Torre Del Benaco, Lake Garda (Italy)

Torri de Beneco

We booked this as the second resort in a dual centre holiday from Inghams Lakes and Mountains. Wading through the brochures there are many resorts around Lake Garda and very little information to help one choose between them so we were a little unsure what to expect when we arrived in Torri de Benaco on a brilliant hot sunny afternoon in July 2006.

We were immediately impressed as we wandered around the ...
...harbour town. After the hustle and bustle of Venice the tranquillity was welcome, I was on holiday, it was time to unwind.

Situation

Torri de Benaco is situated half way along the Eastern shores of Lake Garda. Like all the resorts around Garda it is reached by the main road that runs North / South along the lake. From the road there is little to see of Torri de Benaco only a few shops and cafes (perhaps explains why ... more

Torri de Beneco

We booked this as the second resort in a dual centre holiday from Inghams Lakes and Mountains. Wading through the brochures there are many resorts around Lake Garda and very little information to help one choose between them so we were a little unsure what to expect when we arrived in Torri de Benaco on a brilliant hot sunny afternoon in July 2006.

We were immediately impressed as we wandered around the cobbled streets and strolled on the promenade of this pretty harbour town. After the hustle and bustle of Venice the tranquillity was welcome, I was on holiday, it was time to unwind.

Situation

Torri de Benaco is situated half way along the Eastern shores of Lake Garda. Like all the resorts around Garda it is reached by the main road that runs North / South along the lake. From the road there is little to see of Torri de Benaco only a few shops and cafes (perhaps explains why it seems so unspoilt), the traffic free town is nestled on the shores of the lake.

Attractions

Beaches and Bathing

There is a good stretch of promenade to stroll along the shores, in parts it is lined with pavement cafes and restaurants, there are also park benches over looking the lake where one can sit and take in the view. At the most northerly end of the promenade is a pebble beach where one can bathe in the waters of Garda which are safe, clean and warm. The beach is popular but not overcrowded so one does not have to fight for a space. There is also a small town park near to the beach, with essential facilities such as toilets and a café.

For the more adventurous just north of Torri de Benaco is a sailing and windsurfing club open to the public.

Places of Interest

There is an excellent Tourist Information Centre in the town where the staff are extremely helpful. From here one can find all the best places to visit around the lake, get timetables for local boats and buses, national railways and hotel information.

Like most of the towns around the lake Torri has a castle. Formerly the seat of government for Benaco (now known as Garda). From the outside it looked inviting but it never seemed to be open to the public when we were around. I believe inside there are museums displaying life as it was in times gone by in this Olive producing region. It is also used for civil functions, we were lucky to observe a wedding.

There are two churches in Torri de Benaco, which one can visit or attend services. They often host exhibitions and concerts free of charge.

Shopping and Services

In the pedestrian area there are a range of shops, each with individual character. There is a fabulous delicatessen, two bakers/patisseries and a fresh fruit and vegetable stall all within close proximity to each other, great for buying picnic lunches. Other food and drink essentials are available in a small Spar shop at the other end of the town just off the square. Shops are open morning, close for siesta, then reopen til 10pm. For browsing and shopping for souvenirs there are beautiful leather shops, shoe shops, art galleries, perfumeries and pottery shops. In addition there are a couple of tobacconists within the town where one can purchase newspapers, postcards etc, and in case of emergencies there is a pharmacist. There are also several banks and cashpoints within the town.

Most of the towns around the lake host a weekly market, Monday is market day in Torri. With almost everything from foods to clothing.

Eating and Drinking

There are many lakeside cafes and restaurants to choose from ranging from ice-cream parlours and pizzeria to haute cuisine. We favoured the harbour pavement café's for evening drinks, here you can relax and soak the ambience of the locals taking their evening stroll. In particular the bar belonging to the harbour hotel, where Winston Churchill is said to have stayed, offered good service with reasonable prices. Another plus is that they have English newspapers in the bar available for guests to read.

Travel

The main modes of public transport around the lake are boats and bus. From Torri de Benaco it is possible to catch the car ferry or hydrofoil to the West side of the lake. To reach the south of the lake one needs to travel by bus to Garda and pick up ferry connections, here the ferries are more frequent with a wider variety of resorts to visit. These services are punctual and reliable but we found the hydrofoil a little expensive for regular use. Sadly this cannot be said for the bus service which is consistent in its lateness. However, they are a cheap way to travel, the drivers are exceptionally helpful and if you are not in too much of a hurry they are quite fun. Tickets for buses can be purchased at the tobacconist prior to travel or on the bus itself. It is possible to travel from Torri de Benaco the most northerly part of the lake or south as far as Verona, where a visit to the Roman Amphitheatre is not to be missed.

As the week progressed we explored other resorts none of which appealed to us as Torri de Beneco did. However, it is horses for courses and all of the lake resorts have something to offer all different tastes. For us in search of a quiet, picturesque resort with lakeside walks and views we could defiantly say we had come up trumps in our choice of resort. 

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