In the past centuries, when the slowness of transportation systems and the scarce conservation means had a decisive influence on market supply, Garda's lemons and citrus fruits were the most suitable to supply the countries over the Alps. This boosted the cultivation of this precious and costly product.

The cultivation system of Gardesian lemons is complex, because the plants cannot resist the winter freezes without appropriate protection. In terraces with good exposure, sustained and protected on three sides by high walls, rests a structure that is partly fixed and partly moveable which, when the first cold starts arriving, becomes a kind of greenhouse. These are the "limonaie" that pinpoint the Garda coast from Limone to Salò.

Facing south-east, perched between lake and mountain, they are a surprising element of the landscape, where, among the wall lines and the pillars the shiny green of the foliage and the colours of the fruits stand out.

On the lemon grove's front long windows are fixed that allow the passage of sunlight and heat. Added to the taxing winter covering and spring uncovering works, there are also cultivation cares the plants need and manual fruit picking operations.

The difficulty of this sort of cultivation has resulted in only a few lovers of the job looking after the lemon groves, or just for family use. Garda's lemons and citrons with their fragrant and persistent scent, the shiny and thin rind, a rounded shape, are still excellent, but they no longer feed the markets like long ago.

However, the importance in the landscape of the lemon groves, their uniqueness, the influence they have had in the economic and social history of the area, have started a recuperation project by local organisations.

July.2002

In association with E.R.S.A.F. Ente Regionale per i Servizi all'Agricoltura ed alle Foreste