Journeys and Adventures

The word, “agriturismo,” combines the Italian words for agriculture and tourism and represents a unique accommodation choice for anyone traveling to Italy.  An agriturismo is a large Italian farmhouse that has been converted into a vacation home—some are luxurious while some are more basic, some have swimming pools while others offer activities in the area, some serve food while others sell their own local products like olive oil, wine, and fresh fruits and vegetables.

   These rural retreats are a great choice for families—room rates are usually significantly less than in town (particularly if you stay for longer periods of time), there is privacy and peacefulness in the countryside, as mentioned, many agriturismos offer swimming pools, and many also offer playgrounds, bikes to rent, and other family-friendly activities.

   While agriturismos can be found all over Italy (the luxurious and serene Casa del Conte in Montereale Valcellina, near Pordenone in Northern Italy is an ideal vacation spot for anyone looking for a luxurious, but affordable in a unique hotel in Italy pictured above), to continue the series on Lake Garda, here are three agriturismo choices near Italy’s largest lake:

Agriturismo La Rocca: This unusual hotel is just a five-minute drive away from Bardolino, a quaint village known for its wine and food.  With an incredible view of the Italian countryside, Bardolino, and Lake Garda, this farmhouse also offers a swimming pool, mountain biking and hiking opportunities, and wine produced right there on the grounds.

Agriturismo Armea: Located within day-trip’s driving distance of Venice, Verona, Vicenza and other popular destinations in Northern Italy, this farmhouse is also located just 4 kilometers away from Sirmione, Lake Garda’s most popular city.  The agriturismo boasts food that is “really tied to the housewife’s tradition,” a swimming pool, and apartments with kitchenettes if desired—all at very reasonable prices.

Eden Marone: This agriturismo is located in Riva del Garda offers magnificent views and many activities for the adventure enthusiasts including bike tours (look for special deals that include time in the hotel and a mountain bike), windsurfing, horseback riding, and more.  An outdoor and indoor dining room with views of the lake serving local specialties makes this unique hotel an ideal retreat.

   There are more agriturismo choices in the Lake Garda area for anyone looking for an unusual and authentic hotel experience while visiting Lake Garda.

This post is part of Sunday’s Special Unique Accommodation Series, where an unsusual, special and unique accommodation choice is featured every Sunday. There are plenty of other choices when it comes to unique accommodations, so check out the Unique Accommodation Collection for more ideas. And come back next Sunday for a new hotel to add to your “someday” list!

The towns and villages that surround Lake Garda are the lake’s greatest attraction—some have narrow winding alleyways, some have sandy beaches, some have medieval castles.  They all have friendly people, delicious food (with fresh fish from the lake, of course), and serve as charming vacation spots for anyone visiting Northern Italy and Lake Garda.

   Here are some of the highlights:

Sirmione—Located on a peninsula, Sirmione is at the southern tip of Lake Garda and is one of the most popular vacation spots along the lake.  The town was also a popular spa destination with thermal springs for the Romans and some impressive Roman ruins, including an old villa, are still visible.  The Rocca Scaligera, a fortress that dates from the thirteenth century, is the main attraction in this town, but the town center with pedestrian-only walkways is full of shops, restaurants, and cafes.

Malcesine—This delightful village located in the Northeast corner of the lake is also dominated by a medieval castle—the Castello Scaligeri.  But the imposing Montebaldo, 1750 meters above the lake, is also a popular tourist attraction; visitors can take a funivia (cable car) to the top.  Cobblestone alleys and small piazzas filled with cafes right on the lake make it an enjoyable spot.

Limone—As you may have guessed, this town in the Northwest corner of Lake Garda is known for its lemons.  (There will be more on their prize product—limoncino, a version of the more famous limoncello—on this blog in the next few days.)  Until the 1940s the town was only accessible from the lake or through the mountains.  Visitors can still reach the town by boats that run frequently from Malcesine and other Lake Garda destinations.

Bardolino—Many know of Bardolino as a mild red Italian wine.  Of course, the grapes are grown and harvested in this region and this small town is clearly knows its wine.  Enotecas (Italian wine shops and restaurants that allow visitors to affordably taste wines) are available throughout the town.  A small sandy beach (not available in most of the Lake Garda towns), picturesque pale buildings, and two older churche (one dates back to the 8th century!) are a draw, but the town isn’t quite as popular as some of the other Lake Garda cities–which is very nice during the crowded summer months.

   Lake Garda offers many other small quaint villages to explore—some are more touristy than others, but you’re sure to enjoy yourself.  Many of the villages are close together, so you may decide to use one as a home-base and visit the other towns on day trips or spend some time in each town—depending on your travel style.  Check back over the next few days for more on things to do in the area.

Photos of Malcesine and Limone by Jennifer L Price, map from about.com

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Located in Northern Italy, Lake Garda (known as Lago di Garda in Italian and Gardasee in German) is a popular vacation destination that attracts thousands of visitors each year, particularly in the warm summer months of May through August.
   Situated at the foot of the Alps, Lake Garda offers visitors a little bit of everything:

• Day trips to popular tourist spots like Verona, Venice, and Milan, depending on where on the lake one is staying
• Beautiful scenery including imposing mountains, lush vineyards, and, of course, the peaceful Lake Garda itself
• An interesting history that dates back to Ice Age when glaciers formed the region and includes some Italian battles
• Many options for activities including windsurfing, relaxing, hiking, shopping, and more
• Tantalizing food and drink choices

   It’s a great spot to base a trip to Northern Italy, an ideal summer vacation that involves both culture and beach time, and has plenty to keep travelers of all ages and preferences happy.
   A recent trip to this top vacation spot reminded me of all that the stunning Lake Garda has to offer travelers, so Journeys and Adventures is going to take an in-depth look at this vacation spot and run a travel series.  Over the next week, we’ll explore some of the towns and villages, the delicious (and famous!) food offerings, and some popular events to help you plan your next vacation to Northern Italy.  We’ll also cover the practical information you need to plan a trip to Lake Garda (like how to get there and where to stay) and we’ll also be sure to cover Journeys and Adventures’ specialties–unique accommodation choices and travel books.

   Check back throughout the week to get all the information you need to explore Lake Garda in the future…

Photo Riva del Garda, Italy by GerMC, www.sxc.hu, Map from GeoSystems Global Corp.

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