Are you at Lake Garda and looking for gardens where you can immerse yourself in nature and beauty?
In this article, I’ll tell you about 3 unmissable—and perhaps lesser-known—places on Lake Garda that are absolutely worth visiting.
Lake Garda is one of those places that’s perfect for me:
I’m not someone who enjoys spending the whole day in the sun, and I’m not much of a swimmer—so Lake Garda is the ideal destination for cultural tourism.
If you’re looking for a place to stay on Lake Garda, I suggest this beautiful apartment with balconies overlooking the lake.
It’s the perfect place to recharge the batteries, with family and friends or for remote work.
Lake Garda and the Regions it Borders
First, let’s narrow the field a bit, since Lake Garda has a perimeter of 140 km.
Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy and borders three regions: Lombardy, Trentino, and Veneto.
The Lombard side of the lake stretches from Sirmione to Limone. The Trentino side includes the towns of Nago, Riva del Garda, and Torbole, while the Venetian side goes from Malcesine to Peschiera.
But now let’s begin our visit to the gardens on the Brescian side of Lake Garda. Are you ready?
Lake Garda gardens: Heller Garden in Gardone Riviera
The Heller Garden in Gardone Riviera is also known as the Botanical Garden or the Hruska Gardens, and it has a truly fascinating history.
The Botanical Garden was founded between 1912 and 1914 by Arturo Hruska, a naturalist and botanist best known for being the dentist of the Russian Tsars, the Italian royals, and even a few popes.
In Gardone Riviera, Hruska found the perfect climate and location to shape his vision of a botanical garden.
The Heller Garden on the Brescian shore of Lake Garda covers 10,000 square meters and hosts plants and flowers from all over the world.
Since 1989, it has been owned by André Heller.
André Heller is a multimedia artist from Vienna who has enriched this paradise with sculptures and installations by artists from around the world.
In the park, you’ll come across works by Roy Lichtenstein, Keith Haring, Rudolf Hirt, Heller himself, and many others.
Let me give you a tip while we’re at it: take your time to explore—at least a full morning or afternoon.
Admission is €12, but the park is vast and full of places where you’ll want to linger. It’s absolutely worth the visit.
At the top of the park, there’s even a little café with a panoramic view that’s breathtaking.
The “La Malora” Lemon House
You might be wondering why I’ve included a lemon house in an article about Lake Garda’s gardens.
Since the 17th century, the Franciscans have cultivated lemon houses—also called lemon gardens—on the Brescian shore of Lake Garda.
The “La Malora” lemon house tells the story of two generations of the Gandossi family.
Giuseppe, the father, restored the place out of love for the land, and now his son Fabio continues to care for it.
On the terraces, 22 lemon trees—some over a hundred years old—still produce lemons twice a year, following tradition. The irrigation water still comes from the stream that gives the lemon house its name, and the same old system is used to protect the trees in winter.
You can end the visit with a small tasting session. I personally loved the bitter orange marmalade and the citron mustard—perfect paired with Parmigiano Reggiano.
The visit costs €5, and in my opinion, it’s more than worth it.
Villa Bettoni in Bogliaco di Gargnano
“Here at the villa, we can distinguish ourselves with a place that would not be found equal in all of Veneto, and few could match it even throughout Lombardy.”
This quote, from a 1753 letter by Carlo Bettoni to his brother Gian Maria, perfectly captures the spirit of this place. It’s spectacular!
Lake Garda is dotted with villas and gardens that tell incredible stories.
You simply can’t miss Villa Bettoni as you pass through Bogliaco di Gargnano. In fact, the first thing you’ll notice is its garden, which unfolds to the left as you head from Maderno toward Limone.
Entering this villa feels like stepping back in time, thanks in part to a knowledgeable guide who will share the history of this Genoese family that settled on the shores of Lake Garda.
Inside, you’ll find grand halls and rooms with period furnishings and many frescoes. The front garden, which faces the lake, the first-floor terrace, and the garden itself are all stunning.
At Villa Bettoni, you’ll be able to admire a 10,000-volume library in five languages and walk through the very rooms where 16 of the 17 meetings of the Grand Council of the Republic of Salò were held.
The Garden of Villa Bettoni in Gargnano
Let’s return to the garden—it was considered highly innovative for its time and aimed to strike a balance between the ideas of Carlo Bettoni, an agronomist, and his brother Delay, who focused more on hospitality and diplomacy.
In the monumental garden behind the villa, these two visions come together: one side reflecting a sensitivity for the countryside and the preservation of the lemon house, and the other almost resembling a theater, designed for strolls and diplomatic encounters.
Admission costs €15 (advance booking is required), but you’ll be guided through a tour of over an hour by an expert who will share many behind-the-scenes stories about the family. In my opinion, it’s definitely worth it.
