Which Italian lake is the country’s largest and lies south of the Alps?

Lake Garda is Italy’s largest lake and lies south of the Alps.

Lake Garda, also called Lago di Garda, covers about 370 square kilometres in northern Italy. Its shoreline is shared by the regions of Lombardy, Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige. The lake extends from the Alpine foothills toward the Po Valley and is surrounded by mountains, olive groves, vineyards and resort towns.

The northern part is narrow and fjord-like, while the southern basin is broader. The lake’s main outflow is the Mincio River, which eventually joins the Po. Garda’s relatively mild climate supports citrus cultivation in areas close to the water, unusual for northern Italy.

Lake Garda is often compared with Lake Como because both are famous northern Italian destinations. Garda is larger by surface area, while Como is much deeper. The Roman poet Catullus referred to the lake as Lacus Benacus, an ancient name that remains part of its historical identity.