Finally it was time! To fly from my little world in Malcesine, where I have spent nearly two weeks sailing, eating, tourist-ing, and [occasionally] working, and where I have had the most marvelous “how did I get here” experiences, to continue the journey.
It began with a car tour of South Garda – focus on castles and churches – and then driving through the North Italian countryside to Como.
My first destination was the Santuario Madonna della Corona, in the hills to the South East of Garda.
The Santuario Mandonna della Corona
Next up, a visit to Sirmione, which everyone says you have to see. No. It’s a visit to Delray Beach, Florida, with 5 miles of middle-class hotels, crummy beaches, and a million tourists. I say skip it. And after a little investigation, I did.
On to Como, via Salo.
serendipitous because I just ordered (and enjoyed) their wine
looking at the top of Sirmione peninsula
There are “normal” houses built inside the castle walls
And on to Salo, the largest city on the shores of Garda, and quite beautiful and prosperous seeming, with a lot of gardens in town.
Como sounds glamorous because of the association with Lake Como and cities like Bellagio on the shores, but the truth is similar to Napa vs Napa Valley; Como itself is largish and industrialish, and not picturesque. You can’t even get a proper view of the lake from the town.
After a long crummy drive in which I got lost and ended up on an incredible little winding road above Lake Lugano, I finally made it to my destination in Claino con Osteno. Whew. And of course, made it to a nice Italian dinner with an excellent local wine…
Ciao e avanti
How did I get here 