This Ancient fishing village, which sits on a characteristic cone-shaped hill where Monte Baldo gently slopes towards S. Vigilio Point, is quite charming with its small port, square, narrow streets and old buildings painted in the same warm shades of Venice. Surrounded by olive groves are new homes, camping sites, tourist resorts and hotels that provide fine accommodations all year round. A ferry service for cars, buses and passengers that unites Torri and Maderno (on the west shore) is available all year round.
The Port
At one time it was the center of trade in the town: cargo ships traveling between Desenzano and Riva and “bisse”, typical fishing boats of Lake Garda, used to dock there. On the northern end of the port sits the 15th century “Palazzo della Gardesana”, the seat of the “Gardasana dell’Acqua” council, a federation of ten communities that also had the task of suppressing and controlling smuggling on the lake during Venetian rule. The Council chapel in the nearby S.S. Trinita Church still conserves 14th – 15th century frescoes of the Veronese School. Beneath the porticos, caulkers built and repaired boats. The vaguely shell-shaped quay is considered to be from the Roman period.

Malcesine
Clustered around the foot of the castle and the “Captains’ Palace”, the old town with its small port, squares and streets filled with shops, bars and picturesque restaurants has a magical charm. With more than a hundred hotels, over three hundred apartments, numerous rooms to let, villas and twelve camping sites, Malcesine in one the most elegant and well-equipped holiday resorts on the lake. The pleasant mild climate all year round permits walks and excursions in the hinterland and on Mount Baldo, which is known as the “Botanical Garden of Europe” due to its huge variety of plant species. The community covers about 68 square kilometers and also includes the towns of Cassone (3 Km south, in the direction of Brenzone) and Navene (3 Km north, in the direction of Torbole), an important location for sailing buffs and windsurf fans.