The Verona Arena, one of the most important Roman amphitheaters in Italy, will once again be the setting for the summer opera festival, which is in its 90th season. Scheduled this season: Romeo et Juliette by Charles Gounod, Carmen by Georges Bizet, Turandot and Tosca by Giacomo Puccini and the Don Giovanni a masterpiece by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Scheduled also the famous Giuseppe Verdi's Aida. The Arena di Verona 2012 season will begin on Friday, June 22nd, with the music drama Don Giovanni and end on Sunday, September 02nd, with Aida.
A holiday on Lake Garda can be an interesting opportunity for visiting some of Italy's most beautiful and fascinating cities. Verona, the romantic city of the Scaliger dynasty, is where you'll find the house of Juliet and Romeo and the Arena of Verona, an ancient monument of international importance on the enchanting Piazza Bra in the elegant old city center that also hosts the summer opera season. Venice the Serenissima, a UNESCO world heritage site and city on the lagoon.
In 1901 Professor Arturo Hruska, a dentist and well-known naturalist, arrived in Gardone Riviera and immediately noticed the special climate of the area. Between 1910 and 1971 he planted a botanical garden that extended for a little more than 1.5 hectares. In it he had more than 500 species of plants from every continent and different climates: magnolias, Tibetan primroses, reeds of every size, iris and ferns, including the '"osmunda regalis". There is a huge variety of succulent and subtropical plants.
Thomas Mann was thirty the first time he visited the Varone Waterfall near Riva del Garda. The great German writer was awed by the striking atmosphere and spectacle of that fascinating ravine. The Varone Waterfall is not a sunny place: it is cavern inside a gorge that was created by water erosion over millions of years. It is not a powerful, crystalline waterfall or a dazzling and noisy mass of water: here the water penetrates the bowels of the earth and disperses, creating a whirling cloud of droplets that turns into a colorful kaleidoscope when hit by the sun rays.
If you're planning to visit lake Garda and surrounding area and want to travel by plane, our online TAXISERVICE booking system provides a full range of custom-tailored transportation from all major airports and train stations in Northern Italy, including Verona, Venice, Milan, Bergamo, and Rovereto, to the entire Lake Garda area and the most popular mountain resort areas. Comfortable, fully equipped cars and minivans for 8 to 16 people will be waiting for you and will take you directly to your hotel, holiday apartment, or camping site.
Daily connections for the Prada - Mount Baldo aerial cabin have opened again. The connection offers a spectacular view of the entire Lake Garda area. The transportation system, which has preserved a style and charm of bygone days, is divided into two parts. The aerial cabin reaches 1550 meters in altitude. There is room on board for:
An ancient Veneto-style rowing contest using typical Garda boats will animate the Palio delle Mura in Peschiera del Garda. The regatta is a test of stamina on a route that travels around the 16th century walls of the city: the boats compete on the canals of the "Fortress" to win the Palio. The event is a combination of folklore, sports, entertainment, history, competition and tradition amidst the bastions of Peschiera del Garda.
Garda Island, also known as Borghese Cavazza Island, is close to the town of Salò on Lake Garda. Today the island is owned by the Cavazza family, which lives all year round in this beautiful historical Venetian neogothic manor that was built at the beginning of the 20th century. The manor is surrounded by marvelous Italian and English-style gardens. Since May 1st 2002, groups of between 25 and 60 persons can visit this beautiful island. The motorboat to the island leaves from Barbarano di Salò or Gardone Riviera, and the trip takes about 10 minutes. The guided visit in three languages (Italian, English and German) is approximately 2 hours long and illustrates the history of the island, from the 19th to the 20th century, and its many legends.
Surrounded by beautiful scenery, near the most picturesque towns on Lake Garda you can find more than 50 alternative accommodations ready to welcome you. You can spend a pleasant vacation on Lake Garda in the midst of nature, enjoying the delicious local food, the culture and nature, and the many attractions that the Lake Garda area can offer: the beautiful old castles of Sirmione and Malcesine, the historic palazzos and Garda Island, a tour of the Vittoriale or the Sirmione Hot Springs, a day at the Gardaland amusement park or a trip to the breathtaking Sigurtà Park.
There are splendid five-star hotels on beautiful lake Garda that can satisfy your every need. Whether they have striking modern architecture or evoke the age-old charm of opulent villas, these beautiful hotels with an eye for fine detail are provided with every amenity and surrounded by the breathtaking scenery for which Lake Garda is famous.
The Castèl Lemon House, an emblem of the traditions of Limone sul Garda, will be open to the public at an unusual hour: from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. During that time, visitors can learn more about our past while strolling through the lemon house amidst the lit columns and the green leaves of the citrus trees. Music will accompany the tour in different areas, and a sample of Limoncello liqueur will be served at the end of the evening.
On the marvelous banks of Lake Garda you'll find more than 450 hotels and accommodations that welcome your pets. The hotels, holiday apartments, farm holiday establishments, and B&Bs that welcome pets are in several categories, from 5-star hotels to small lodging houses. Pets are permitted on request and can stay free of charge or for a small fee.
Lake Garda's alpine and excursionist refuges - From Limone sul Garda to the 'Bonaventura Segala' chalet. The excursion starts out from the bus station at the Turista bar. Take Caldogno and Milanese streets. Once you pass the small bridge of the San Giovanni stream, you walk up the steep cobblestone mule trail that runs through the Valley of Sìngol, following itinerary 101. There are many rivers and streams in the first stretch, and each valley has the characteristic calchére constructions once used to extract lime.
This is one of the most popular events in Tignale, not only for tourists from Tignale and the area around, but also for local residents. For an evening the narrow mediaeval streets of Gardola relive an ancient market, where you can taste and buy local products, from wine to jams made with spirits, with stalls of handicrafts and craftwork from jewels to clothes.
About 266 accommodations in the various towns of lake Garda are suitable for welcoming disabled guests: hotels, holiday residences, hotel/apartments, farm holiday establishments, and B&B's of various categories and with various characteristics that can satisfy the needs required by diversely abled guests. These accommodations in the gorgeous, picturesque towns of Lake Garda are ready to offer disabled guests a memorable vacation full of activities and relaxation in complete autonomy.
Welcome to Sea Life..... in Castelnuovo del Garda. Dive in and be wowed by the many strange, beautiful and fascinating creatures of the deep. Prepare for astonishing close views of everything from humble starfish to tropical sharks, all in displays which recreate their natural habitats. To get any closer you will have to get wet. Explore the amazing underwater tunnel, an unforgettable experience for everyone. Become a rockpool explorer as you discover the wildlife of the shallow seas and dark ocean dephts. At every step there are amazing creatures to find, watch and learn about.
Fireworks are a fabulous and ever-changing show that attracts and delights young and old alike. Once again, three summer evenings have been chosen for a spectacular fireworks display in the wonderfully picturesque setting of the gulf of Limone sul Garda. You'll be amazed by the dazzling lights and magical colors. Pyrotechnics is the art, study and manufacture of fireworks for entertainment and display. The history of pyrotechnics is ancient: it originated in China during the 8th century A.D.
The triumph of music returns to Ledro Valley. One of the most important cultural events in Europe created to combine the universal languages of music and art, which are able to surpass every language barrier, is the European Music Festival, which will be held on June 21, the Summer Solstice. During this great cultural event, professional and amateur musicians of every genre perform in the most unusual places: streets, alleys, courtyards, squares, and places of art...
The Mille Miglia is about to begin its world tour and has chosen the Principality of Monaco to launch its International Road Shows. "Monte Carlo is an essential destination for us", declared Alessandro Casali, President of the Mille Miglia Organizing Committee. "It is the capital of luxury automobiles and the home of classic car collectors." For this reason, Monte Carlo will be the site of the first auction of the Mille Miglia race that will begin on May 11 in Brescia. Extraordinary classic cars, with a value ranging between 120,000 and 3 million euros, will be up for auction.
The most breathtakingly beautiful view of lake garda that you'll ever see, wholesome regional dishes with flavors that will make you swoon, and lush vegetation will sweep you away in a whirl of emotions.
"Italian Bubbly" served for the 45th Vinitaly. Thanks to their international success, Italian wine exports have gradually increased despite the global economic crisis. To celebrate Italy's outstanding wines, Vinitaly in Verona has dedicated a special area featuring all types of sparkling wines - from the classic to the charmat method - for professionals in the sector who can sample the products and learn more about the areas that produce them.
Rediscovering the meaning of Christmas through the symbol that best represents it - the crèche - is a tradition that has existed for twenty-seven years and is repeated at the Verona Arena with growing participation and passion. From December 4, 2010 to January 23, 2011, the Roman amphitheater will host precious artisan creations from around the world in the International Exhibit of the Crèche in Art and Tradition. More than one hundred nativity scenes will be on display, each of a different size and made from different materials. Each crèche is an expression of a different culture, tradition, and sensibility, yet all transmit the same message: the birth of Christ for the salvation of humankind.
The Department of Culture for the city of Milan presents "Salvador Dalì. Il sogno si avvicina [Salvador Dalì The Dream Approaches"], an exhibit organized by Vincenzo Trione in Palazzo Reale from Sept. 22, 2010 to Jan. 30, 2011. This exhibit, which was made possible through the extraordinary partnership with the Foundation of Figueres, will receive many important works on loan from national and international museums such as the Gala-Salvador Dalì Foundation, the Dalì Museum of St. Petersburg, Florida, the Boijmans Museum of Rotterdam, the Animation Research Library of the Walt Disney Animation Studios in Burbank, California, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection of Venice, Mart of Rovereto, and the Vatican Museums.
Get down and boogie with zombies and vampires at the best Halloween party in this world... and the next! Don't miss Gardaland on October 31! Radio Number ONE will thrill you at this spell-binding bash, so don't get spooked by the dark! Everyone will be partying at Gardaland until 10:00 p.m. On October 31, muster up your courage and come celebrate the "scariest" day of Gardaland: Magic Halloween!
The itinerary starts out from Varignano, a hamlet of Arco, in the square in front of San Michele church. Take the province road for S.Giovanni al monte (the first 2 km are the toughest) until you reach the sunny Padaro basin. The road gently rises to Mandrea, with a wonderful view of Valle dei Laghi and Mount Brento. A group of rustic homes announces the arrival at S. Giovanni al monte, a quiet area with lovely scenery. The biker can stop for a break at the refuge, then follow the signs for Gorghi-Prati di Gom. After a slight ascent of 300 meters, the asphalted road ends and you pass a group of homes.
Beyond the Valtenesi area is the Colline Moreniche Mantovane (the Morainic Hills of Mantua). The name is actually not correct because the towns in this area only recently created a consortium for the protection of the natural surroundings. On one side is the Po Valley, while on the other side is Lake Garda, which is the beach for the locals. Sirmione, a blend of history and poetry, stretches out into the lake. The hills beyond Desenzano lead to Lonato, Castiglione delle Stiviere and Solferino. Amidst rows of grapevines that extend as far as the eye can see, the deafening blasts of the S. Martino and Solferino Battle can almost be heard.
People have been sailing on Lake Garda since the dawn of humanity. Today sailing has become a sport: there are more then fifty yacht clubs on Lake Garda that have spawned undeniably talented skippers, even of Olympic caliber. The lake climate creates different types of wind currents: a light breeze in the southern part, cooler winds in the middle of the lake from Gargnano to Malcesine, and a stiff wind to the north from Torbole to Riva del Garda.
Each day white boats crisscross the lake garda. Some are fast, modern vessels; others date back to the early 20th century, but have been equipped with modern engines. The first boat was built in Desenzano del Garda by the " Società Milanese per la Navigazione a Vapore nei Laghi del Regno Lombardo - Veneto " [Milanese Company for Steamboat Navigation on the Lakes of the Lombardy and Veneto Kingdom].
The Mount Baldo chain, with its tallest peaks Mount Telegrafo (2,200 m) and Mount Altissimo (2,070 m), offers endless possibilities for hiking and trekking on various levels of difficulty. Its position as a divide between the Adige Valley and Lake Garda allows the people who climb its peaks to enjoy splendid panoramas that span from the Brenta Dolomites to the West, to the Stivo and Mount Cornetto to the North, to the Pasubio chain and Lessini mountains to the east, and to the blue waters of Lake Garda to the south.
Starting out from Vesio di Temosine, follow the signs for Polzone. After less than 1 km, turn right on the unpaved road to Val S. Michele valley that skirts the meadows and cornfields. Once you pass a small dam (at 5.3 km), head for the Tremalzo Pass. Beyond the bridge, you'll go uphill and take a winding road. The steeper ascent will require changing gear speeds: don't overexert yourself right away because the road is difficult and steep.
Pozzolengo likes to consider itself the gateway to the Morainic hills of lake Garda, a town on the eastern border of the province of Brescia, wedged between Mantua and Verona. To the south of Desenzano del Garda, Pozzolengo is an introduction to the circle of southern hills that gradually give way to the plain.
This week, here's an idea for spending a day hiking and enjoying good food. Your excursion on Mount Baldo starts out in Malcesine with the Baldo cableway, which will take you to the peak at 1752 meters in altitude. You might want to choose a day during the week for this excursion because on the weekend there may be a line waiting to take the Malcesine cableway. For prices, information, request and time schedule, check this link: http://www.lagodigardamagazine.com. Once you reach the peak, you'll realize the incredible hiking options that are available on this fantastic mountain.
Lake Garda's alpine and excursionist refuges. From the parking lot before the barrier, you follow trail nr. 601, which rises and crosses the southeast side of Mount Varagna. You pass Sella south (1748 m.) and proceed to the top of Mount Nago (40 min.). The trial crosses a plateau and leads to the foot of Mount Altissimo (25 min.), providing a sweeping view of the upper lake garda area and surrounding mountains. After another ascending stretch on rather difficult and rocky terrain, you reach the top (40 min.), where you'll find a small church, an observatory and the "Damiano Chiesa" refuge (2,060 m.), which is open from July to September.