The Scaliger Castle, mentioned by Goethe in his "Travels in Italy" in 1786, stands in solitary splendour on higher ground and offers a great view of the lake. Something that one should not forget to visit is also "Palazzo dei Capitani", a beautiful building of the sixteen century with a garden that faces the lake.
An even more superb view of the Lake and its surroundings are offered from Monte Baldo. A completely restored cable-car ascends the mountain. The station at the top end is 1800m above the Lake and an ideal starting point for hikes or mountainbike tours.

Malcesine and Goethe
«I could have been in Verona tonight but there was still a magnificent vision of nature nearby that I did not want to miss - the delicious spectacle of Lake Garda - and I was amply rewarded for my detour.» - Italian Journey, 12 September. Afternoon.
During his famous journey to Italy, a strong and sudden wind on Lake Garda forces Johann Wolfgang Goethe on 13 September 1786 to spend some time in Malcesine. He is fascinated by the Scaliger Castel and looks out for a quiet place in order to draw the castle. Some inhabitants believe him an Austrian spy and the poet is almost arrested. In Goethe's Italian Journey you can read this anecdote, which has contributed to the village's fame. Today Malcesine is one of the major tourist attractions of Lake Garda. Since 1983 some rooms of the castle have been dedicated to the village's first important visitor.

Typical products
Oil: The slow maturation of the olives permits the production of an oil of superior quality, rich in vitamin, which has an unmistakeable taste and an extremely reduced level of acidity, of 0,20 on the average. When it has just been pressed, it is a golden green colour, due to the effect of the chlorophyll. It later assumes warmer tones of colour upon maturation.
Fish: Over 40 different types of fish have their habitat in Lake Garda. Delicious large carp, a species unique to Lake Garda, pike in sauce, fried bleaks, grilled lavaret or marinated fillet of perch ... these are just a few of the dishes to try.
Wine: Due to its mild climate Lake Garda is ideal for the wine production. Each wine producing region (Bardolino, Valpolicella, Soave, Lugana, Custoza, Valtenesi) has its own wine route, the "Strada del Vino".
Olive grappa Olivetto: The olive grappa Olivetto is made by blending two genuine and much appreciated Italian ingredients: the first is the grappa, which owes its excellence to the quality and the freshness of the "vinacce" (residue of the pressing of the grapes) and to the knowledge of the masters distillers; the second are the Garda olives, matured in a Mediterranean microclimate from centuries old trees, famous for their superior quality and for their refined taste. The digestive properties of the grappa combined with the salutary benefits of the olives characterize the exceptionality of this product, which has been revived at last from an ancient tradition. (PMP - Piazza Boccara, 5 - Malcesine Tel.: 045/7400050)

…and also the salted meats, the cheese, the honey and the truffle from Monte Baldo.