Valpolicella & Lake Garda

Wine hills to the north, a great lake to the south-west — both within easy reach of the city.

Price: Winery visits vary; lake towns free to explore
Hours: Varies by producer and destination
Avg. visit: Half a day to a full day for either
Book ahead: Yes, for winery visits

The Valpolicella hills begin immediately north of Verona and have produced wine since antiquity, but the region's signature achievement is Amarone — a wine made from grapes deliberately dried on racks for months before pressing, concentrating their sugars and flavour into something markedly different from a standard red wine: high in alcohol, dense and unlike most other Italian wines in style. The technique, known as appassimento, is centuries old and remains closely associated with this specific area.

South-west of the city, Lake Garda's shoreline towns are reachable in about half an hour and offer an entirely different kind of day out. Sirmione, on a narrow peninsula jutting into the lake, combines a moated medieval castle with the substantial ruins of a large Roman villa — one of the most extensive Roman residential sites in northern Italy, occupying a genuinely striking lakeside position.

Inside

What to see

The Valpolicella hills, with vineyards producing Amarone, Ripasso and other regional wines
The appassimento drying racks used in Amarone production, visible at wineries offering visits
Sirmione's moated Scaliger castle, guarding the narrow neck of the peninsula
The Grotte di Catullo, extensive Roman villa ruins occupying the tip of the Sirmione peninsula

Practical

Good to know

Winery visits are by appointment — turning up unannounced rarely works, even at producers open to the public.
Lake Garda's shoreline towns are easily reached without a car via regional bus, though a car gives more flexibility for visiting multiple towns in a day.
Sirmione gets very busy in summer, given its combination of castle, ruins and lake swimming all in one compact peninsula.

Timing

When it's busiest

Valpolicella weekdays: Quiet
Valpolicella weekends: Moderate
Sirmione weekdays: Moderate
Sirmione summer weekends: Packed

Nearby

Combine your visit

Back in the city

Arena di Verona

Return to central Verona and the Roman amphitheatre.

Visit →

Back in the city

Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore

Combine a day trip with one of the city's finest Romanesque churches.

Visit →

Back in the city

Castelvecchio & the Scaliger Bridge

Finish your trip at the fortified Scaliger castle and bridge.

Visit →

FAQ

Common questions

What makes Amarone different from other wines?

It's made from grapes dried on racks for months before pressing, a technique called appassimento that concentrates sugar and flavour into a dense, high-alcohol wine unlike most standard reds.

Can I visit wineries without a car?

It's considerably easier with one, though some organised tours from Verona include transport to Valpolicella producers.

How far is Lake Garda from Verona?

About thirty minutes to the nearest shoreline towns by car or regional transport.

What's special about Sirmione?

It combines a moated medieval castle with the Grotte di Catullo, extensive Roman villa ruins, on a narrow peninsula jutting into the lake.