View from the Room at C Rooms Lake House
This is the Highlight of our tour, as far as small towns go. Situated roughly at the halfway mark between Como and Verona is this gem of a small town called Pescheira del Garda at the very bottom tip of Lake Garda.
The Lake is the unappreciated cousin of the more famous Lake Como and PSG is frequently bypassed as a whistle stop by many foreign tourists in favour of Venice, Verona and Como of course. We spent 4 gorgeous days there, simple, unassuming, inexpensive and oh so pretty sights of this small town of roughly 10,000 residents.
We took the morning train from Como to P d G. In my diary I wrote down one word to encompass that train trip "painless".
Peschiera del Garda at Lake Garda South East Corner
We arrived at the station at 1.15pm. The lift from the platform to the exit was broken down, so I had to lug the easily 20 kg (2 pieces). The service apartment I had booked for this portion of the trip was another gem. We took a taxi to the service apartment which was in the centre of town just beside the lake inside the town fortifications. The equivalent of this type of accomodation in Singapore is the Fullerton Hotel right along Battery Road. This is Prime Prime hotel location. Minimum Price for 1 night at the Fullerton ? Easily EUR 500 and above.
The price ? EUR 110 per night as I recall. Amazing.
C House Rooms Lake
5 Piazza Perdinando di Savoia
Peschiera del Garda City Centre
37019 P d G, Italy
Ooh Laa Laa. These were my comments in my diary. From the room on the 3rd floor, we could overlook the small waterway or marina housing some small boats which I assume were to transport tourists out to Lake Garda during the high season.
The scenery was beautiful. It gave me the impression of a small Italian town relatively unspoilt by the teeming masses of tourists who come at all times of the year and mess up the quiet character of the town.
Selfie at the small Marina outside the C Rooms Lake House
We met at 2.30 pm Ms. Antonella, our expert tour guide, who gave us an exhaustive commentary of the town.
PsG was originally managed by some prominent Italian family, like all other major towns and cities which makes up modern day Italy. The Romans, Venetiens, Austrians and Napolean Bonaparte with his French army conquered this town on route to Venice (He did not reach Venice) between the years of 1840 and 1850. Italy formally became a republic in 1861. So it was 15 years maximum of French occupation.
Barracks of the town, now an Administration cum Tourist Centre
There is a fascinating barracks first built by the Austrians as well as the moat which runs all around the town as added defence fortifications.
Moat surrounding P d G town
After 2.5 hours of the walking tour, we bade goodbye with Antonella who was surely very pleased to give these young elderly tourists value for money history tour of her town.
In the evening, we decided on this wonderful lakeside restaurant called Raffilu which in my diary entry was rated 5 star dining at 2 star prices. Compared to the many 'tourist traps' in bigger cities such as Milan, Florence, Rome and Venice, the price for this wonderful meal with the superb ambience is something to be truly appreciative of.
The video of Raffilu is posted below :
Raffilu Dining 5th Dec 2023
Raffilu
Piazza Ferdinando di Savoia 5
379019 Peschiera del Garda
Verona VR
Italy.
In fact, on this night, 5 Dec 2023, we were the only 2 diners, having a wonderful meal, with a wonderful ambience with a lovely lake view and background jazz music. A truly once in a lifetime, magnificent experience !
The plates we shared which were well above average :
> Seafood Platter
> Al Dente Bigoli
> Octopus with Cream
Seafood Platter
Al Dente Bigoli
Octopus with Cream
As I write this, I am starting to feel hungry !
Town Centre Lights
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