Souvenirs come from a desire common to all: to take home a small piece of their holiday, which always ends too soon and which we remember with great affection. Usually it is a special object, such as an ornament, a magnet or something handmade. Let’s think for example about the lace of Burano or the masks of Venice. The list is endless and in a country like Italy, so rich in beauty, it is certainly not difficult to find something fascinating to buy during the holidays.
If you too have chosen Lake Garda as your holiday destination, know that it is an area where you can find many souvenirs, but we want to recommend only the best products: typical ones, not the classic items that end up gathering dust on a shelf. We want to tell you about the real treasures of this area, namely the food and wine treasures. Yes, because Garda is an extraordinary territory where you can taste delicacies that you can take home with you… and turn them into precious memories to put on your table.
Garda PDO oil
An extra virgin olive oil with Protected Designation of Origin “Garda” that comes from the provinces of Brescia, Verona, Mantua and Trento. It immediately stands out for its delicate, light and fruity flavour, which goes well with any Mediterranean dish.
On tasting it is recognised by the harmony of its organoleptic notes and balanced aromas: the aromas of fresh grass, herbs, hay and artichoke, combined with the typical almond aftertaste, make it truly unique.
The wine of Garda
The green hills surrounding Lake Garda are covered with numerous vineyards, from which fine wines known all over the world are produced. The area’s best-loved wines are undoubtedly Bardolino Chiaretto “D.O.C. Classico”, Valpolicella, Amarone, Bianco di Custoza and Lugana. In the town of Bardolino, you can also visit the Wine Museum, which illustrates the different processes in the wine production chain: from growing the vines to harvesting, from processing the grapes to bottling, from refining the wine in barrels to transporting it.
The tortellini of Valeggio sul Mincio
If you have a passion for fresh pasta, you have to love the famous tortellini of Valeggio sul Mincio. Strictly handmade, with a very thin sheet of pasta and filled with meat, they go perfectly with melted butter and sage, but are also excellent in broth.
A masterpiece of local culinary tradition whose origins are linked to tales and fables passed down from one generation to the next. The tortellino di Valeggio, in fact, is also known as the “Love knot” thanks to a legend that tells the story of two lovers, the nymph Silvia and Captain Malco, who left on the banks of the river Mincio a yellow silk cloth knotted as a pledge of their thwarted love.
The Baldo truffle
For the most refined and sophisticated palates, here is a special souvenir to take home or give as a gift to friends: the Baldo black truffle, also known as ‘scorzone’, to be savoured with a dish of tagliatelle or a good risotto. It grows on the Morainic Hills, on the eastern shores of the lake and especially on Monte Baldo, from which it takes its name.
Having become the symbol of the Montebaldina tradition, this product is a peculiarity of Caprino Veronese, where every year at the end of August there is a great festival dedicated to the tasting of typical dishes based on black truffles.
Monte Veronese Cheese
Lake Garda is also famous for the production of cheeses, such as Monte Veronese.
The area where the milk comes from, where it is processed and where the cheese is matured is located in the northern part of the province of Verona, a predominantly mountainous area, rich in fertile pastures, which boasts an ancient tradition of cattle breeding, mountain pasture and milk and cheese production. In this area, which corresponds to Lessinia, Monte Baldo and the Veronese pre-Alpine foothills, the production of cheese has been documented since before the year 1000, when it was a precious commodity that replaced money.
And this is only the beginning of a long list, because Lake Garda, wherever it is, gives us fantastic products that enrich our recipes, make us happier and bring a piece of holiday into our homes.
Vanessa
Guest Experience Manager
