Lake Garda as a starting point
Choosing Lake Garda means having much more than just a lake to discover.
It means waking up to a landscape of water, hills and mountains, and being able to decide each day which direction to take.
You can spend the morning strolling through the charming towns and villages around the lake and devote the afternoon to a city of art. You can set out in search of local flavours, attend an opera at the Arena di Verona, experience the timeless appeal of the 1000 Miglia in Brescia, or wander through the squares of Mantua during Festivaletteratura.
And it is precisely this variety that makes the Lake Garda area so special: nature, culture, food and wine, and events all within easy reach of one another.
Four seasons, countless ways to experience Lake Garda
Every season can be the perfect time to visit.
In spring, the landscape comes alive with colour once again, while pleasant temperatures invite you to enjoy walks, hikes and the first days spent outdoors.
In summer, the lake reveals its liveliest side. The days grow longer, towns and villages come to life, and evenings can continue with concerts, performances and major events such as the Arena di Verona Opera Festival.
In autumn, Lake Garda takes on a different atmosphere. Colours become more intense, the pace slows down, and there are even more opportunities to enjoy culture, food and wine, and discover local products.
In winter, finally, the lake reveals perhaps its most intimate side: less crowded, quieter and ideal for combining with a day spent exploring museums, cities of art, Christmas markets and festive atmospheres.
Verona: opera, wine and great traditions
Romantic, elegant and steeped in history, Verona is one of the cities that best complements a stay on Lake Garda.
Walking through Piazza Bra, Piazza delle Erbe, across Ponte Pietra and along the streets of the historic centre means travelling through centuries of history. But Verona is also a particularly vibrant city when it comes to events.
Throughout the year, its calendar features events that have become part of the city’s identity: from Carnival to Vinitaly, from the Estate Teatrale Veronese theatre festival to Tocatì, as well as Fieracavalli and the many events held during the Christmas season.
Summer and the magic of the Arena
Among its best-known events is, of course, the Arena di Verona Opera Festival.
Opera has been part of Verona’s summers since 1913, transforming one of the world’s most famous Roman amphitheatres into an extraordinary open-air theatre under the stars.
For anyone spending a few days on Lake Garda, attending a performance at the Arena can become one of the most memorable experiences of the holiday: a day by the lake, a stroll through the centre of Verona and, in the evening, the curtain figuratively rising inside the amphitheatre.
Springtime between wine and the local area
Spring in Verona, meanwhile, is closely connected to the world of wine and gastronomy. One of the city’s major annual events is Vinitaly, the renowned international wine exhibition.
It is a particularly natural connection for those who choose Lake Garda partly to discover its food and wine culture: from the lake to the city, wine becomes one of the threads through which to explore and understand the region.
Verona in autumn and winter
With the arrival of autumn, Verona remains lively thanks to events such as Tocatì and Fieracavalli. During the Christmas season, meanwhile, lights, events and markets help transform the historic centre.
This makes Verona an appealing destination in every season, not just during the summer months.
Brescia: culture, music and the legend of the 1000 Miglia
Moving towards the Lombardy shore, another city is well worth a day of exploration: Brescia, the capital of our province and a city with a remarkable historical and cultural heritage.
Its historic centre preserves Roman, medieval and Renaissance treasures, as well as museums, squares and palaces that tell the story of more than two thousand years of history. Among the places not to be missed is the Archaeological Park of Roman Brescia, with the Capitolium and the remains of ancient Brixia, together with the nearby Santa Giulia Museum, housed in a former monastic complex. Together with the archaeological area, it forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage site dedicated to the Lombards in Italy.
The Castle of Brescia, overlooking the city from Cidneo Hill, is also well worth a visit. Walking along its walls and bastions offers not only an opportunity to immerse yourself in the city’s history, but also to admire Brescia from above and discover one of its most atmospheric landmarks.
Alongside this extraordinary heritage, Brescia hosts exhibitions, concerts, performances, guided tours and food and wine events throughout the year, making it a wonderful addition to a stay on Lake Garda.
The 1000 Miglia: when Brescia meets Lake Garda
Among the city’s iconic events is the legendary 1000 Miglia, the historic car event that attracts enthusiasts from all over the world every year.
Brescia is traditionally both the starting and finishing point of the race, and its connection with Lake Garda is far from coincidental: in the 2026 edition, for example, the route once again followed the shores of Lake Garda during the first stage.
Cars, landscapes and history come together in an event that reveals the region from an entirely different perspective.
A city transformed into a stage
Another particularly fascinating event is the Festa dell’Opera, which takes music beyond traditional theatre spaces.
For the 2026 edition, dozens of events took place in some of the city’s most iconic locations, including courtyards, cloisters, churches, auditoriums and other urban spaces, transforming Brescia into one great open-air stage.
Teatro Grande also contributes to Brescia’s cultural life with a season featuring music, dance, opera, ballet and numerous cultural projects.
All the more reason to see Brescia not simply as an occasional day trip from Lake Garda, but as a destination worth rediscovering at different times of the year.
Mantua: literature, art and Renaissance atmosphere
Then there is Mantua, a city with an entirely different character.
Surrounded by water and deeply connected to the Gonzaga family, Mantua invites you to slow down: stroll through its historic centre, step inside its palaces, cross its squares and discover an extraordinary artistic and architectural heritage.
Here too, events offer new ways to experience the city throughout the different seasons.
September is Festivaletteratura month
Perhaps Mantua’s best-known event is Festivaletteratura.
For several days in September, the city’s squares, palaces and venues welcome writers, readers and events from all over the world. In 2026, the festival celebrates its 30th edition from 9 to 13 September, with more than 300 authors expected to attend.
It is one of the most interesting times of year to combine a stay on Lake Garda with a day – or an evening – devoted to culture.
But there is more to Mantua than literature
Mantua’s calendar spans the entire year, with jazz, dance, cinema, exhibitions and performances. Autumn also welcomes the SEGNI New Generations Festival, dedicated to younger generations and to the languages of theatre and the arts.
Mantua is therefore a particularly appealing destination for families, art lovers and travellers in search of cultural experiences.
A journey that continues beyond the lake
Verona, Brescia and Mantua show just how easy it is to turn a stay on Lake Garda into a different journey every time.
Art, music, literature, classic cars, history, wine and gastronomy make it possible to create an itinerary shaped by your passions, your own pace and the season in which you choose to travel.
And perhaps this is one of the most fascinating aspects of Lake Garda: there is no single way to experience it.
You can admire it from a panoramic trail, cross it by boat, or discover it through the squares and palaces of a city of art. But getting to know a region also means tasting it: finding it in the aromas of a glass of wine, the fragrance of extra virgin olive oil and the flavours of a cuisine deeply connected to the seasons and local traditions.
It is from this connection between landscape, agriculture and gastronomic culture that the Conti Thun experience also comes to life.
In the heart of Valtènesi, among vineyards and rolling hills just a short distance from the lake, our estate is a place to stop, slow down and let yourself be guided by the aromas and flavours of the region. A place where a visit can become part of the journey and where, after a day spent exploring villages, cities of art and events, you can rediscover the pleasure of tasting, conviviality and time enjoyed at an unhurried pace, surrounded by authentic local flavours and the warmth of hospitality that invites you to stay a little longer.
Our Osteria is perhaps one of the most immediate expressions of this philosophy. Its cuisine begins with the ingredients and follows the rhythm of the seasons, showcasing local produce, small-scale producers and the flavours of local tradition. Dishes are designed to pair with our wines and to tell, with simplicity and care, the story of the rich gastronomic heritage of Valtènesi and Lake Garda. Sitting down at the table thus becomes another way of discovering the place around us.
Our Wine Experiences, meanwhile, are designed for those who want to delve even deeper into the world of Conti Thun. Tastings and wine journeys offer the opportunity to discover what lies behind every glass: the vineyards, the characteristics of the terroir, the work in the cellar and the stories behind each label. Not simply a tasting, but an encounter with Valtènesi through wine.
For those who choose to stay at our Wine Resort, every day becomes an opportunity to discover the estate and enjoy its experiences, immersed in the tranquillity of the Garda hills. Waking up among the vineyards, watching the light change across the landscape and letting yourself be guided through wine, nature and moments of genuine relaxation means connecting with the region and savouring its every nuance.
And before setting off again, our Shop offers the chance to take a little of the experience home with you, through our wines, olive oil and a selection of products that preserve the aromas, flavours and memories of Lake Garda.
So, after a day spent in Verona, Brescia or Mantua, the journey can continue in Valtènesi.
At the table in our Osteria, through a Wine Experience, strolling through the vineyards or choosing to spend a few nights at the Wine Resort: every Conti Thun experience is an invitation to slow down, savour the moment and discover another side of Lake Garda.