Garda

Garda is a lively resort on lovely Lake Garda, the largest and cleanest of all the Italian Lakes. Lake Garda's varied landscape and picturesque scenery made it a popular holiday resort in ancient times - wealthy Romans used to come here to escape the city heat, though they tended to stay around Sirmione and Desenzano on the lake's southern shores. Garda is a popular resort and makes a good base for a family holiday on the lake, as well as for exploring other parts of northern Italy. With beautiful views, an historic town centre and plenty of bars and restaurants, Garda has something to offer everyone from couples seeking a relaxing break, to families wanting to amuse the kids for a week or two.

Garda has long been extremely popular with German tourists, attracted by the mild climate, clean air and watersports. Many Italians also come here for weekends and holidays, as it is within driving distance of Milan and Verona. The resort also features on many package holidays, and attracts large numbers of British visitors.

Garda is in Northern Italy, on the southerly stretch of the eastern coast of Lake Garda in the Veneto region. The resort is around 41km (25 miles) from Verona, which has the nearest airport.

Garda is at the head of a deep bay and has excellent views across the lake.  It was once a fortified town, and has a picturesque centre and a long leafy promenade.  The resort is to the south of some of the lake's most stunning mountain scenery.

There is a long section of pebbly beach at Garda, while Punta San Vigilio, a short distance further north, has a very popular stretch of shingle beach. For those who really wish to make the most of the watersports the lake has to offer, it is best to head for resorts to the north such as Malcesine and Riva del Garda, where there are many opportunities for waterskiing and windsurfing. Torbole, at the top of the lake, offers sailing and watersports too.

The centre of Garda is a pleasant place to stroll, with plenty of shops and a medieval church, the Chiesa di Santa Maria Maggiore (in the historic centre), which contains some 15th-century frescoes. It is well worth taking boat trips to other towns on the lake, or driving along the lakeside (beware, it does get busy in summer) to resorts such as Malcesine. This is a pleasant town with a striking 13th-century fortress, Scaligeri Castle. A cablecar also runs from the town up to the nearby peak of Monte Baldo.

Italy's answer to Disneyland, Gardaland (website: www.gardaland.it), is just a short distance south of Garda at Castelnuovo del Garda, between the towns of Peschiera and Lazise. Gardaland has everything from themed rides and stomach churning rollercoasters to entertainment. Not far away by Lazise is Canevaworld (website: www.canevaworld.it), an American style complex with a water park and Movieland, a cinema themed park featuring a Rambo action show, a submarine simulator ride and even a medieval show complete with knights on horseback.

There are plenty of shops selling souvenirs and local food and wines in Garda itself, and in other towns on the lake such as Riva del Garda, Malcesine and Sirmione. For real retail therapy though, head for the romantic city of Verona - full of reminders of Romeo and Juliet, or Brescia, which has a pleasant and lively centre: Corso Zanardelli is the shopping street for designer clothes, accessories and shoes.

Garda gets lively at night, with the focus of the action being the bars and restaurants along the Promenade. For those who want to dance till dawn, the neighbouring towns of Bardolino, Desenzano and Sirmione have most to offer with plenty of trendy clubs. In Desenzano try Art Club Disco (Via Mantova) and Sesto Senso (Via Tommaso dal Molin).

There is no shortage of places to eat, both in Garda itself and in other towns on the lakeside. Fish features on many menus - look for eel, bass, carp and trout, and the classic northern Italian dish of risotto is also widely available. It might be made with fish such as tench, or perhaps asparagus. You will also find a number of pizzerie - for instance La Lanterna (Via Torrente Gusa) in Garda.

Garda is easily explored on foot, and the Promenade is a very pleasant place to stroll.  The best way to get around the lake is by taking one of the frequent ferries that leave Garda. There are also buses that run to the main resorts. It is possible to hire a car - but the roads can get busy.

There are plenty of places to explore on Lake Garda, notably the Vittoriale (website: www.vittoriale.it) in Gardone Riviera on the western shore. Mussolini presented this extravagant villa to the socialite poet Gabriele D'Annunzio, who turned it into a monument to himself: a lavish palace and garden.

For a real treat there is the exclusive Locanda San Vigilio, Punta San Vigilio (website: www.locanda-sanvigilio.it) just north of Garda. There are only seven rooms, including one reached by a private lemon grove, as well as an excellent restaurant with views across the lake.

Verona airport (VRN)