Culture
Gardone was the final home and resting place of Gabrielle D’Annunzio, an infamous Italian poet. His house, Il Vittoriale degli Italiani, mirrors his eccentric personality – a hypochondriac with a phobia of light, a dark sense of humour and an obsession with art. And it is well worth a visit. A guide will take you through an eclectic mix of gothic symbolism, statues of weeping monks and golden buddhas – all testaments to his “religion of art”. You can also walk at leisure through his equally ostentatious garden, with its own amphitheatre, Round Table-esque tomb and a World War battle ship built into the hillside.
Nestled above the town is the tropical Hrusko Botanical Gardens, named after its founder, Arthur Hruska. Take a stroll amongst the bamboo, banana plants and many other exotic species, whilst admiring the works of modern art dotted among the plants. Gardone is also in a fantastic location for visiting elsewhere in the Lake Garda and the Veneto region. Why not try -- A wine tour around the quaint, family-owned Tre Colline vineyard in Bardolino. With some excellent wines at just €3, you’d better save some space in your luggage.
- An unforgettable operatic experience in Verona’s Roman amphitheatre.
- A meal at Gli Angelli, a fantastic restaurant hidden away in Gardone Sopra. The uphill walk from Gardone Riviera is sure to work up a healthy appetite.
