On the Venetian shore of Lake Garda, you can spot a small island still considered “wild”. In front of Malcesine, in fact, this rock stands out, which for many represents a nautical reference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes, because it is considered a rocky outcrop covered with vegetation and, given its size, it is used as a turning point for sailing races or regattas<\/strong> – such as the Centomiglia. Is this small but important Isle of Olives really so small? And why is it called that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Its smooth and inclined rocks stand out in the middle of the lake, and being small and covered with greenery, the Isle of Olives stimulates landing for a definitely regenerating break. You can dock in several places, get off and lie down to enjoy the sun and the much sought-after (by all of us) relaxation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This rocky spur extends for about 98 meters in length and 40 meters in width, and is certainly named after the presence of olive trees on its land – in fact, it is called both Isle of Olives and Isle of Olive Trees.<\/strong> It doesn’t change much. It is located near other small islands around Malcesine such as the Dream Island and the Trimelone Island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It seems to emerge out of nowhere, mysterious and abandoned, this island that intrigues many who arrive on the shores of the Malcesine area. Nature has remained uncontaminated, being a small and uninhabitable place, and this fascinates those looking for a truly “wild” corner of Garda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The islet is also a well-known destination for divers<\/strong> who arrive here by boat and then immerse themselves with pleasure – there are also several video shots on the net of this area loved by divers. Because the seabed around the Isle of Olives hides some nice surprises: at about 13 meters deep, there is a small cave<\/strong>, full of fish and underwater vegetation. A beautiful enchanted oasis, with incredible views, that goes down to 30 meters<\/strong> below the level of Lake Garda’s waters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition, in the northern part of the islet, a wreck on the seabed<\/strong> can be glimpsed, which with its 10 meters, has become an excellent refuge for fish. Especially, schools of perch, aole and varoni. This is a very popular dive because it is bright and lends itself to photos and videos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Usually, the boats’ route starts from the North and arrives keeping the island on the right, to reach the cave comfortably. You will have no trouble finding a place to dock the boat and, in coincidence with some nautical events, you can watch the sailing races that use the Isle of Olives as a reference point due to its ideal position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The most famous sailing race is the Centomiglia<\/strong>, which takes place on the first Sunday of September every year. From the Isle of Olives, you will have a privileged observation point to watch the race, which represents the largest sailing regatta in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The island could also be reached by swimming<\/strong> being close to the Malcesine coast, but only from certain points. For example, from the pier of the Club Hotel Olivi opposite; in this case, the path, about 300 meters, is reserved only for truly expert swimmers, given the many currents on the lake in this area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As we said, several divers frequent the Isle and for this reason, it often happens that they also take care of it, through some associations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As happened on the occasion of some surveys and then clean-ups of the seabed. Sometimes materials thrown into the lake are removed, sometimes the Isle of Olives is directly cleaned from weeds and bushes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The seabeds of the Isle<\/strong> are often used to deposit the eggs of typical lake fish, such as perch, and for this reason, they must be monitored and protected periodically. A feature that makes this island even more unique, definitely worth visiting if you are in this part of the lake by boat!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" On the Venetian shore of Lake Garda, you can spot a small wild island. The Olive Island is a rocky formation covered in greenery, a nautical reference point during regattas.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[205],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-3508","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-islands"},"yoast_head":"\nAn olive tree emerging from the waters of Lake Garda<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Reaching the Isle of Olives by boat<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A loved and “clean” Garda islet, even in the depths<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n