Tignale

The excursion starts from the lemon greenhouse (Limonaia) Pra de la Fam (67 m asl), which testimonies the intense cultivation of lemon trees on lake Garda west bank since the 12th century. Walk under an arch with indications to path no. 260 – Oldesio and there you will see a splendid mule track that will take you beyond the rocky cliff. After a few metres, over a suggestive stone bridge, you go past the Forra del Torrente Baes to continue on a zigzagging path uphill enjoying the ample panoramic view on lake Garda and mount Baldo. At the end of the mule road (300 m asl), you will walk through an olive tree plantation on an untarmacked road that, once beyond path no. 265 from Aer, joins the SP38 of Tignale. Cross the road and enter the village of Oldesio (signs for path no. 265). Continue uphill on the narrow village strees (with a fountain on your left) until you reach a hairpin bend going left, close by a parking area. The asphalted road (via della Chiesa) reaches the village of Gardola near the Church (555 m asl). Walk along via Roma uphill and you will find the beautiful Piazza Umberto I (with a fountain and a bar), turn right in via XXIV maggio then again on the right in via Trento. The trekking continues in viale Europa to join via Monte Baldo going swiftly uphill on the left. Close by the third bend (600 m asl), where the road is not asphalted, the track goes slightly downhill (path no. 266). Enter a green area full of nut trees, ash and oak trees, and within a few minutes you are back to SP38 (580 m asl) where you will see mount Cas covered in fir trees and black pines. Continue heading south for 200 m on the road, then turn on the path that at some points becomes a heads up to the Sanctuary of Montecastello (683 m asl). This sanctuary deserves a visit inside, and offers a large panoramic terrace with a bar, overlooking the southern part of the lake. If you walk on path no. 266, in a few minutes you will find yourself on top of Monte Cas (779 m asl), going past a suggestive gallery excavated in the rock, with the eastern entrance facing a terrace rising steeply on the lake. On top of the mountain there is a cross built on the remains of a bunker from the Great War, very well preserved. Walking all the way back will take you to the starting point.