For me, a splendid travel day includes some culture, scenery, excercise, great local food and drinks and a chance to get a little lost amongst the locals to discover some of their favorite spots and experiences that one may not find in a guide book. All of these boxes were checked by the end of the day I spent in Malcesine on Lake Garda. A J/70 regatta in Malcesine took us to Lago di Garda in the Italian Alps in July. While Captain Splendid was trimming the sails I had a chance to explore.
Before the race started one day the crew and I boarded the cable car from Malcesine to be whooshed up the rugged cliffs of Mount Baldo to the highest point of the Italian Alps in the province of Verona – highest section: 2218 meters.
Races are scheduled to suit the winds, in the morning The Pelér {or Vento} is the northerly wind that blows in the morning, and Ora is the southerly wind that rises in the afternoon as the Pelér dies down. Both are thermal winds so the are affected by the heating of the earth and the water.
Once one reaches the top you may be greeted by local wildlife, as we were, depending on the grass situation,
as you walk out to the view point. Captain Splendid and crew came this far with me before having to whoosh back down to the lake as the wind was filling in and the regatta was beginning for the day. The views were astounding.
As the crew departed back to ride the tram down, I started following the stone wall lined trail to the south and the views just kept coming, framed by wild flowers, grasses and rustic fences, probably constructed by local shepherds. Can you see the sailboats on the lake below?
trail information, all levels of hiking and mountain biking on their extensive, well developed trail plan. You can even hike and bike to other towns to take in lunch or coffee and even more amazing views.
There are a handful of restaurants at the top this one added the attraction of a troll blessed bunny farm {why are the Europeans SO into trolls? Click on trolldom for some insights}
And, had it been lunch time, this vegetable/herb garden {in Italian l’orto, in French le potager} would have convinced me to take a seat at one of the local restaurants up top.
But I wasn’t quite ready for lunch so I took the the cable car back down and took the path through the winding town of Malcesine and back to our hotel.
It was about a 20 minute walk from the base of the to the hotel, on the way I stopped at one of the lake side restaurants for a salad and a crispy crusted pizza baked on a bed of cornmeal in a wood burning oven topped with marinara, mozzarella, anchovies, olives and sprinkles of oregano, the perfect post hike meal!
Back at the hotel I borrowed one of their many steady steeds {bikes} and hopped back on the trail towards the Malcesine Castle aka: Castello Scaligero di Malcesine
I believe Lake Garda is the most sportif area I have ever visited, an absolute paradise for bikers, hikers, sailors, kite boarders, para gliders, foilers and beyond! Each morning as we had breakfast at the charming, family run Hotel Sailing Center on the bay of Campagnola we were mesmerized by all of the colorful windfilled sails and kites flying by us.
Did I mention I stayed at the fabulous Hotel Sailing Center, fascinating family story and incredible view out to the lake where I finished up my adventure with a Aperol Spritz in my swimsuit and took a few laps in their lake front pool.
Saluti!
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