Sitting at the southern tip of Lake Garda (the largest of the Italian lakes), Desenzano del Garda is a lovely little town which has (since Roman times) been a holiday resort for visitors from Verona. The draw today, as then, has been its superb setting with views across the waters of the lake, which stretches 30 miles to the north, to the Alps. There are three big beaches (Porto Rivoltella, Spiagga d'Oro and Desanzanino) and a host of good hotels, from the extraordinarily expensive to the very affordable, for visitors. The port itself is a delight, with colourful boats bobbing up against a tree-lined harbour. Enjoyable hours can be wasted here at the many bars, restaurants and gelatarie, gazing out across the waters.
Ferries run from here to the numerous towns and resorts around the lake. Garda also has plenty of watersports, and there is the Gardaland theme park nearby - great for keeping the children happy for the day. Sights in the town itself include the Cathedral of St Mary Magdalene, the House of St Angela Merici, the Torre di San Martino, the Museo Civico Archeologico (museum), a number of lovely old villas (Villa Romana) and the castle. The hub of the town is a series of interconnecting squares (piazze), with some good shops, restaurants and bars. Desenzano is in the Brescia province of Italy's Lombardy region. Near neighbours include Peschiera, Salo, Gardone Riviera, Gargnano and Torri del Benaco. The cities of Brescia and Verona are within easy reach.
To the left you'll find a selection of hotels, to get you in the mood
- see also our full listings of Desenzano del Garda hotels.
