The small area at Lake Garda’s southeasten corner, close to Verona, has Italy’s highest concentration of theme parks, ranging from the mega-world of Gardaland to a low-key water park and safari park.
Gardaland
Gardaland is huge, and hugely popular, not only because of its location on Italy’s most family-friendly lake, but because it is a well-run, well-designed entertainment park. Thrill-seeking adults and teens will find the requisite adrenaline rushes and toddlers will scream with delight at the cute and original kiddie rides in Fantasy Kingdom.
Lines get long at the former – Blue Tornado and Fuega de Atlantis (Flight from Atlantis) are especially popular – and at the biggest favorites, Magic Mountain, Sequoia Adventure, Robots of Mars Spectacular 4-D Adventure, Jungle Rapids, I Corsari (Pirates) and La Valle dei Re (Valley of the Kings). These are good places to start the day, as there are no timed admissions and no alternative but to stand in line. Plan two days to cover everything and to enjoy the Chinese acrobats, jousts, ice show and dolphins.
Caneva World
A double feature, Caneva World includes both a movie studio park and a water park, Aqua Paradise Park. You can visit either or buy a combination ticket for two days. While the movie studio may disappoint those who have visited the real things in Hollywood, the shows based on Terminator 5D, Rambo, Zorro, Peter Pan and Blues Brothers are fun and other activities include stunt shows, make-up shows, a horror house, submarine simulator and backstage experiences.
The beautifully landscaped and well-maintained Aqua Paradise Park has the feel of a tropical isle, with palms, white sand beaches, pools and plenty of water slides and splashing rides. Pirates complete the fun for kids. Themed restaurants and a jousting show continue the action into the evening
Aquatico Cavour
After the super-hype of the other two, laid-back Aquatico Cavour is a relaxing day at the beach. The setting is quite lovely, filled with greenery, lawns, a white sand beach and pools with water slides. Especially for younger children, this is a good alternative to the more frenetic pace of theme parks.
Parco Naturo Viva
Drive through this safari park to see lions, giraffes, hippos and other African wildlife up close and in a natural setting. Kids love the giraffes, which are just as curios about visitors and will come right up to the car. A separate animal park includes smaller animals native to Europe, some of them under protection as endangered species. A dinosaur park has realistic models of prehistoric creatures.
All the parks close in the winter, and the water parks are open June through August.
Barbara Rogers - Traveler, writer and guidebook author with a passion for those lands that border the Mediterranean Sea and the neighboring Atlantic ...
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