Sirmione, Desenzano and Borghetto Day Trip from Verona

Borghetto sul Mincio

Borghetto sul Mincio is a tiny hamlet below the town of Valeggio, about 30 minutes from Verona, where the clear green Mincio river flows out of Lake Garda through a cluster of old water mills, stone houses and wooden bridges. Ducks paddle in the channels, flowers hang from the balconies and the sound of turning wheels fills the lanes. It is regularly counted among the most beautiful villages in Italy.

Above the village runs a huge fortified bridge-dam of the late fourteenth century, about 650 m long, built to control the river and defend the border between rival states, while a medieval castle crowns the hill of Valeggio. How to get to Borghetto sul Mincio without a car is not easy, which makes this stop a real bonus of the day trip. We spend about 45 minutes here for a stroll and photos.

Sirmione old town and the Scaliger Castle

Sirmione lies at the tip of a narrow peninsula that pushes about 4 km into the southern lake. You enter through the gate of the Scaliger Castle, a thirteenth-century water fortress with battlements, towers and its own small fortified harbour, one of the best-preserved castles of its kind in Europe. Beyond it the lanes of the old town lead to small squares, gelato shops and lake-view terraces.

Is Sirmione worth visiting? It is the jewel of Lake Garda, and your driver-guide leads a stroll through its most beautiful corners, explaining the town's Roman past and the healing hot springs that rise from the lake bed. You then have some free time for lunch. Halal food is limited here, but vegetarian dishes, pizza and fresh lake fish are easy to find.

Boat ride around the Sirmione peninsula

From the harbour you board a boat reserved just for your small group and circle the peninsula. The castle walls rising from the water, the elegant villas among olive trees and the long limestone slabs at the tip of the peninsula, where the lake turns a brilliant turquoise, are seen from their most beautiful angle. On calm days the water is so clear you can see the rocky bottom.

The boat also passes beneath the Grottoes of Catullus, the remains of an immense Roman villa on the northern headland, built around two thousand years ago with terraces overlooking the lake. Your skipper slows down for photos and points out the spot where a warm sulphur spring bubbles up from the lake. This private Sirmione boat tour lasts about 20 to 30 minutes.

Desenzano del Garda

Desenzano is the largest and liveliest town on Lake Garda, with a picturesque old harbour crossed by a small arched bridge, a wide lakeside promenade, elegant arcaded squares and plenty of cafés. Above the centre stands a medieval castle with views over the rooftops, and close to the harbour you can visit the remains of a Roman villa whose floors are covered in beautifully preserved mosaics.

Your free time here is ideal for a stroll along the lake, a gelato or some shopping before the drive back to Verona, which takes about 40 minutes. Desenzano is also an easy base for exploring the lake, with a station on the Milan to Venice railway and public boats to Sirmione and other villages. The best time to visit Lake Garda is from April to October, with spring and September especially pleasant.