– Lonato del Garda

Cycle path from Garda to Montichiari

53.8 km – Distance: approximately 4 hours

To discover the hills and the rural plain close to Lake Garda, we start from the lakeside of Desenzano del Garda, near the old port, and continue northwards until the roundabout to go up along via Gramsci and via San Benedetto up to cross the cycle path to Brescia along via Reciago (2.5 km).

We reach Maguzzano and its beautiful Benedictine abbey (4.4 km) and immediately after the short and only steep stretch of the entire itinerary which allows us to reach and pass Barcuzzi, the highest point of the excursion (6.2 km, 212 m above sea level). We now continue on a light and pleasant descent, following the signs for the cycle path to Brescia, among pleasant fields until we pass Sedena (7.6 km) and reach Salaghetto (13 km) just outside Bedizzole. We deviate south along the cycle path to Montichiari in via Campagnola and reach the banks of the Chiese River until we reach and pass in succession Ponte San Marco (16.6 km), the railway line and finally the motorway.

At Calcinato (19.0 km) we continue to follow the signs for the cycle path to Montichiari, among beautiful views of the surrounding countryside, which we reach after faithfully following the course of the Chiese River. We aim for the hill of San Pancrazio (29.6 km, 129 m above sea level), where there is the parish church of the same name and the War Memorial. We return to via Trieste and, heading east, we reach via Mantova until we turn left onto via Boschetti Sopra.

At the roundabout, near the velodrome, we turn right onto the long, straight dirt road that will lead us, passing via delle Cocche, to Esenta (38.7 km). We cross the small town to take the beautiful dirt road of Via Vallone which runs at the foot of the green hill until it crosses and follows Via Brodena which will take us to Lonato del Garda (45 km). With a short detour, a visit to the castle is worth it.
Otherwise, follow the signs for Barcuzzi, from which you can return to Desenzano del Garda along the same outward route, or with a different itinerary along via Breda and via Santa Giulia which leads you to Lido di Lonato del Garda (50.7 km) and then always along the shores of the lake to the port on the lakeside of Desenzano del Garda.