Sirmione and Malcesine excursion
First you will be guided around Sirmione, then you will drive to the town of Peschiera del Garda (65 km)
The excursion will continue by car along the picturesque eastern shore of Lake Garda towards the town of Malcesine (northern part of the lake). If you wish, you can make a short stop in one of the towns for lunch.
Malcesine on Lake Garda has been inhabited since ancient times. The first owners of the picturesque settlement were the Etruscans, who lived here until 15 BC. The next owners of the fertile land were the Romans, who left behind many valuable architectural sights.
From the 13th to the 16th century Malcesine belonged to the Della Scala family. Members of the famous family rebuilt the castle and named it Castello Scaligero. In the XV-XVIII century the resort belonged to the Venetian Republic. At that time the town was known as Gardesana del Aqua. After the XVIII century Malcesine was owned by the Austro-Hungarians. The cosy town on the lake attracted a large number of creative people: poets, writers, artists.
Unique historical sights and picturesque views of the mountains and the Garda made it a popular resort in the 19th century.
Tour of the old part of the town, a typical medieval town, almost miniature, with winding, narrow streets, as if specially built to keep out the wind.
You will see: the Captain’s House, the harbour, the medieval castle of the Scaligers Scaligero (visit possible), the Museum of Goethe, who in 1786 stayed here, which he later wrote about in his work “Travels in Italy”. An incredible story happened to him here.
From Malcesine you will take a cable car up Mount Baldo (1750m), where you can enjoy a breathtakingly beautiful panoramic view of the lake. It’s a journey that lasts only a few minutes, but it’s a memorable one. Firstly, what makes this cable car unique is that its cabins rotate, allowing passengers to enjoy a spectacular 360° panorama and the feeling of flying. Secondly, in 10 minutes, you can enter a different climate zone: Mediterranean thickets are replaced by alpine pastures and bare cliffs. The views are breathtaking. It is a paradise for walkers: unspoilt nature, an unusually diverse flora with rare specimens of vegetation. Mount Baldo has been called the botanical garden of Europe.
