OLIVES GRAPES & FRESH WATERS RUN-16K

Description

Lazise: simply the oldest Italian municipality. Like other centers on Lake Garda, Lazise too has a rich and very eventful history.
A picturesque hamlet surrounded by the ancient walls with embattled towers, Lazise keeps so many memories of its medieval past to be now at 12th place in Italy among tourist destinations and the first Italian lake destination, yet it has just over 6000 inhabitants. Lazise records about 3.5 million tourist visits every year and the reasons are its great historical importance, its great architectural value, and great landscape value.
In ancient times, the small village was undoubtedly a settlement of Roman origin, subsequently fortified in the 10th century as a defense against the Hungarian invasions.
On 7th May 983, the Holy Roman Empire granted Lazise the privilege of levying duties on transit, fishing, goods, and the use of the lake, and to fortify the village with turreted walls. The first Italian “Comune” (municipality) was born. We are 20 kilometers northwest of Verona, overlooking the eastern shore of Lake Garda.
After running in the narrow streets of the ancient village we’ll move to the nearby hills, among ancient olive groves, precious vineyards, long avenues of cypresses, centenary oaks. Here and there only a few small farms: we will be surrounded by greenery, the scenic dark blue Prealps, and the pale blue mirror of the lake. We’ll skirt a famous thermal park that, during World War II, became the German general headquarters for the North of Italy.
Here temperate climate and richness of water, in the context of the sunny Garda environment, are the elements that have allowed the optimal development of plants of Mediterranean origin such as laurel, strawberry tree, centuries-old holm oaks, beautiful specimens of cedars, Taxodium (almost giants with their feet in the water), soaring specimens of sequoia, magnolias, firs… We are not far from Gardaland, the second most visited amusement park in Europe, and from an aquatic park with water slides. Before or after running you’ll have many reasons to stay here longer.
In September we could taste the grapes hanging from the vine shoots, but only if we run faster than the farmer 😉 and in November we could try the olives: but I don’t recommend it, I’ll explain why … Better to stop for a short break at a small picturesque bar a few meters from the lake, right? Join us on our guided Verona Olives, Grapes & Freshwaters run, and let’s explore the city of Verona.