Lago di Garda, northern Italy. I drove around the lake, counterclockwise from Riva del Garda, on April 6, 2005. This map from the Michelin Green Guide for Italy.
Lago di Garda, northern Italy. This and other guidebook entries from the Michelin Green Guide for Italy.
Lago di Garda, Italy. The road on the west bank winds tightly along the cliffs that drop right into the lake, often passing through tunnels.
Lago di Garda, Italy. The first stop on my counter-clockwise tour, on the west shore of the lake, was Limone sul Garda.
Lago di Garda, Italy. On the beach in Limone sul Garda.
Lago di Garda, Italy. Looking up at the cliffs above Limone sul Garda.
Lago di Garda, Italy. A lemon grove above Limone sul Garda.
Lago di Garda, Italy. In some places the road is covered to protect against rockfall.
Lago di Garda, Italy. One of the many, many tunnels along the west-side road; this one is very short.
Lago di Garda, Italy. One of the many tunnels along the west-side road. Some were modern concrete tubes; others like this were faced with rocks, and a few were simply holes hacked through the rock.
Lago di Garda, Italy. One of the tunnels along the west-side road; here the road is high above the lake.
Lago di Garda, Italy.
Lago di Garda, Italy. A well-decorated cemetary in Gargnano.
Lago di Garda, Italy. One of the old churches in Gargnano.
Lago di Garda, Italy. An old, narrow alleyway between walled home compounds, looking back at the church and lake. Gargnano.
Lago di Garda, Italy. A beautiful personal orchard and garden nestled along a brook in the center of Gargnano.
Lago di Garda, Italy. The waterfront marina in Desenzano, southern shore.
Lago di Garda, Italy. The waterfront in Desenzano, southern shore.
Lago di Garda, Italy. The little cafe where I had lunch, Desenzano, southern shore. This cafe, and dozens like it, were nearly empty, all waiting the booming tourist season to come.
Lago di Garda, Italy. I'm sitting in a waterfront cafe in Desenzano, on the southern shore.
Lago di Garda, Italy. I ate in a cafe on the waterfront in Desenzano... this is a surreptitious photo of my neighbors.
Lago di Garda, Italy. Sirmione is on the southern shore, and was one of the nicest (though very touristy) places I visited.
Lago di Garda, Italy. The 13C castle "Rocca Scaligera" in Sirmione.
Lago di Garda, Italy. The moat of the 13C castle "Rocca Scaligera" in Sirmione.
Lago di Garda, Italy. The streets of Sirmione seem intertwined with ancient walls of the castle.
Lago di Garda, Italy. One of the many cobbled streets of old Sirmione.
Lago di Garda, Italy. Sirmione's main square was the only place where I found lots and lots of tourists.
Lago di Garda, Italy. The 15C church in Sirmione.
Lago di Garda, Italy. A small well and statue near the church in Sirmione.
Lago di Garda, Italy. A fun playground in Sirmione.
Lago di Garda, Italy. This walkway along the northern tip of the Sirmione peninsula takes you out to the roman ruins. I did not have time to walk all the way there.
Lago di Garda, Italy. The harbor in Pechiera del Garda, on the southeastern shore of the lake.
Lago di Garda, Italy. Pechiera del Garda is a walled city of sorts, and I drove out through this gate. In front of me was a bus that crawled through, just barely clearing the walls and ceiling of the old gate.
Lago di Garda, Italy. The waterfront in Garda. Lots and lots of large cafés hint at the summer crowds.
Lago di Garda, Italy. The waterfront in Garda.
Lago di Garda, Italy. The entry to old-town Garda, with the clock tower overhead. I wandered many neat old alleys with wonderful shops.
Lago di Garda, Italy. One of many "gelataria" in Garda. In Sirmione I saw many many more, some with twice as many flavors.