in 45minutes to the Rocca (294m/970ft), on the site of an earlier castle which gave its name to the lake.

Along the west side of Lake Garda runs the famous "Gardesana Occidentale", a masterpiece of modern road engineering, with numerous galleries and tunnels hewn from rock, and also a route of great scenic beauty, while on the east side there is the "Gardesana Orientale".

Gardone Riviera (70m/231ft), which attracts many visitors with its mild climate and luxuriant southern vegetation; magnificent Hruska Botanic Garden. About 1km/.75mi north surrounded by beautiful gardens is Gardone di Sopra (130m/429ft). Near the church (view from the terrace) is the Villa Vittoriale degli Italiani, the last home of Gabriele d'Annunzio (1863-1938), with mementos of the poet.

Lazise (76m/251ft; pop. 5,000) has medieval town walls and a Scaliger castle (14th century).

Malcesine (90m/297ft), in a fine situation below the rugged cliffs of Monte Baldo (2,200m/7,260ft). At the north end of the town, almost sheer above the lake, is a Scaliger castle (13th-14th century). A cableway leads to the Bocca Tratto Spin (1,720m/5,676ft).

Peschiera del Garda (68m/224ft; pop. 9,000), is a strongly fortified little town at the southeast corner of Lake Garda, at the outflow of the River Mincio.

From Peschiera the road continues up the east side of the lake.

Salò (75m/248ft; pop. 10,000) is charmingly situated in a long narrow bay under Monte San Bartolomeo (568m/1,874ft). This was the birthplace of Gasparo da Salò (1542-1609), inventor of the violin, and from September 8th 1943 the seat of the Fascist government of Italy ("Republic of Salò"). The Gothic parish church of Santa Maria Annunziata (1453) is worth seeing.

The village of San Martino della Battaglia (110m/363ft) is 5km/3mi southeast of Desenzano del Garda. This is where a Piedmontese army, allied with the French, defeated the Austrians on June 24th 1859 (commemorative tower, war museum).

From Torri del Benaco an attractive excursion can be made to the summer holiday resort of San Zeno di Montagna, 9km/5.5mi northeast (583m/1,924ft), situated high above the lake (views) on the southwest slopes of the Monte Baldo range.

About 11km/7mi south of San Martino della Battaglia is the village of Solferino (132m/436ft); here a French army led by Napoleon III defeated the Austrians on the same day (museum, ossuary). From the Rocca, above the village, there are extensive views. The sufferings of the wounded in the battle of Solferino gave Henri Dunant the idea of founding the Red Cross.

Solferino has a small museum with displays about the local history.

Torbole (85m/281ft) is a picturesque little fishing village lying under bare crags at the northeast corner of Lake Garda.

Torri del Benaco (68m/224ft contains the medieval Castello Scaligero (1383).

Toscolano-Maderno (70m/231ft). In Maderno are the Romanesque church of Sant'Andrea (12th century) and the Palazzo Gonzaga (17th century). Beautiful views from the lakeside promenade.