Costermano sul Garda
Costermano sul Garda spreads over the morainic hills rising from the eastern shore of Lake Garda, amid olive groves, vineyards and...
Updated 11 July 2026
The story
The story of Costermano sul Garda
History and origins
Costermano has ancient roots tied to the cultivation of Garda's morainic hills, land suited to olives and vines since Roman times. Over the centuries the town followed the fortunes of the Republic of Venice, which extended its rule over the whole Garda area. The twentieth century left a deep mark on local history: between 1956 and 1967, on the initiative of the German government and following post-war agreements between Italy and Germany, the large German military cemetery was built on the town's hills, designed by architect Robert Tischler. In 2016 the municipality added 'sul Garda' to its name, underscoring its identity as a lakeside community.
The German military cemetery
The Costermano memorial holds the remains of more than 22,000 German soldiers from the Second World War, gathered from war cemeteries and other burial sites across northern Italy. It is maintained by the German humanitarian association Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge and consists of fifteen sections adorned with heather, arranged across the hillside. The site has also been the subject of historical and civic reflection: in 2006 the honour books that included several SS officers among the fallen were removed and replaced with a plaque acknowledging the war crimes committed under Nazism. It is a powerful, quiet and well-tended place, inviting reflection rather than casual sightseeing.
Nature and views
The hills of Costermano offer some of the widest views over Garda's eastern shore, stretching from the lake to Monte Baldo. The land, planted with olives and vines, is crossed by secondary roads and paths suited to walking and cycling, away from the traffic of the shoreline. It is an ideal area for those seeking a more rural side of Garda, made of terraces, dry-stone walls and small hamlets such as Marciaga and Gazzoli.
Food, wine and local products
Extra virgin olive oil from Garda, produced by the groves surrounding the town, is the star of the local table, alongside the area's DOC wines, including Bardolino and Custoza, grown on the surrounding hills. The town's farm stays offer oil and wine tastings, often paired with traditional dishes featuring lake fish and seasonal vegetables.
How to get there and location
Costermano sul Garda lies in the hilly hinterland between Garda and Caprino Veronese, a few minutes' drive from the lakeshore and the towns of Garda and Bardolino. It is easily reached from the Affi exit on the A22 motorway, making it a convenient base for exploring the rest of the lake without the prices of the better-known shoreline towns.
Experiences not to miss
- Visit the German military cemetery and its heather-covered terraces
- Drive the scenic roads through the olive groves with views of Monte Baldo
- Taste extra virgin olive oil and DOC wines at a local farm stay
- Explore the small hillside hamlets of Marciaga and Gazzoli
- Reach Garda and Bardolino within minutes for a lakeside stroll
To see
What to see in Costermano sul Garda
Routes · Trovido Route
