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The Riviera degli Olivi (Olive Riviera) is a long, narrow strip of land that hugs the shore of Lake Garda and stretches from Malcesine in the north to Peschiera del Garda in the south and its name is thanks of its devotion to this quintessentially Italian product. If you drive along this route, you will see a landscape that has been carefully cultivated for literally thousands of years. Olive groves are, of course, very plentiful, but you will also see orange and lemon trees, vegetable gardens and many vineyards soaking up the Italian sun. Industrial scale cultivation is interspersed with small-scale allotments. This makes the journey a fascinating study of the intimate relationship that has been built up between the local people and the land.

The route is lined with interesting architecture. Near the shore of the lake, you will find ancient churches and imposing villas, often with stunning ornamental gardens. Driving inland, you might see wildlife such as deer and partridge. Sometimes you can fit in one of the many festivals that take place in the region, if you happen to be there at the right time. They celebrate a wide range of themes from fishing, wine and olive oil to music, fireworks and aquatic pursuits.

You can sample the local wines in the resort of Bardolino. This town has a museum dedicated to the production of the famously light and fragrant olive oil from the surrounding region. There are plenty of villages along the way. You might like to stop there for a snack or a walk through the countryside. Some walks are quite steep, but they are well worth the effort because of the stunning views of lake Garda that you will have at the top.