Gardone Riviera, Lake Garda

Gardone Riviera is a splendid little town on the western shores of Lake Garda in the Lombardy region. With frequent ferries between the east and west of the island it makes an ideal day trip location from Garda on the east side, and has easy connections from Venice and Verona too. 

The Vittoriale degli Italiani, a hillside estate which used to be home to the proliferate Italian poet Gabriele D'Annunzio, is one of its most popular sites to visit. The architect who designed and built the entire stunning complex was inspired by Pompeii, and took many visits there to get inspiration for his work. During the summer season the onsite amphitheatre plays host to a string of concerts by internationally renowned artists. 

The Heller Botanical Gardens, designed by Austrian-born artist Andre Heller, boasts a marvellous display of sculptures and unusual plants and is a must-see on any visit to Gardone.