Limone holidays

Located on the mountainous north-western shore of Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy, Limone holidays provide a picturesque resort famous for its 14th century lemon groves. We at the Co-operative Travel recommend a Limone lakes holiday to anyone looking for a scenic Lombardy retreat.

Sited in the dramatic Brescia district, the village of Limone is ideal for both keen walkers and those who like to take things easy, with an excellent tourist centre for first-time visitors. The picture-perfect Old Harbour is surrounded by mediaeval lanes lined with shops and cafes, backed by towering cliffs carpeted in olive groves and lemon gardens. Featured in the James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace, Limone sul Garda was once only reachable by boat, which is still the quickest and most pleasurable way to reach picturesque resorts like Malcesine, on the opposite shore. However, sitting on the Lake Garda circular road, the town also has easy road accessibility to other resorts, as well as the airports of Milan, Verona and Brescia.

The western shore of Lake Garda became a centre of the lemon-growing industry in the 14th century, although Limone is a far older town whose name is purely coincidental - it is derived from the Latin for boundary. Lemon-growing was discontinued in the area in the 19th century, but at Limone you can still see the distinctive stone columns and terraces of the limonaie, or lemon houses, built by growers to protect their groves during the winter months; a visit to the Limonaia del Castèl (Castel lemon house) is an essential part of any trip here. The town’s olive-growing industry dates back to Roman times, and today visitors can still view the olive mill and see the fruit, said to have health-giving properties, being cold-pressed on ancient stones. Remember to buy a bottle of the delicious virgin olive oil to take home.

With bathing beaches, churches and the beautiful Brescia mountains to explore, we at the Co-operative Travel recommend Limone lakes holidays for anyone wanting a relaxing break in spectacular surroundings.