Malcesine, Medieval commune on Lake Garda, Italy
Malcesine is a town on the eastern shore of Lake Garda in the Province of Verona. It sits between the water and steep green hillsides, with a medieval castle perched on a rocky outcrop that rises above the waterfront.
The settlement was established by the Lombards, who built an early fortification between the 5th and 6th centuries. Later, the Scaliger family from Verona expanded and reinforced the structure into the castle that still dominates the landscape today.
The name Malcesine comes from Latin origins tied to fishing nets, reflecting the town's traditional livelihood on the water. Walking through narrow lanes lined with stone buildings, you see how daily life has long revolved around the lake and its resources.
Visitors can take a cable car from town up to Monte Baldo, which opens access to hiking trails at higher elevation. The town itself sits right on the water and is easy to explore on foot, with direct access to beaches and boat docks.
The town's boundaries extend beyond the mainland to include two islands in the lake: Isola di Sogno and Isola dell'Olivo. These remote islands are rarely visited and represent a surprising part of the municipality that most travelers never discover.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
