Malcesine is famous for its Scaliger castle, but also for water sports, which in summer make it an unmissable destination. In addition, it is the ideal starting point for walks among the olive groves and Mediterranean vegetation or to climb the panoramic surrounding hills.
Malcesine, a delightful medieval village about 50 kilometers from Verona, is one of the “pearls” of Lake Garda. It is known and loved by both Italian and foreign tourists for its perfectly preserved Scaliger castle, its picturesque harbor and its lively streets, but also for the panoramic cable car that takes you from the center in a few minutes to the nearby Mount Baldo, called “Garden of Europe” thanks to the incredible variety of flora that grows there and the many scenic trails. Sports enthusiasts will find in Malcesine their ideal destination: if on Mount Baldo you can practice trekking, mountain biking and paragliding, the shores of the lake offer the opportunity to try sailing, windsurfing, kite surfing, thanks to the wind that often blows here with such an impetus as to create waves comparable to those of the sea.
The historical center of Malcesine hides many characteristic corners and has always been a refuge for artists: among others, Gustav Klimt stayed here and dedicated a painting to the church of the small hamlet of Cassone. The cobbled streets around the castle, in particular, are dotted with stores of painters, sculptors and craftsmen who work the olive wood, skillfully transformed into objects of furniture or small accessories for the home, perfect to buy as souvenirs. Among the attractions of Malcesine stands the famous Scaliger Castle, whose date of construction is uncertain, but still very old: it seems to date back to the end of the first millennium BC, although other sources claim they have built the Lombards. What we know for sure is that in 1500 the fortress was destroyed by the Franks and then immediately rebuilt and that over the centuries it passed under various dominations: from the Scaligeri to the Visconti up to the Republic of Venice.
Not to be missed are the breathtaking views of Lake Garda that can be enjoyed from the balcony at the end of the courtyard, overlooking the water, and the so-called “Sala Goethe” where illustrations and documents testifying to the stay of the German writer and poet in Malcesine are on display. Thanks to its beauty and the incredible panoramic views it offers, the castle is often chosen as a location for weddings, even by many foreigners. The village of Malcesine and the surrounding area, moreover, are distinguished by the production of a fragrant extra virgin olive oil, pride of local producers and joy of anyone who has the opportunity to taste it.
