Best holiday resort in Italy: Malcesine

We have selected the best holiday resorts 2014 for Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Croatia and Spain. The day before yesterday, we introduced you to Warnemünde on the Baltic Sea coast, which has been named as the best German holiday resort. Today, the Italian winner shall follow.

In a similar vein to Warnemünde, the winner in Italy comes from a not-unknown area where the awarding of the atraveo prize is concerned. Malcesine is in a picturesque location on the eastern shore of Lake Garda and has been able to secure the trophy with an average of 4.67 points. In 2011, Riva del Garda, a town by Italy's largest lake won the prize, and Bellagio, a place by Lake Como, was the winner last year. The lakes in northern Italy have clearly won you over and seem to promise excellent holiday resorts.

Idyllic Malcesine dates back to a castle built in the 13th Century on a rocky spur directly above the lake. This old Scaliger castle is still maintained today and is a worthwhile destination for an excursion. The place itself is also worth seeing with its many historical buildings, and it radiates the typical effervescent charm of small Italian towns. On the shore of Lake Garda, you can not only relax, lie in the sun or splash around in the water, but also take part in water sports; sailors and surfers will appreciate the special wind conditions that prevail here.

An excursion by cable car to Monte Baldo, which is over 1,800 metres high and rises from the slopes behind the town, is a must. Here you can enjoy a magnificent panorama over the lake and the surrounding alpine scenery. Mountain bikers will appreciate the serpentine paths and slopes, which lead onto – or rather – down from the mountain. And maybe you’ll also be able to watch one paraglider or another take off.

“Malcesine is a beautiful place and the entire surrounding area is really worth (at least) one trip.”

“A trip via the Funivia in Malcesine to Monte Baldo is a must. There are many possibilities for water sports fans.”

“Malcesine is a very beautiful place with a historic town centre and a medieval castle. Trips via cable car to Monte Baldo are recommended.”

“Very beautiful, romantic town with many good small restaurants and shopping possibilities. The same goes for a beautiful beach with ample space (also during the peak season).”

“Malcesine, a gem at Lake Garda, always worth a visit.”

You can find these comments and more under: www.atraveo.com/malcesine

The journey through the best holiday resorts continues on Monday. The introduction to Enkhuizen as the winner in the Netherlands will follow and, later on in the week, Split (Croatia) and Moraira (Spain).