A new walking itinerary has been inaugurated on Lake Garda: the Cammino del Bardolino (Bardolino Way), 100 kilometers to be covered on foot or by bike exploring the backcountry, away from the crowded lakefront, amid small churches, remote hermitages, hilltop villages and vineyards, with stops along the way to taste the local wine. Sounds good to us!
The Cammino del Bardolino comprises an area of about 130 square kilometers in the province of Verona, passing by the towns of Bardolino, Affi, Costermano, Cavaion Veronese, Garda and Rivoli Veronese. As many as 60 wineries are part of the route, open for tastings of the local Bardolino DOC wine, made on the shores of Lake Garda.
The route is divided into smaller circuits ranging from 3 to 21 kilometers, making the possibility to enjoy the area on foot or on a bike available to all.
There are several information signs along the route, not just to point the way, but also to provide essential information about the area.
Free parking spaces and picnic areas have also been set up.
The objective is to reveal the natural beauty of an area that is often overlooked as tourists tend to gather along the lakefront and to encourage a kind of tourism that is slow, rural and eco-friendly.
Bardolino, the most famous town around here, can be used as the starting point, located about 130 kilometers (81 mi) west of Venice and about 25 kilometers (16 mi) northwest of Verona. Its historic center is worth a visit, starting from the picturesque harbor.
The Wine Museum in Costabella is another recommended stop, which will give you an overview of the area’s wine tradition and help you better appreciate the tastings offered at the 61 wineries that are part of the circuit.
Other highlights include the Hermitage of San Giorgio, in the hills behind Bardolino; the Church of San Vito, in the hamlet of Cortelline, with great views and rows of olive trees (from which the prized Lake Garda olive oil is made); the Venetian villas, a splendid legacy from the times of the Serenissima, the powerful Venice Republic.
