Gardalend (Gardalend) - an amusement park and a fairy tale on Lake Garda (Lago di Garda), where everyone becomes children. It is located on the southern shore of the largest Italian lake near Verona (Verona) and collects annually more than 2.5 million visitors. To be in Northern Italy with children and not to look into Gardaland is an unfortunate mistake.
Story
The founder of the legend park is an Italian (Livio Furini). As a child, he made magical cardboard castles. They came true after he saw American Disneyland and wanted to give Italy something like this: a park for family entertainment. A successful businessman, he found 200 million lire for his dream park. Gardaland was built in six months in the town of Castelnuovo del Garda.
In July 1975, the first "Happy Birth day" was celebrated here - "Happy Birthday".
Then, 40 years ago, in Gardaland there were 15 original attractions; 10 years later, they grew into thematic zones: Sunken Atlantis, Ancient Egypt, the Knightly Middle Ages, Hawaiian Islands, outer space, Country of cartoons, etc. In 2006, the English concern Merlin Entertainment bought the gaining popularity Gardaland. The company put the matter on a grand scale: today the park covers an area of 600 thousand square meters. m, has 40 attractions, its own restaurants, hotels. The bus takes visitors free of charge from the Peschiera del Garda train station to the fabulous country of Gardaland.
Rides
The entire area of the park is divided into three zones:
- Gardaland - the territory of attractions;
- Gardaland Sea Life Aquarium;
- Hotels: Garadaland and Garadaland Aventur, settling in which you can get bonuses and discounts for visiting the park.
For orientation in the park, you need a map on which the location of all attractions is marked. Fantasi zones - indicated in blue; Adventure zones - in green; Adrenaline - in red.
Attractions for the little ones
Blue attractions "Fantasy Kingdom" - for children from 2 years. All of them are below 100 cm tall and go to the park for free. The main characters in this zone are the green dragon and his friends.
Park Mascot
Green dragon with long ears - Prezzemolo has been guarding the park since 1975 and lives in a fairy house. He is cheerful, good-natured, protects nature and animals. A fictional character became a comic book hero, made friends.
- Aurora - a princess sorceress, capricious and feminine; dreamy and resourceful.
- Mously - a bat, a prankster and an inventor of various tricks and practical jokes; Prezzemolo's best friend and accomplice.
- Bambù is the panda inventor. His thoughts are busy with fantastic projects that he experiences with friends, albeit not always successfully. But he never lose heart.
- Pagui - a thick gull, naive and kind-hearted, lives on the lake. Friends adore her, and Mously showers hail of witty jokes.
- T-Gey is a tiger, rival and adversary of Prezzemolo. He is rich and greedy; he is in no hurry to help friends. T-Gey Tiger Motto: "Become Richer."
Italian children are well aware of these heroes in cartoons on the 1st channel of television.
Attractions Prezzemolo
Whole game territories are associated with the name of the dragon.
- Prezzemolo Land is a country with a knight's castle and water attractions in the surrounding area. Only having mastered the water can you protect the castle from the enemy.
- The Prezzemolo tree (L'Albero di Prezzemolo) is a magical house with incredible transformations inside and a viewing platform at the top.
- Magic Villa (Prezzemolo Magic Village) - a territory of fun games and adventures for kids with unbridled imagination.
Kung Fu Panda Academy
In 2016, the park launched a new attraction for kids - the Kung Fu Panda Academy (Kung Fu Panda Academy) - based on the "Kung Fu Panda 3". Under the guidance of your favorite character Poe, you can master the techniques of Kung Fu and go to battle with the dragon.
Travels
The possibilities for traveling with little fidgets in the park are endless.
- "Volaplano", "Baby Pilota", "Flying Island" (flying island) - these are flights under the clouds; "Saltomatto" - a rapid fall down.
- "Baby Corsaro" - the pursuit of pirates; "Giostra Cavalli" - dashing cavalry riding; "Superbaby" - you can ride any animal and race on it, overtaking a car;
- "Ortobruco Tour" - riding on the back of a caterpillar, "Funny Express" - the first trip without mom and dad; The Transgardaland Express is a review of Gardaland by train from below, and Monorotaia from above.
- "Time Voyagers" - time travel, dangerous contact with unearthly civilizations.
- "Doremifarm" - rest from traveling on a farm under the supervision of dancing cows, lambs and other animals.
Everyone whose fantasy is still alive, "Fantasy Kingdom" will bring a lot of pleasure.
Adventure zone
Advetnure - the green zone of adventure - the highlight of Gardaland. There are age restrictions in the area: no less than 10 years. Each Adventure ride has a historical theme.
Mammoth
Mammut (mammoth) - a huge specimen of extinct giants will haunt all who go on a trip to the Arctic. Cars of polar explorers rush along the ice canyon at a frantic speed. But flight is not always an option for salvation.
Escape from Atlantis
Fuga da Atlantide (Escape from Atlantis) - an adventure not for the faint of heart. To discover the secret of the sunken continent, it is necessary to challenge Neptune himself and descend to his possessions at high speed. On the waterway, 2 rapid falls are expected from the height of a 4-5-storey building.
Thresholds in the Jungle
Jungle Rapids - overcoming the thresholds in the jungle on a light inflatable boat - is fraught with dangers. Every now and then bloodthirsty Indians flicker and no less bloodthirsty wild animals, the volcano threatens an eruption. Against the background of frozen idols, the most unexpected events occur. In 2017 restrictions on growth are introduced on this attraction (not lower than 120 cm).
Corsairs
On the theme of Tudor, events of pirate history are played out. Attraction "Corsairs" (I Corsari) takes place in a boat. She swims through the village where the pirates live. A sudden waterfall is fraught with surprise. With a bite, you can be under water.
Ramses awakens
"Ramses Awakens" (Ramses: Il Risveglio) - a terrible story of the awakening of the Egyptian pharaoh by extraterrestrial civilizations to the death of all earthlings. The action takes place inside the pyramid, in the twilight. You have to use a laser weapon, and shoot as accurately as you can.
It is the green zone of Advetnure that distinguishes Italian Gardaland from all European parks. Most of its visitors are adventurers.
Adrenaline Rides
The red zone Adrenaline is the place of the highest intensity of emotions associated with the violation of gravity. The nervous system reacts to a change in familiar conditions as a mortal danger - hence the adrenaline rush. On the attractions of the red zone there are restrictions not only on age, but also on growth: people with growth below 150-155 cm may be denied access.
- Shaman - the novelty of the 2017 season: a mythical slide with a double loop takes you to virtual reality, where the spirits brought about by Indian shamans come to life. The park recommends an attraction for a must visit.
- Raptor (Lizard) - the most popular red attraction. His cabins pass through the caves in which the lizard lives, develop a speed of about 90 km per hour, make 3 dead loops and give the impression that the train is about to run into something.
- Blue Tornado - a roller coaster version with 5 upheavals and a free fall effect, speeds up to 80 km per hour.
- Space Vertigo - provides a free fall effect from a height of a 10-storey building.
- Oblivion The Black Hole (Meeting at the Black Hole) - at great speed with a vertical fall, the “test subjects” fall into the black hole, where two galaxies meet.
- Sequoia Adventure - at a dizzying height, the cabs roll over and passengers continue flying upside down.
Despite the fact that such attractions are common throughout Europe, in Gardaland they collect huge lines. In 5 hours they manage to participate only in 3 attractions, which, of course, spoils the overall impression of the park.
Aquarium
Gardaland Sea Life Aquarium is an underwater world park located near the main territory of Gardaland. There are 13 marine habitats in 40 huge aquariums. One can observe the life of thousands of sea creatures from sharks to starfish. Gardaland Sea Life Aquarium organizes performances, they are held at strictly defined times:
- 11:00 in the morning and 15:00 - feeding sharks, visitors can participate in it;
- 12:00 and 16:00 - performance with dolphins;
- 13:00 and 17:00 - tour of the aquariums.
You can check the aquarium’s working hours on the website of Gardaland Park, in the section “Gardaland Sea Life Aquarium” on the page “Attività Speciali”: www.gardaland.it. The cost of visiting the aquarium is € 11 adult ticket; € 8 - for children, if you buy online. At the box office, tickets will cost € 16 and € 10.5 respectively.
Entry tickets
One entry ticket for all attractions is valid in the park. At ticket offices, a ticket costs 41 euros, with a visit to the aquarium - 46 euros. On the official website you can buy online, a little cheaper, but do not rush!
At wholesale agencies www.tiqets.com and www.getyourguide.ru you can buy the same tickets online even cheaper. For example, a daily ticket for 35.5 euros instead of 38, and the option with a visit to the aquarium will be as much as 4.5 euros cheaper.
Mode of operation
The schedule of attractions in the park depends on the season and holidays. Every year, changes occur in it, which reflects the calendar of the park.
Winter magic
Winter time - Magic Winter is a few days in mid-December and Christmas holidays from December 26 to January 7-8. Opening hours: 10:30 - 18:30. Gardaland is closed in February and March. The Gardaland Sea Life Aquarium is open every winter from Friday to Sunday during the winter.
Season of magic
The main season in Gardaland is called the “Magic Season”
In 2019, the opening of the season in Gardaland on April 8; working hours: 10:00 - 18:00.
From May 13 to 21, the park will host a circus week (Magic Circus) - a fun booth with clowns, acrobats, jugglers - all the best that is in the Italian circus will be presented.
Night magic
June 23 will begin the season of night magic (Night is Magic). On June 23-24, the park will be open until 3 a.m. (white nights), and on the following days - until 23:00. The culmination of the night season will reach July 29, when the park's birthday is celebrated - "Happy Birth day Gardaland", festivities continue until late at night.
August is a traditional time for visiting the park by Italian families; according to tourists, there are especially many people and long lines during this period. In order not to lose valuable time in the queues, you must adhere to simple rules:
- Come to the park before the opening and immediately go to the remote and popular attractions (guided by the map);
- Try to visit the park on weekdays;
- In August, be ready in long lines;
- In an extreme case, buy express tickets (3 euros) - a surcharge that gives the right to ride out of turn.
Autumn holidays
Oktoberfest - the beer festival will begin in Gardaland from September 16 and will last until October 1. Opening hours: 10:00 - 18:00. All October, the park will be open only on weekends.
The last fall holiday, Magic Halloween, will be celebrated by visitors to the park from October 28 to November 1. Halloween Party will last until midnight - and Gardaland will close before the December winter celebrations.
Thematic Hotels Near
Gardaland has 2 own hotels, which are a continuation of a fabulous park.
Gardaland adventure hotel
There is a 4-star themed family-run Gardaland Adventure Hotel at the park.
Large pools that you will not find in the nearest hotels, themed rooms - Arabic, Arctic, wild west. Visitors are provided with free parking, a separate room in the room for the child. The cost of a family room from 260 to 300 euros / day is probably a bit high, but if there is such an opportunity, your child will be happy.
Theme park attractions are also decorated on the territory - the North Pole and pirate ships, the tales of "A Thousand and One Nights" and space travel. The hotel has a restaurant "Tutankhamun", stylized as Ancient Egypt.
Hotel video review:
Gardaland hotel
Nearby there is a slightly more budget hotel Gardaland Hotel, the cost of rooms in it when booking in advance is 130-200 euros / day. Near the hotel there is an outdoor pool - Blue Lagoon, which residents use for free.
Kairos Garda Hotel
Hotel Kairos Garda is located in Castelnuovo del Garda. Comfortable rooms have modern service: new TVs, Wi-Fi.
There is parking for cars. A sweet breakfast is served. Nearby is a bus stop. A good place to relax and visit the Gardaland Park, which is 2 km away.
B&B I Germani
B&B I Germani is located near the shores of Lake Garda and the center of Castelnuovo del Garda. Car parking is available for travelers.
The rooms of the hotel are made in a classic style, have everything necessary for living, there is a bathroom. Gardaland (2, 8 km) is a 10-minute drive away. Convenient place to relax and visit the park.
How to get there
Gardaland Park is conveniently accessible from all major cities in northern Italy by public transport or by your own rented car.
By train and bus
Trains from Milan, Verona or Venice (Venezia) train stations to the station Peschiera del Garda, from where a bus runs to the park every 30 minutes. Train timetables should be viewed on the official website of the company www.trenitalia.com. The journey from Milan by train will take from an hour to an hour and a half, train tickets cost from 10.50 euros (regional) to 24, 90 euros (high-speed).
From Venice - an hour and a half, from Verona - 13 minutes. A train ticket from Verona costs 3.40 euros.
- We recommend reading: Italy trains
By car
On a rented car, which can be booked at auto.italy4.me, it is ideal to travel around the lake. The road to Gardaland passes along the A4 highway, before turning onto Peschiera del Garda, from where it is a few minutes drive to the park.
From any city you can order a transfer to Gardaland at kiwitaxi.ru. The cost of a taxi from Verona is from 66 to 72 euros.
Taxi from Sirmione to Gardaland costs about 80 euros.
Park official website
The official website of the park www.gardaland.it is quite buggy, it is presented in 4 languages: Italian, English,
German and Russian. Here you can also buy tickets, but more expensive.
Season tickets
In 2019, subscription prices are set:
- ABBONAMENTO ONE - € 55. Possibility to visit the park and the Aquarium from April 21 to December 31, 2019.
- ABBONAMENTO PREMIUM - € 75. Advantages: free entrance to the Park and the Aquarium, free parking; discounts for snacks in a pizzeria; use of the pool in the park (Blue Lagoon - Blue Lagoon); 10 express tickets giving the right to visit attractions without a queue.
- ABBONAMENTO VIP - € 85. Any express tickets are added to all the advantages of previous subscriptions to save time in queues.
Gardaland Amusement Park is an amazing country where adventures make a child more adult, and return their childhood to mothers and fathers.
