Peschiera del Garda – charming, cool and convenient

Having been to Riva del Garda on the northern end of Lake Garda, my partner and I thought we’d check out somewhere in the south. The toss was between Peschiera del Garda and Sirmione. We opted to stay at Peschiera for its convenient location, and came to appreciate everything about it!

Peschiera del Garda has everything going for it as a holiday destination. It’s a historic town with a Venetian fortress and vibrant Old Town where the Mincio River flows from Lake Garda.

It has the tranquility of a resort surrounded by greenery with Monte Baldo providing a stunning backdrop with its snow-capped peak. When the occasional clouds gathered over the peak, it almost resembled an active volcano! There’re canal-side eateries, lakeside walks, a beautiful marina and a ancient Walls for watching the sunset…. 

Riviera Carducci Rooms 

We couldn’t have found a better place to stay in Peschiera del Garda than Riviera Carducci Rooms! The building is located right in the heart of the town. Our spacious room on the top floor came with a private balcony just across the stairwell. It looked out to the port for the water bus and the bus stop for Line 26 to Sirmione. There’re plenty of restaurants and cafes around.

The Tourist Information Office and the Town Hall were 5 minutes’ walk away. There’s also a small hill surrounded by ancient walls at the back of the building. It’s perfect for watching the sun set!

Canale di Mezzo 

Canale di Mezzo “Middle Canal” is situated right in the heart of Peschiera’s historic centre. It’s just around the corner from Riviera Carducci Rooms, where we enjoyed our lakeside breakfast at Pavilion Suites Restaurant in early morning sunshine.

On the opposite side of the canal, there’s a row of residential structures with colourful facades and a scenic promenade lined with restaurants. Having breakfast with this view in front of me was like being in a living painting!

Pavilion Suites

On the other side of Canale di Mezzo is Pavilion Suites. Facing the 16th-century Voltoni Bridge (Ponte dei Voltoni) is a 19th-century neoclassical building known as The Officers’ Pavilion (Padiglione degli Ufficiali). It was constructed in 1856 as elite military housing. It was restored in 2023 to become Pavilion Suites – a luxury hotel, restaurant and shopping complex. 

Ponte dei Voltoni ( Voltoni bridge)

This charming brick bridge is the most iconic bridge in the town. It spans the width of the canal and dates back to the 16th century.

Behind the lakeside buildings lies the vibrant Old Town. This pedestrian-only area are filled with restaurants, cafes, and boutique shops.

Porta Brescia

The Old Town is connected to the mainland only by 2 bridges at Porta Brescia and Porta Verona. Porta Brescia, facing west, is an integral part of the walls that line the city centre and was constructed in the mid 16th century

There was a craft fair on the bridge at Porta Brescia on the Friday afternoon when we took a “Walls Tour” on a boat

Porta Verona

Porta Verona is the gate facing east, built in 1553. It was destroyed by Napoleon in 1797 and was only restored in 2019.

Piazza Ferdinando di Savoia 

Piazza Ferdinando di Savoia is a large square near Porta Brescia. It has recently been redesigned to combine historical buildings with a modern pedestrian space with stone paving, a fountain, and benches, offering views towards the Canale di Mezzo and the nearby Voltoni bridge.

Church of San Martino is within the square. It’s an elegant neoclassical building with a stone portal, Ionic columns, and a towering bell tower. The foundations the church date back to the 3rd or 4th century. The facade was built upon ruins of a temple of Jupiter. To right of the church is an archaeological area, containing Roman-era residential and production remains. 

This modern white building on Piazza Ferdinando di Savoia is known as Municipal di Peschiera del Garda (town hall of Peschiera del Garda) but it’s not to be confused with the real Town Hall on Piazzale Betteloni opposite the Tourist Information Centre. It’s a redeveloped historic building used for shops, cafés, and is a central gathering spot for locals and visitors.

Il Lungolago Mazzini 

This scenic tree-lined lakeside promenade is to the west of the tourist pier. It’s 700-metre long and runs along the shore of Lake Garda. There’re benches along the walking path with easy access to restaurants and cafes across of narrow road. It’s a great place for a relaxing late afternoon stroll while enjoying the stunning panoramic views of the lake and surrounding mountains

Palazzina Storica

This historic building was constructed in 1854. It’s famous for being the venue of the inter-allied conference of 8 November 1917 that changed the course of WWI. It’s now a museum.

Fiume Mincio (Mincio River)

Fiume Mincio starts at the southeastern tip of Lake Garda, flowing through Peschiera del Garda, serving as the primary outlet of Lake Garda. There’s a scenic cycle path starting from the harbour, just outside Porta Verona

Walls Tour

Visiting Peschiera del Garda without taking a boat ride is like visiting a chocolate factory without trying a chocolate! We took this “Walls Tour” on a pontoon boat starting from Canale di Mezzo. It took about 30 minutes and cost only €10.

It’s a great way to appreciate the Venetian Fortress and Ancient Walls of Peschiera del Garda which became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2017

To wind up this post, here’s the new addition to my collection of fridge magnets!