Malcesine is a small town located on the eastern shore of Lake Garda in northern Italy. One of Italyâs most scenic spots, Malcesine is a whimsical town with cobbled lanes, medieval castles, blue lake waters and picturesque mountain ridges. Lake Garda is Italyâs largest lake. Another popular lake is Lake Maggiore, the second largest in Italy.
One of the most striking features of this quaint town is the Castello Scaligero built by the Della Scala family. Apart from being a tourist hotspot, this castle is also a favourite as a wedding location. The port in Malcesine is lined with a variety of cafes â" perfect for soaking up the plentiful sunshine and people watching. The town also has three public squares: Piazza Turazza, Piazza Cavour and Piazza Vittorio Emanuele.
Malcesine is situated on the main lakeside road, the Via Gardesana, that runs along the shores of the lake. Busses are the most convenient way to travel between the lake resorts and ferries can be used to reach Malcesine, as it is one of the major stops of the ferry route.
CLIMATE
Malcesine shares the same climate as Lake Garda,
which is predominantly mild and temperate throughout the year. The
Mediterranean climate has allowed a growth of picturesque olive and lemon
trees. On an average basis, Malcisine enjoys up to 6 hours of sunshine per day
from May through to October. Spring usually occurs from March to June, summer
between the months of July to August, and then September onwards starts getting
chilly, marking autumn. November through to April is the winter season.
During the summer, temperatures can rise very high, with an average of 30ºC. However, thanks to the wind from the north, the summer hot season is bearable and enjoyable, plus ideal for wind surfing on Lake Garda. Swimming is best enjoyed in the months of July to August as the daytime temperatures contrast well with the cool waters of the lake, which originate from the melting snow and ice from the cold mountains.
Rainfall is excessive from early spring to late autumn, while the driest months of Malcesine are from July to August.
Winter
Winter periods are typically from November to April. Temperatures range between 12ºC and 7ºC during the day and night temperatures normally go down to 4ºC to 0ºC. Swimming in the lake is not encouraged at this time of year as it can be too cold and Malcesine can experience chilly winds.
Humidity during the winter season is at an average of 87 per cent with at least 10 rainy days in the winter months. Precipitation ranges from 48mm to 52mm, with at least one snowy day recorded.
The average of sunshine hours per day is 5 and this gradually increases throughout the months leading up to spring. Wind speed is not very high during winter months; hence it is not a great time for windsurfing. Between November and December, wind speed is at an average of 6km/h. Winter is also very foggy with at least 15 days of fog recorded during the season.
Summer
Summertime occurs between the months of May
and October and this is the time when the water at Lake
Garda is ideal for swimming and enjoying water sports. These
months are usually dry. Temperatures generally reach the highs of 30ºC to 33ºC.
At night it is much cooler with temperatures dropping between 21ºC to 19ºC.
Summertime is the most popular time to visit Malcesine as well as its sister
resorts such as Torbole
and Limone. Everything is
open and bustling throughout the summer and the weather is conducive to being
outside. Precipitation during the summer months has been recorded at an average
of 58mm and visitors can expect at least 8 to 10 days of rainfall during these
months. Sunshine hours are reported at about 12 hours per day with wind speed
up to 7km/h. Along with windsurfing, hiking is also a popular activity there as
most visitors plan to hike up Mount
Baldo.
Natural Disasters
Malcesine situated at the north of Lake Garda is susceptible to heavy thunderstorms and downpour. During this time, tourists are advised to stay indoors and to not participate in any water sports or go hiking as the terrain can be slippery when wet. Though no flooding has been reported, Italian authorities have equipped this tourist destination with appropriate disaster preparation and recovery facilities. Tourists are advised to take note of local law enforcement advice and stay indoors if necessary.