San Vigilio – Elegance on the Shores of Lake Garda

Between Torri del Benaco and Bardolino, precisely where the eastern shore of Lake Garda takes a sharp turn eastwards, lies the small headland of Punta San Vigilio. The ensemble of hotel, restaurant and café, the villa with its Renaissance park, and the adjacent bathing beach form a tranquil and elegant retreat. The humanist Agostino di Brenzone laid the foundation stone as early as 1540, creating an architectural masterpiece based on the existing church, harbour, and gardens.

It has always attracted creative individuals, intellectuals, curious travellers, or simply those seeking relaxation. The aristocracy, and later the bourgeois upper class, were also enticed and gladly took up residence in large numbers. A long list of ‘namedropping’ could follow here, but San Vigilio’s aesthetic and beauty stand on their own and do not require the enumeration of its more or less famous visitors. Around the wide curve of the picturesque harbour basin, the café tables stand in the shade of trees or under grapevines.

The pleasant morning freshness still lingers. This morning, there are only a few guests at the Locanda, none of whom arrived by boat. It’s also almost windless, so we are served the expansive panorama of the southern Lake Garda in a relaxed atmosphere along with a delicious cappuccino. We were in no hurry to leave the place so quickly, as ahead of us lay only the short leg through the Valpolicella wine region to Verona.