Tignale
Tignale was our first destination for travel to Italy. Italy is considered a paradise for people on a gluten free diet, so we decided to check it out. I’m happy to share we were not disappointed. After years of traveling with only our own gf food and a kitchenette in the room and with a great concerns and stress whether we will be poisoned by gluten…
We lived on the west side of the Garda Lake in Hotel Gallo http://hotelgallo.com/
This is a family run hotel and the there is really friendly atmosphere. The staff and chefs were perfectly familiar with the topic of a gluten-free diet and celiac disease.
Every day for breakfast, they baked for us gluten free croissants or pancakes. Of course, there was also certified gf ready-made bread and a lot of gf cheese, yogurt, and cold meats, etc.
After breakfast, we could choose one of three dishes for dinner. Most dishes could be prepared gluten free.
During our entire 7-day stay, we ate deliciously and, above all, safely. My daughter is very sensitive to gluten, so I knew the food was completely gluten-free.
What a relief it is when you can take a break from cooking for a few days and try new flavors. J
An additional advantage was that we were eating all meals outside, on a large, beautiful terrace with a wonderful view of Garda Lake.
Currently, the Hotel also has a restaurant for external quests – the La Dolce Vita Relais.
Right next to the Hotel Gallo there is also a fantastic Pizzeria Al Torchio, with delicious gluten-free pizza and a truly Italian atmosphere – https://www.altorchiotignale.it/
We were there a few times in 2018 and 2024 and every time there was delicious, safe gluten free food and very friendly service.
It’s worth booking a table there in advance, because the queues can be really long.
Tignale stands on the plateau of olive trees and is situated about 7km from the Lake Garda. The town is very charming and an ancient atmosphere has remained intact here. Thanks to its position and climate, very high quality olives are cultivated in this area.
From the village of Tignale there are many beautiful hiking trails.
I encourege to visit the Sanctuary of the Madonna di Monte Castello, which is faced toward the lake and perched on a rocky outcrop. The spectacular view over Lake Garda ranges from Mount Baldo to the Sirmione peninsula. Really stunning place.
The Sanctuary of Montecastello can be reached on foot and in the less crowded season it is also possible to get in the car, but the road is narrow and very steep. The car can’t be wider than 2meters. It’s also worth going to the viewing point above the Sanctuary. The path leading to the Cross on Monte Castello leads to it. It’s not easy to find the trail from the church – you need to go through the parking garage area to the path.
Here you can read more about the Sanctuary of Monte Castello and also about some other trails in the area:
https://www.tignale.org/lake-garda/Sanctuary-of-Montecastello.html
https://www.tignale.org/lake-garda/Trekking-tours.html
You can reach Tignale via a winding, mountain road. We went by our own car but there is also a shuttle bus to get to the lake beach.
https://www.tignale.org/lake-garda/busservice.html
If you live in Tignale it’s worth asking about the Tignale Card.
Guests are entitled to receive the Tignale Card following payment of the tourist tax. It entitles tourists to many discounts. More info here:
https://www.tignale.org/lake-garda/Tignale-Card.html
There really is a lot to explore in the area.
Ferries
A great way to explore the Garda Lake area are the ferries. The villages around the lake are connected very well by them. While in Tignale, we used the ferry service from Gargnano.
More info here: https://www.navigazionelaghi.it/en/tickets-and-timetables-lake-garda/
Limone sul Garda
Limone sul Garda is famous for its lemon groves – so-called lemonaries, where you can admire the various types of citrus fruits grown.
The town is an ancient village, rich in history and with many charming corners: the old houses huddle around the historic harbour, giving you the impression of being in a fishermen’s village, with colorful different alleyways and narrow cobblestone streets.
There is also a beautiful promenade running along the waterfront.
Limone sul Garda is very unique place. It’s very colorful with beautiful flowers and yellow with lemons of course. The lemons are literally everywhere, real ones grow on lemon trees, there are souvenirs with them, you can buy lemons of various size and of course, lemon liqueurs –limoncello. Pure limoncello does not contain gluten.
All this made gave me such a feeling of freshness there.
The southern part is completely different from the northern one and its architecture resembles modern seaside resorts with elegant hotels.
In recent years the town has become one of the most prosperous and elegant towns on the Garda Lake. It also became really crowded in the summer. If you have opportunity, it’s much better to visit it out of season. Last year ( 2024) I was there in spring and it was much nicer to explore it.
In the town, there is a small grocery store called Margherita Conad, where you can buy pretty much any gluten free products.
When in Limone sul Garda, be sure to visit Ciclopista del Garda. It’s a spectacular elevated path. The path is both for pedestrians and cyclists. You can reach it heading north from the center of Limone.
The route is approximately 4 km /2,9 miles/ long, of which the section anchored to the rock wall is 2,5 km /2miles/ long.
The overhanging path is suspended between breathtaking views of the lake and mountains.
You can walk along it in total safety, enjoying a unique spectacle overlooking the waters of Garda Lake and the peaks of Monte Baldo.
This is a part of a larger project to create bicycle paths accessible to everyone on Lake Garda. The path currently ends with a monument and a closed gate, which makes it difficult to continue the journey towards Riva del Garda. But further work is already underway.
For now, we have completed the route on foot, but when it is connected to Riva del Garda and there is no need to go through tunnels to get there, we will definitely go by bike.
We were lucky we could drive through the Strada della Forra in May 2023. It’s wonderful 6km road with overhanging cliffs, tunnels and gorges.
It’s a real gem, nestled in the depths of the mountain, along the rift carved by the river Brasa. It is a spectacular combination of tight bends and galleries dug in the rocks and offers a breathtaking view.
It was also the scene of a great chase in the James Bond film “007 – Quantum of Solace”, in which Daniel Craig drove his Aston Martin at full speed.
Unfortunately, since December 2023, a 3 km section of the route has been closed due to a landslide that occurred there. It is unknown when the route will be reopened for travel by car or motorbike. On Thursday and Sunday it is possible to take a tour with partial access to the closed part after prior reservation by calling 0039 0365953185
More info here:
https://www.stradadellaforra.com/en/
Tremosine
Tremosine is one of the most beautiful places on the Garda Lake. It’s situated high on a plateau, and the community consists of eighteen villages, among which the real gem is Pieve di Tremosine.
By December 2023 it was possible to get there via the already mentioned Strada della forra.
Now you can get here by driving the route leading up the hill to Limone sul Garda. You need to head toward the Voltino village. It’s worth noting that this is not an easy route. At the beginning, there are very sharp uphill climbs and serpentines every bit.
Pieve is a small village, offering a really spectacular view from the terraces. They are the so-called terraces of horror.
The main observation deck in Pieve is located in the center of the village. There is a wonderful panorama of Monte Baldo massif rising from the blue surface of Lake Garda, from this place. There is a bench on the terrace. It’s really nice to sit and relax here.
The Miralago Hotel’s restaurant is located on the same terrace and its dining room is surrounded by glass wall. We didn’t eat or drink there, but it looked lovely.
Personally, I was most enchanted by the Terrace of the Terazza del Brivido.
It’s a platform suspended in the void 350 meters high, from which you can enjoy the breathtaking panoramic view of Lake Garda.
The terrace is owned by the Paradise Hotel, but access is open to all visitors every day from February to November.
Here you can try the selection of typical local cheeses from the Alpe del Garda dairy or just dink delicious coffee andadmire the stunning view. I really recommend it.
