Lake Garda in northern Italy promises unforgettable experiences. With only around 1,200 inhabitants, Limone Sul Garda is a charming town in the province of Brescia, surrounded by olive groves and lemon gardens between steep mountains and Lake Garda. The town is perfect for relaxing days or hours near the water or wandering narrow alleys and enjoying magnificent views.
The name Limone is not derived from the citrus fruits that were once grown in the area around the town, but the name derived from the Latin word “limes”, which translates as “a border” due to the fact that this lovely town was on the border between Italy and Austria for a long time.
Nowadays, Limone sul Garda is a very popular vacation place because of its comfortable mild climate from spring to autumn. Even though this picturesque town is pretty small, there are still some fascinating attractions you should not miss. Here are all the things to do in Limone sul Garda:
Walk along lakefront in Limone sul Garda
Once you arrive, you will probably immediately find yourself on a beautiful lakefront full of restaurants, bars, shops, and benches. From there you can admire the whole town and its houses leaning against the mountain. Also, you will see a characteristic colorful port full of small boats and yachts.
The lakefront and port are the perfect places for those who want to relax and enjoy the scenery. You can enjoy the town by walking slowly along the lakefront, or you can rent a boat to observe Limone from the shore. If you want to take a tour of Lake Garda or go to Malcesine, along the lakefront, you will find kiosks where you can buy boat tours.
Explore historic center of Limone sul Garda
Under no circumstances you should not miss the historic center of the town where you can really get into the vacation mood. The center is perfect for exploring by walking along its cobbled alleys, climbing stairways that lead unexpectedly to open spaces or terraces with wonderful views, and admiring the colored stone houses embellished with various flowers and plants.
The center of Limone is completely car-free thanks to the narrow streets, so you can easily explore the romantic streets on foot without worrying about traffic. Furthermore, you can find many small shops with local specialties and souvenirs, as well as cute restaurants and cafes. When you walk along the picturesque streets, take a lot at the Palazzo Gherardi, which was built in the 15th century.
Visit Limone sul Garda churches
There are two beautiful old churches in Limone sul Garda that are worth visiting. The first one is called the church of San Benedetto and the second is the church of San Rocco. You can visit them both for free, so take a look if you want to see some old paintings and altars.
Church of San Benedetto
If you love art, you should visit this small church located a little above the old town. It was built in 1691 on the remains of a previous much older Romanesque church. Because of the uphill location of the church, you can have a stunning panorama view from the outside.
Inside this peaceful church, you can see five marble Baroque altars. Besides them, you can admire beautiful paintings by Andrea Celesti, including the famous Three Kings and The Last Supper in the house of Simons the Pharisee.
Church of San Rocco
In the heart of the historic center, nestled in the narrow alleys, there is a beautiful flowery staircase that leads to a small but gorgeous church of San Rocco. This church was built as a gift from the citizens for having survived the plague that struck the town during the 16th century. Even though this little gem is pretty simple from the outside, you will be surprised when you enter inside.
The church’s interior is full of sixteenth-century frescoes and decorations on the walls. Among them, the most popular fresco is located at the end of the apse, depicting the Madonna between Saints Rocco and Sebastian. The small area around the church is a picturesque place where tourists like to spend their time and take wonderful photos of Limone sul Garda from above.
Visit La Limonaia del Castel
Limone was once the northernmost place in Italy where lemons were grown. Nowadays, you will only find a few areas in the town where you can find out more about the cultivation of citrus fruits. Nowadays, you can find three lemon houses in Limone sul Garda that can be visited like real museums.
These are the Tesol lemon house, the lemon house of Villa Boghi, and the Castél lemon house. The most popular one is Limonaia del Castel, located between Via Orti and Via Castello and built in the 18th century by the Amadei family.
Entrance to this well-preserved piece of history will cost you only 2 euros. It is built in stone and extends over several terraces connected by stairs where you can admire different types of citrus fruits such as lemons, mandarins, tangerines, grapefruits, and clementines.
Besides, you can enjoy a splendid view of the lake and the town at the end of one of the terraces. Also, you can buy homemade lemon products of which is the most popular lemon liqueur called limoncello.
Relax on Limone beaches
After an extensive sightseeing tour, it is time to relax, and Limone beaches are perfect places for that. You can lay down on the beach and feel the sunshine on your belly or play some water sports. There are several beaches in Limone sul Garda, and all of them are well-kept and close to each other.
The first one is called Tifu beach, and it is a freely accessible pebble beach with restaurants and bars for refreshments, a volleyball field, and kitesurf school.
Near the center, with perfect conditions for the whole family, there is a pebble beach called Grostol. Furthermore, Cola beach is located next to the large parking lot in Limone. There you will find water sports, sunbeds and umbrellas. Last but not least is a beach called Foce Torrente San Giovanni. It is a pebble beach next to Cola beach with a volleyball court and a surf school.
Take a look at Limone sul Garda museums
Those who are interested in cultural attractions can explore two museums in Limone sul Garda that are worth visiting. The first one is the Museum of Tourism and the other is called Museo dei Pescatori, and both of them show the history of Limone.
Museum of Tourism
Museum of Tourism is an atypical museum, founded in 2013, in the former seat of the municipality located directly on the lakefront. The entrance is free for all visitors and it exhibits ancient objects, photographs, videos, and documents that tell you the story about the history of Limone.
Museo dei Pescatori
This is a small museum set in nice gardens just a few minutes walking distance from the main road heading south of the town. It is full of photos and tools that explain the hard work of the local fishermen in the past.
Go to Limone sul Garda cycle path
One thing that you should definitely see is the cycle path, one of the most beautiful in Europe. It starts in Via IV Novembre 92 in Limone and leads all to the border of Trentino. There are rumors that the cycle path will run along the whole of Lake Garda one day. Riding the bike or walking on this path will give you a unique experience and breathtaking panoramas of Lake Garda.
The cool thing is the fact that around 2 out of the total 4 kilometers of cycle path is directly above the lake. If you love cycling but do not have a bike, do not worry. Near the cycle path, you can rent a bike or e-bike for half a day for 20 euros or the whole day for 30 euros.
Attractions near Limone sul Garda
After you have fully explored Limone and spent relaxing and active hours at the lake, it is time to discover the nearby area. In the area surrounding the holiday resort, you will find many places to add to your excursion list. Here are the two most popular excursion destinations in the Limone sul Garda surroundings:
Lake Ledro
About 25 kilometers from Limone Sul Garda, you will find Lake Ledro, which is considered one of Trentino’s most beautiful lakes. Crystal-clear water in the middle of the beautiful mountains makes the lake an extraordinary piece of nature that you will remember for a long time.
It doesn’t matter whether you are fishing, hiking, mountain biking, just relaxing, or bathing. This stunning lake is always worth a trip. There is a lovely promenade around the lake which is perfect for a relaxing walk or a slow bike ride.
Sopino waterfall
Another worth seeing destination that should not be missing in Limone and that you can even reach on foot is the Sopino waterfall. Your tour starts at the Church of San Rocco, which was already mentioned, and takes about an hour.
You will pass through beautiful landscapes with olive groves and lemon plantations while enjoying a beautiful view of Lake Garda and Monte Baldo. At the end of the hike, you will reach the waterfall, the sight of which will make you forget the hardships of the hike.
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