Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
lake pebbles. The whole affair is crowned by the chalky-white
Castello Scaligero
, where
Goethe was temporarily imprisoned after being mistaken for a spy.
Malcesine's cable car,
Funivia Malcesine-Monte Baldo
( 045 740 02 06;
www.funiviedelbaldo.it
; Via Navene Vecchia; adult/reduced return €19/15; 8am-7pm Apr-Aug, to 6pm
Sep, to 5pm Oct)
whisks you 1760m above the lake in rotating, glass cabins. The mountain is
actually part of a 40km-long chain, and the ridges are the starting point for mountain-bik-
ing tours and paragliding, as well as skiing in winter. Getting off the cable car at the inter-
mediate station of
San Michele
(one way/return €5/7) is the starting point for some excel-
lent hikes. The hour-long walk back to Malcesine along quiet roads and rocky mountain
paths reveals a rural world far from the throngs at the lake. Hire bikes at
Bikextreme
(
045 740 0105;
www.bikextrememalcesine.com
; Via Navene Vecchia 10; bikes per day €15-30)
and check
into Rifugio Monte Baldo for more extended mountain explorations.
Olives harvested around Malcesine are milled into extra-virgin olive oil by
Consorzio
Olivicoltori di Malcesine
( 045 740 12 86; Via Navene 21; 9am-1pm & 4.30-7pm)
. The
oil is renowned for its light, fruity taste with traces of almonds. Prices of the cold-pressed
extra virgin DOP olive oil range start at €11 for 0.5L.
To escape the crowds head up to Michelin-starred
Vecchia Malcesine
( 045 740 04 69;
www.vecchiamalcesine.com
;
Via Pisort 6; meals €45-100; noon-2.30pm & 7-10.30pm Thu-Tue)
for
artful food and 'meteorite' chocolates filled with Garda olive oil. Otherwise,
Speck Stube
(
0457 40 11 77;
www.speckstube.com
;
Via Navene Vecchia 139, Campagnola; meals €8-20;
noon-
midnight Mar-Oct; )
is a fun barbeque place on the outskirts of town.
The
tourist office
( 045 740 00 44;
www.malcesinepiu.it
; Via Capitanato 6; 9.30am-12.30pm &
3-6pm Mon-Sat, 9.30am-12.30pm Sun)
has information on windsurfing, sailing, walking and
skiing.
Garda & Punta San Vigilio
Situated in the shade of the Rocca del Garda is the 10th-century fishing village that gave
the lake its name. Sadly, the picturesque town is now cut through by the main perimeter
road around the lake, making summer traffic overwhelming. Out of season, Garda's per-
fectly curved bay and fine shingle beaches make it a great lunch spot. Boat trips to Isola
del Garda (
Click here
) leave from Garda (in front of Hotel Miralago) on Wednesday
morning.
