TORRE SAN MARCO
Gardone Riviera, Lake Garda, Italy
The town of Salò has to be the jewel in the crown of Lake Garda. Set on a magnificent sweeping bay this medieval town became a haven of elegance when it flourished under the Venetians. The new stylish marina and beautiful lakeside promenade, which runs along the whole length of the town and is incidentally the longest promenade on the lake, make it the perfect place for an elegant Italian destination wedding. In terms of the town itself there are many lakeside bars in which you can enjoy an “aperitivo” and lazily watch the world go by, as well as fabulous Italian boutiques to browse in and first-class restaurants for fine dining. Salò really has everything for everyone.
On the shores of Lake Garda, rises Torre San Marco, an enchanting and romantic place, rich in history and charm.
Torre San Marco, surrounded by walls on which stand four other watchtowers, was built and then used as an observatory at the beginning of the twentieth century by the German industrialist Richard Langensiepen.
In 1925 it was bought by Gabriele D'Annunzio, who transformed it from the German neo-Gothic style to the Venetian one, making it an extension of the Vittoriale and changing its name from Torre Ruhland to Torre San Marco.
The transformation from a German tower to a Venetian tower was entrusted to the architect Giancarlo Maroni, already designer of the Vittoriale.
Between 1943 and 1944 Torre San Marco was the place where Benito Mussolini and his lover Claretta Petacci met secretly.
In the dock for several years was moored the M.A.S. (acronym of MEMENTO AUDERE SEMPER = remember to always dare), the vehicle that was used in the famous Beffa di Buccari, which is now located inside the Vittoriale.
GETTING THERE
For those flying in, the nearest airport to Salò is Verona (VRN- 23.5miles), other nearby airports include Milan Bergamo (BGY - 40.1 miles), Milan Linate (LIN -61.3 miles) or Milan Malpensa (MXP - 87.9 miles).
Flights are open and are already getting pricey so we would strongly advise you book your flights as soon as possible
From Verona: Salo is a 1 hour drive from the Verona airport (VRN). You can also reach Salo via train and bus.
Direct flights to Verona are available from London Gatwick, London Stansted and take approximately 2 hours.
From Milan: Salo is between a 2-2.5 hour drive or 2 hour train ride from Central Milan. If you’re driving directly from Malpensa Airport (MXP), please budget an extra 30 minutes. There is also a local shuttle bus that provides transportation around the Lake Garda region.
Overall, we’d recommend renting a car! You likely won’t need it for our wedding events but it will make travel to and from Salo a lot easier.
Please feel free to reach out with any questions!
WHAT TO DO
Activities in Salo and broader region
The luminous environment, flourishing vegetation and majestic landscapes along with the remarkable history make Lake Garda the most charming in Italy.
This long, narrow lake is located in northern Italy. It spans three Italian provinces:
Verona in the southeast
Brescia in the southwest
Trentino in the north
EXPLORE
This long, narrow lake is located in northern Italy. It spans three Italian provinces: Verona in the southeast, Brescia in the southwest, and Trentino in the north.
During the Quaternary Ice Age 1.5 million years ago, glaciers carved out Lake Garda. In the north, the lake is surrounded by mountains, as this part of the lake sits at the foot of the Alps. The southern area around Lake Garda is flatter and less dramatic and can be several degrees warmer than the northern end of the lake.
Small towns dot the shorelines of Lake Garda. It is possible to drive around the entire lake, so you can tour it by car and by boat.
Exploring Lake Garda by boat is one of the best ways to see the lake. You can either do this by ferry, which connects the towns that dot the edges of the lake, you can take a tour, or you can hire a private boat. Private boats can be hired for one hour or for the full day. Taxi Boat Salo also does longer trips and you can hire them for a full day.
Exploring Lake Garda on land by renting ebikea and scooters is a fun option to get around and visit the nearby towns and beaches!
For art and history lovers, Lake Garda offers an attractive leap into the past with its medieval villages clustered between walls and towers, and Veronese and Venetian castles and the many elegant villas. In Gargnano the stately “Palazzo Bettoni”, designed in the late 18th century, is one of the most beautiful villas of the lake. The “Vittoriale degli Italiani”, the monumental citadel Gabriele d’Annunzio furnished and lived in during the 1930s in Gardone Riviera, constitutes an extraordinary and insuperable group of buildings, streets, squares, theatres, gardens, parks and streams.
The impressive mountain backdrop and the amazing views across the lake make Salo one of Lake Garda’s most popular towns! Salo is renowned for its remarkable long promenade stretching down the lake front packed with lovely restaurants and cafes. You can see the original medieval layout of the town in the old town based around its cathedral.
Gardone Riviera and Salo are home to some of the best beaches in Lake Garda. Spiaggia Mulino has a wonderful view of the Gulf. It takes its name from the mill nearby, which is not operative anymore.
Barbarano-beach is in Salò, but it's also very close to Gardone Riviera. It is a beach with rocks, but the water is beautifully clear, which is ideal for a relaxing bath under the sun.
In addition to exploring the other towns of Lake Garda (Sirmione, Riva del Garda, Lazise and Gargnano to name a few), we highly recommend spending 1-2 days in Verona as well (or even a day trip), where you can explore the historic Arena, Juliet’s Balcony (if you’re a Shakespeare buff) and climb to the top of the Torri dei Lamberti for stunning views over the city.
EAT & DRINK
Lake Garda is one of the main tourist hotspots on Italy and visitors choose it as a destination not only for its natural beauty or its fascinating history behind every corner, but also for its rich supply in food and wine.From typical products like olive oil, Bardolino and Chiaretto wines, and the local fish, to the top notch restaurants managed by international level prizewinning chefs, the Benaco is an excellent destination, and gourmet lovers that choose Lake Garda for their holiday are always satisfied. Among the numerous options, some of the best restaurants in Lake Garda are in Salò, a town on the homonymic gulf where you can enjoy a mild climate all year round, and that for centuries has been a very important junction for the region. To this day the most important products of the territory can be found, as they’re used and transformed into the ingredients of the delicious local cuisine, mouthwatering even to the demanding palates.
Lake view restaurants for a romantic dinner
The western coast of the lake has always been capable of offering the highest level of culinary experiences, and the town of Salò is especially loved by couples for its wide range of romantic restaurants on Lake Garda, that offer a beautiful view of the calm waters of the lake.
Restaurants with a view of Lake Garda offer a big variety of dishes where you can almost always find lake fish, like perch, chub, and whitefish, but also meat dishes and dishes with mountain ingredients native to the fertile valleys that surround us.
In the town centre of Salò you can find different restaurants worth visiting to taste the delicacies in where international style melds with local products.
Some of the most famous restaurants in Salò
Ristorante Qb
The restaurant Quanto Basta (QB - just enough) is managed by Chef Bertani and his wife Irene Agliardi. After being opened in 2009, it has recently moved to porto della Sirena (mermaid port), on the lakeside boardwalk of Salò and has taken the name Ristorante QB Duepuntozero (Restaurant QB 2.0).It is one of the most renowned restaurants on Lake Garda, as it focuses on the quality of its local ingredients, always fresh and in season, sold at an excellent value for money.
Osteria di Mezzo
The restaurant Osteria di Mezzo (Tavern in the middle) of Salò is in the Via di Mezzo alley, one of the oldest of the town, and offers a welcoming and intimate environment, with the goal of offering local traditional gardesan dishes interpreted with a modern eye.
Locanda del Benaco
Locanda del Benaco (Benaco Inn) is a restaurant in Salò in the centre of the town, it offers a wonderful view of the lake, and is ideal for a romantic dinner, especially in the warm season due to the tables placed outside. The dishes are modern and the wine list is very well supplied.
Osteria dell'Orologio
Osteria dell’Orologio (Tavern of the Clock) is close to Salò’s town hall, it offers homemade and typical regional dishes like fresh fish and bagoss, a local cheese. The classic tavern atmosphere attracts both local affectionate clientele and tourists.
Antica Cascina San Zago
Antica Cascina San Zago (Antique Farmhouse San Zago) is a restaurant, a convention centre, and agriturismo in Salò, on the hill that overlooks the town and the gulf. The setting is that of a convent from the 1600’s that has since been converted and transformed into a welcoming restaurant were you can celebrate big events and taste local flavours, surrounded by stone walls and olive trees.
Taverna Floriana
Taverna Floriana (Floriana Tavern) is a classic Lake Garda tavern that offers genuine dishes made with local ingredients. Here, tradition marries refinement perfectly, in a welcoming environment in the town centre of Salò.
Other restaurants and pizzerie in Salò we recommend are:
The restaurant Capriceuno - beautiful location in front of the lake, good fish first courses and fried fish,
The restaurant Don Pedro - enchanting position on the lake, delicious salads and wide variety of pizzas,
the pizzeria Lungolago 64 - wide variety of pizzas and dough types, veranda open outside during the warm season,
the restaurant pizzeria Papillon - fresh fish, decent pizzas, excellent wine cellar,
l’Antica Trattoria alle Rose - intimate and refined restaurant, good food, great service,
l’Osteria al Gallo - great money value between quality and price, abundant portions, good first course dishes and spiedo.
ACTIVITIES
TRENTINO: North Side of Lake Garda
EXPLORE RIVA DEL GARDA: Riva del Garda is a beautiful town that is located on the northern tip of Lake Garda.
GO WINDSURFING: During the summer months, an afternoon breeze blows from Lake Garda to Riva del Garda and Torbole, making this an excellent spot to go windsurfing.
WATERFALL: Parco Grotta Cascate Varone is a very small botanical garden with a series of waterfalls. The main thing to do here is to walk the short boardwalk trail into the grotto for a view of the Varone waterfall.
HIKE: For one of the best views of Lake Garda, hike to Punta Larici.
VERONA: East side of Lake Garda
VISIT MALCESINE: Must-visit town, this compact, colorful town is a delight to walk through, with its narrow lanes, excellent shopping, and cafes and restaurants.
RIDE THE CABLE CAR TO MONTE BALDO AND PARAGLIDE DOWN: Soar to one of the highest peaks on Lake Garda by riding the rotating cable car from Malcesine to Monte Baldo.
BRESCIA: West side of Lake Garda
TOUR CASTELLO SCALIGERO: One of the best things to do in Lake Garda
COME TO OUR WEDDING IN SALO: An abundance of restaurants, a lovely promenade along the lake. Hire a private boat taxi in Salo to take you on a tour of the lake . Exploring Lake Garda by boat is one of the best ways to see the lake. Y
CRUISE TO ISOLA DEL GARDA: The largest island on Lake Garda
VISIT THE TOWNS ON MARKET DAYS: Every day of the week, at least one town is hosting a market. Go shopping for produce, local delicacies, clothing, and leather bags
BEST DAY TRIPS: The Santuario Madonna della Corona is a beautiful church that clings to the side of a mountain
It might be worth taking a trip across to the eastern shores of the lake to the Lazise region where it is renowned for it’s delicious wine tasting tours or even tack on an extra day to explore the Valpolicella wine region in Verona.