The area Lake Garda, on the border between the regions of Veneto and Lombardy, is a land of wine and authentic wellness.
A land of slow tourism and great wines
Between the towns of Verona and Brescia, Lake Garda is a destination of charm, wellness and slow tourism. An area where the culture of the territory and the art of the good life meet, in events like “Lugana Armonie Senza Tempo,” an event dedicated to wine, the culture of the area and the art of living well, that has just concluded in Rome in the elegant setting of Palazzo Brancaccio.
One of Europe’s most fascinating wine destinations
The Lugana DOC area is one of the most complete and fascinating wine tourism destinations in Europe with over 25 million tourist ovenights a year. Here, wine is not only an excellence to be tasted but an excuse to slow down and enjoy authentic quality and hospitality. This is the Lugana: a bridge between places, people and stories,’ says Fabio Zenato, president of the Lugana Consortium. 
Wineries offer a range of experiences
Tourists in the Lugana area can enjoy immersive multi-sensory experiences that range from sunset tastings in vineyards to walks along the paths of the “Lugana On Foot” project, the first Iter Vitis Council of Europe certified itinerary. They can explore the area by bicycle with a wine guide, picnic and enjoy yoga sessions among the vines with locally-produced products and take local cookery courses in wine cellars. Some wineries offer olfactory trails in wine museums, others offer wellness treatments with wine therapy, meditation sessions or sensory experiences combined with music, and in many wineries you can also sleep and dine. Here wine tourism is combined with slow tourism, soft sports like trekking, biking, golf and canoeing, excellent gastronomy and local crafts.
Archaeological sites and a UNESCO World Heritage site
At the tip of the Sirmione peninsula on Lake Garda, the archaeological area of the Grotte di Catullo contains the remains of one of the largest Roman villas in northern Italy. The villa covers an area of some two hectares and is surrounded by a historic olive grove with over 1,500 trees. The microclimate of the lake favours its growth, making this area home to the northernmost olive groves in Europe. The Venetian fortifications of Peschiera del Garda, on the other hand, are a complex defence system dating back to the 16th century, and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Desenzano del Garda's calendar of summer events is also packed with wine, history and culture.
