Visit the website here for Malcese area

On the other end of the valley of Monte Baldo, closer to Verona, you will find PRADA COSTABELLA here you can enjoy the landscape, paragliding, trekking, walking or just enjoying a breathtaking view of Lake Garda, a perfect day with the family!

Visit the website for Costabella here for more information

If you stay in Verona or any of the surrounding  Villages, such as Peschiera del Garda or Sirmione, Monte Baldo is a short time by car to reach.

Click here to visit the website

The thermal water of Terme di Sirmione is a powerful source of life. The synergy between the sulfur component, rich in the most important gas for our organism, and the salsobromoiodic component, rich in salts and trace elements, makes our water inimitably regenerating and good for all skin types. It flows at a temperature of 69° Celsius at the bottom of Lake Garda after a 20-year journey from Monte Baldo, during which it is enriched with minerals. The thermal water of Terme di Sirmione is the best in the world with a biological signature with anti-inflammatory and rebalancing properties. It is at its best when combined with clay after slow maturation; thermal mud has a calming and pain-relieving effect.

What’s Aquaria?

the Thermal Day Spa of Terme di Sirmione, unique with thermal pools, whirlpools, vascular path, effervescent beds, and an infinity pool in which to immerse yourself and be reborn; sauna circuit and steam baths; a large range of treatments with classical manual techniques, latest generation technologies and the use of the natural thermal resources; water, mud and the products of the Terme di Sirmione Cosmetics line.

Why not stay in Sirmione at the 5-Star Grand Hotel Terme,  click here to visit the Hotel website

A must on your bucket list!

Click here for more Info for Italy

Sirmione
Place ID: ChIJy2NkqknrgUcRkifP0xijNBM
25019 Sirmione, Province of Brescia, Italy

Watch the Video here

 However, on my last visit to Verona,

Italy we went for dinner at a place called MOOD, I have to admit, this was probably one of the most impressive oriental theme restaurants I have visited during my travels! The atmosphere, the staff, the food presentations, and the concept overall were really impressive.

You can order all-you-can-eat,

within every 10 minutes, you are allowed to order 5 items! It’s like a degustation menu, which is genius because you can taste items throughout the menu, which is extensive. The portions are perfectly sized accordingly, so you don’t overstuff yourself, which, of course, you may do if you can handle it! They have three locations in Italy, if you enjoy Japanese food, then you should make it a point of visiting this restaurant if you are close to any of the three locations.

Check out theit Website here – MOOD Sushi Restaurant in Italy

Restaurant AlpaRipa, Rovltella, Lake Garda, Italy

(Touch or click on the highlighted text to open the link attached to it)

On your next trip to Lake Garda, Verona, or Sirmione, I recommend this restaurant on the edge of Lake Garda, and not far from Desenzano del Garda, restaurant AlpaRipa. (High Banks in English) Situated on the Riverbank of the lake, with an unbelievable view, you will enjoy a very unique style of cuisine, for lunch or dinner. We were a family of 22, on a visit to the area during New Year’s weekend, finding a restaurant to accommodate a group of 22 wasn’t the easiest task, especially during the holidays. This restaurant, however, could cater to us on short notice.

We didn’t know what to expect; all we knew was that the place was on the more expensive side than the previous restaurants we visited during our stay. The type of food that we experienced in AlpaRipa, I would call it “Cuisine Nouvelle” or  “Modern Cuisine”, the menu consisted of 5 courses, and each course was artistically presented on the plate. The food items of each course were perfectly cooked and delicious. Some family members commented afterward, “This food is like a waste of time”, but I, myself, knew what it took to deliver it, and hot, all at the same time, for 22 people, course after course! I could appreciate the work and effort that went into the delivery of that food!

I was one of the first chefs in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, back in the 80s, to introduce Cuisine Nouvelle to South Florida, the food was supposed to be a lighter version of the traditional French Cuisine, with less butter, less cream, more reductions of stocks and juices instead, and a lot of emphasis on the presentation.

Visit AltaRipa’s Webiste here

Viale Francesco Agello 15, 25015 Rivoltella, Desenzano del Garda Italien

CONVENTO WEDDINGS, EVENTS, AND PARTIES IN LONATO DEL GARDA, BRESCIA, ITALY

(Click or touch the highlighted text to open the link attached to it)

A Wedding or a Party planned? 

Looking for a great place to celebrate New Year’s Eve? A special event or a celebration? Then you should check out CONVENTO RESTAURANT & EVENTS in Lonato del Garda, Italy! This place is amazing, it is a large property, and the building consists of about 5 rooms and a large Garden area. I spent New Year’s Eve there with a family of 22, and it was the best New Year’s Eve I have ever had! I was told that they served 800 dinners that night, spread out over the whole location, we arrived around 8:30 pm, and our table was ready for us to be seated, about 20 minutes later the first course arrived, Carpaccio of Salmon, the second course was a delicious risotto, after a break the main course was served, roasted vegetables, potato flan, and roast beef, the dessert was a choice of three different flavors of Panacotta.

The Service

Service was efficient and professional, considering the number of people they had to deal with! The music was fantastic, and there was a different DJ for every room. Even my 93-year-old mother-in-law was dancing to the beats! There is even a Casino, if you are in the mood to win some money for the new year!?

Check out their website here: Il Convento, Lonato del Garda, Italy

New Year’s Eve Video

The four-hour drive

from Switzerland was well worth it, we probably may go back for the next New Year’s Eve celebration! and You probably want to stay a couple of days in the area, to enjoy the festivities, I recommend La Casa in Paese, in Peschiera del Garda, a quaint, small Boutique hotel in the middle of the Village of Peschiera del Garda, where you can enjoy great restaurants, shops, and entertainment for the whole family, including lake cruises on Lake Garda. it is only 20 minutes away from the Convento location.

Check out their website here La Casa in Paese, Lonato del Garda, Italy

Shopping in Como

Only an hour and a half from home we find ourselves in Italy by Lake Como, what a fantastic region; it’s been a while since we came to this area, we have been to Milan a few times, which is about 2 1/2 to 3 hours from home, this is our first visit to the city of Como.

I really liked this city, great shops, quaint little bars, and coffee shops everywhere. The Cathedrale was absolutely amazing! I was stunned walking in there, almost a bit ostentatious, but absolutely incredible workmanship.

The weekend market

Mel Gibson in Como

was about a 3/4 mile long, double-laned, with an astoundingly choice of merchandise.

It seemed like all the locals were shopping for food and supplies for the week, and I can understand why since the prices were a fraction of what we pay in Switzerland. I had two Cappuccinos in one of the side street little cafes, and when asked for the bill the waitress told me “2.50 please” I said  “Excuse me?” she replied, “Two fifty Signore”, two fifty for two Cappuccino? Wow, in Switzerland we pay 4.80 for one!

My friend Franco wanted to buy some shoes for his wife, the shoe store owner told us to look out for Mel Gibson, who was strolling around Como, and George Clooney, who owns now two houses on Lake Como.

I cannot comment on the food, as we only eat some chicken skewers at the market, which were delicious, and then I had a slab of cold pizza in a food court market, they couldn’t heat it for me because another large pizza dominated the oven, so instead of waiting I eat it cold while walking. We then had dinner over the border in Switzerland, on the way back, in the Tessin region, our friend Franco said he knew a little place somewhere above Airolo, very rustic, traditional Ticinese food served, but he hadn’t been back for a couple of years, so we decided to give it a try. It was dark when we arrived in the area, we drove to a small village with very narrow streets to reach this little restaurant, as we walked in we realized it didn’t look anything like rustic anymore, with white table cloths, burgundy glasses on the tables, the place was painted over, it looked brand new. We then were told that a new owner had taken over about two months ago. Therefore the food was not as good as we all expected.

Anyways, we shall go back to Como for further exploration of the surrounding areas, and visit that market again.

Discover Rome and things to do

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