Our Insider Tips for Torri del Benaco
A trip to Italy is always a great idea. Sadly, tourist crowds can overshadow the sun, the beach, and the Mediterranean atmosphere. If you want to take an extraordinary trip to the south, we have an insider’s tip for you: Torri del Benaco.
Torri del Benaco is a beautiful, small, and calm place on the eastern shore of Lake Garda. This harbor town is home to roughly 3,000 inhabitants. It is perfectly suitable for a relaxed and diverse summer journey. If you want to know what Torri del Benaco and the surrounding area have to offer, we have a few recommendations for you.
The Easily Accessible Torri del Benaco
As Torri del Benaco is directly located at the state road SS 249 Gardesana Oriental, it is easily reachable for travelers. This town may be one of the smaller ones in Italy, but it offers many holiday apartments, hotels, and campsites. Not many tourists have become aware of the city yet, which is why prices are comparatively reasonable. You are spoiled for choice! No matter what you decide on, the staff will welcome you cheerfully and provide for you.
Torri del Benaco impresses with its surroundings. It is located within a one-hour drive to Verona – the famous city of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Don’t ignore the direct environment, though. The community of Torri del Benaco divides into the following districts: Albisano, Pai, Crero, and Ca’ Tronconi. It is especially worth taking a trip to Albisano! Here, you can stroll through the local shops and enjoy the view of the olive- and vineyards.
History and Culture of Torri del Benaco
First traces of settlement reach back to the Copper Age, between 5200 and 4500 BC. In the following centuries, Torri del Benaco was colonized consistently. This is still notable today. No matter where you look, you can admire the treasures of the history of Ancient Rome. Here, the biggest attraction is the Scaliger Castle or Il Castello Scaligero, which is considered one of the most beautiful castles in Italy. We will talk about this later in our article.
Up to the 1950s, before tourism started, the community focused on olive and wine-growing and fishing. The local supply of Italian specialties on the market as well as in restaurants is still impressive today. If you stroll through Torri del Benaco, take a closer look at the many small shops! There, you experience a broad variety of cheeses, meats, wines, and olives of the highest quality.
Torri del Benaco makes a point of showing those parts and characteristics of history visibly to travelers. When you visit this city, you can learn and pick up a lot about the history of Rome.
Historic Sites
There are numerous historic sites worth seeing in Torri del Benaco. Here are our suggestions for walkable places you shouldn’t miss out on.
Il Castello Scaligero
As previously mentioned, this castle is one of the must-see attractions and needs to be on top of your to-do list. The Scaliger castle was built from 1381 to 1387 for protection against invaders and the destruction of the harbor. Many years ago, the castle was turned into a museum. With a small entrance fee of three euros, you can look back on the history and culture of Torris.
Fishing equipment, old boats, and tools of the early olive and wine-growing are some of the many things you can expect here. Plus, after you tour the museum, you can admire the built-on greenhouse with lemon trees. It was built in the 18th century.
La Torr dell’orologio
This unique tower located in the city center has a lot of history to offer. The first construction phase already began back in the 13th century. It was initially used for military purposes, but received a new function when a second panel that shows the time was mounted in the 16th century. The clock tower was the gathering place for public life. Inside, you find many exhibitions to read about or listen to. What’s unique about this is the already mentioned double panels, consisting of Roman and Arabic numerals, which is one of the first in this region. Around the tower, you encounter numerous restaurants in which you can take some refreshments after this interesting history lesson.
Chiesa della Santimissima Trinità
You find this small chapel from the 14th century right next to the harbor. Not only the exterior is impressive, but inside are valuable statues and frescoes. For example, Saint Bartholomew and a newly restored depiction of Christ.
Chiesa parrocchiale dei Santi Apostoli Pietro e Paolo
Not to be confused with the Chiesa della Santissima Trinità, this Baroque church was built in the 18th century from the ruins of a Romanesque church. You can take a look inside! Here, you find one of the most significant organs of the country. Besides, you can visit precious and magnificent altars. Even if you aren’t close to Chiesa parrocchiale dei Santi Apostoli Pietro e Paolo, you will definitely notice it. Every day at 7 am and pm, you hear a melodious chime of bells ringing throughout Torri del Benaco.
The market of Torri del Benaco
The popular weekly market takes place every Monday from 8 am to 1 pm. Here, you find unique deals and individually handmade treasures. You can discover everything: from bags to jewelry up to clothes. Some stands offer traditional and local delicacies. You just have to visit this market!
Recommended Trips Outside of Torri del Benaco
Next to local shops, the history, and the popular, Italian, small-town atmosphere, Torri del Benaco offers incredibly beautiful landscapes and beaches. The few visitors and locals scatter on the many beaches, so you will always find a calm spot. For a small fee, you can get a lounger for the whole day at most shores. You can spot many beach bars nearby which will serve you refreshing drinks or delicious freshly made snacks. If you want to see more outside of Torri del Benaco and the area, consider yourself lucky. Torri is close to many amazing and beautiful regions that we don’t want to keep from you.
Verona
Don’t miss out on a day trip to this infamous city. A one-hour drive stands between you and the location of Shakespeare’s classic Romeo and Juliet. Verona has so much more to offer than the amphitheater and the old town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Paolo Bonomelli Boutique olive farm
You now know that Torri del Benaco is famous for olive growing. If you would like to experience a personal tour to look behind the curtains of this specialty, the olive farm of the family Bonomelli is an insider’s tip you should consider. You can sign up via phone call. Expect an interesting tour through the olive fields, from production up to tasting. The farm is also the winner of the best international olive oil. This family business will excite you, and you will be captivated by the passion radiating from the workers on this tour.
The ferry to Toscolano-Maderno
Another tip for day trips is Toscolano-Maderno. This city is located on the other side of the shore and can only be reached via ferry. Here, you can either decide on the car ferry or the regular ferry. The former takes 30 minutes and the latter around 39 minutes.
When you get to Maderno, you come across sweet cafés, breathtaking landscapes, amazing restaurants, and many individual little shops. This area values traditional handcraft, which you can recognize in the big range of unique jewelry and clothes.
You can learn something about the culture and history here, too. We recommend hiking up the 1581 meters high Monte Pizzocolo which has a little chapel at the summit. From there, you can enjoy a memorable view. Don’t miss out on visiting the numerous cultural sites which exhibit frescoes, paintings, and sculptures. You find beautiful mural paintings from the Renaissance inside the parish church Sant’Andrea from the 12th century.
The following buildings are also worth visiting: the chapel Santuario Madonna del Benaco, where you find frescoes from the 15th century, or the Nonii-Arrii – one of the most significant Roman villas. This ruin was once one of the most valuable areas to live in during the Roman Age. A special eye-catcher is the Villa Lucia, where you can not only admire frescoes but the surrounding garden, too.
These are just a few of the sights waiting for you in Toscolano-Maderno.
Conclusion
Torri del Benaco is a diverse, calm, and cultural town in Italy. We hope that after reading our recommendation, you now want to travel to this relaxed region. To conclude, you will encounter amazing beaches, museums, and local, freshly prepared treats at the local market and restaurants. The friendly, cheerful, and forthcoming locals and the big range of hotels and holiday apartments will make you beam with smiles.
As Torri del Benaco convinces with its location, you can also discover the beautiful, surrounding areas that have much to offer. Ruins, villas, markets, chapels, and valuable paintings will leave you speechless when you come back from these trips.
Thanks to our Insider tips, you can enjoy a beautiful time in Torri del Benaco.
