Malcesine
By Dion Protani
|
Latest update: 23 January 2024
|
The town of Malcesine is located on the Veneto shores of Lake Garda, in the Province of Verona and has a population of 7,672 inhabitants.
It's situated around 180 kilometres north west of Venice, the regional capital of Veneto. Standing at an elevation of 89 metres above sea level, it covers an area of 68 km². |
Related links
A tricky maze of streets
Malcesine is one of the liveliest towns around Lake Garda and lies at the foot of the imposing Monte Baldo which reaches a height of 2,218 metres above sea level. The snow-capped mountains on either side of the lake are just one of the reasons it attracts so many visitors all year round.
During the warmer months of summer, it's the lake itself that gets most of the attention as you can swim in it, take a ferry across it or take part in any number of water sports on it with windsurfing a particularly favourite pastime.
The town itself is one of the most charming around the lake; its colourful buildings work their way around medieval streets and a pretty little harbour area called the porticciolo which effectively makes up most of Piazza Marconi.
The labyrinthine streets are peppered with restaurants and gelaterias all vying for your business alongside an equally healthy trade in boat trips to other towns around the lake such as Limone and Riva.
During the warmer months of summer, it's the lake itself that gets most of the attention as you can swim in it, take a ferry across it or take part in any number of water sports on it with windsurfing a particularly favourite pastime.
The town itself is one of the most charming around the lake; its colourful buildings work their way around medieval streets and a pretty little harbour area called the porticciolo which effectively makes up most of Piazza Marconi.
The labyrinthine streets are peppered with restaurants and gelaterias all vying for your business alongside an equally healthy trade in boat trips to other towns around the lake such as Limone and Riva.
Castello Scaligero
The most famous sight in the town is the Castello Scaligero which is just a 5 minute walk from the harbour. The medieval fortress, a favourite venue for weddings, affords some spectacular views across the lake and is itself the star of the show when viewing the town from a distance.
One of the best ways to create that distance is by taking a cable car up Monte Baldo. There are a series of paths and hiking routes at the top along with a number of refreshment options. For anyone not wishing to take a cable car, the same area is accessible by car, just with a significantly longer journey time.
One of the best ways to create that distance is by taking a cable car up Monte Baldo. There are a series of paths and hiking routes at the top along with a number of refreshment options. For anyone not wishing to take a cable car, the same area is accessible by car, just with a significantly longer journey time.
Lake Garda ferries
The Lake Garda ferry system is by far the most convenient way to explore the lake area. Aside from nearby Limone and Riva which occupy the same northern stretch of the lake (albeit across three different regions with Limone in Lombardy and Riva in Trentino Alto Adige), there are dozens of other beautiful towns worthy of a day-trip.
Any of Torri del Benaco, Garda, Bardolino and Lazise just on the eastern shore merit attention while further afield at the southern end of the lake are the larger towns of Peschiera del Garda, Sirmione and Desenzano del Garda. The list is almost endless which is just one reason why people choose Lake Garda as a base for their summer holiday.
With a car there are numerous other options that come into play; the mountain areas to the east of the lake conceal places such as the quirky but beautiful Santuario Madonna della Corona and the vineyard town of San Giorgio di Valpolicella, while to the south of the lake are the charming village of Borghetto and the nearby Parco Giardino Sigurtà. It's also just an hour from Malcesine to Verona by car.
Any of Torri del Benaco, Garda, Bardolino and Lazise just on the eastern shore merit attention while further afield at the southern end of the lake are the larger towns of Peschiera del Garda, Sirmione and Desenzano del Garda. The list is almost endless which is just one reason why people choose Lake Garda as a base for their summer holiday.
With a car there are numerous other options that come into play; the mountain areas to the east of the lake conceal places such as the quirky but beautiful Santuario Madonna della Corona and the vineyard town of San Giorgio di Valpolicella, while to the south of the lake are the charming village of Borghetto and the nearby Parco Giardino Sigurtà. It's also just an hour from Malcesine to Verona by car.
Comune di Malcesine
Province: Verona
Region: Veneto Population: 3,596 (source: ISTAT 1 January 2023) Size: 68 km² Elevation: 89 metres Highlights: Castello Scaligero, cable-car to Monte Baldo Close by: Brenzone sul Garda, Torri del Benaco, Garda, Bardolino Recommended accommodation: Wellness Hotel Casa Barca |
One of I Borghi più belli d'Italia (Italy's Most Beautiful Villages)
Listing headline: La Perla del Garda, tra acqua terra e cielo (The Pearl of Lake Garda, between water, land and sky)
Listing headline: La Perla del Garda, tra acqua terra e cielo (The Pearl of Lake Garda, between water, land and sky)