There is a place on Lake Garda where reality stops playing by the usual rules. A place where formal Italian gardens merge with the labyrinths of the imagination, and where a Neo-Gothic villa looks as though it might have been furnished by a mad architect having afternoon tea with a very curious little girl.
That place exists. It is called Isola del Garda — the lake’s largest island — and this summer, it is transforming into something utterly, wonderfully mad.
From 15 May to 12 October 2026, the island plays host to “Alice on the Isle of Wonders”: over 30 brand-new works born from the encounter between nine contemporary Italian artists and Lewis Carroll’s immortal masterpiece.
Thanks to the vision of Alberta Cavazza and Giordano Spinella, and the coordination of Marcella Menichetti from the Galleria Artequarantuno in Salò, the exhibition brings paintings, sculptures, photographs, decorated porcelains, and site-specific installations to life. The trail winds through the villa, the friars’ cells, the caves, the greenhouse, and the park. Every corner is a work of art; every work, a portal. And the ending is yours to rewrite.
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Alice on the Isle of Wonders: Art you don’t expect
Why shouldn’t you miss it?
Because it’s not every day you get to see irony, paradox, and dreams blend within one of the most iconic and historic locations on Lake Garda. Here is what you will find on your “journey”:
- A stellar cast: Angelo Bordiga, Paolo Bottarelli, Roberto Ciroli, Pietro Cromo, Patrizia Benedetta Fratus, Loredana Gares, Giuliano Guatta, Massimo Levati, and Elio Zorzi. Each with their own unique sensibility, all in dialogue with a timeless classic.
- An eclectic mix: This isn’t just about magical canvases on walls. We’re talking decorated porcelain, site-specific installations that seem to have sprouted from the ground, dreamlike sculptures, and photography that will make you doubt your own senses.
- An Oscar-worthy location: The Cavazza family opens the doors to a place that is already a masterpiece, turning it into a stage where Carroll’s Victorian satire meets the biting language of today.
Our advice: “Don’t be late like the White Rabbit!” This exhibition is a rare chance to see the Island in a completely different light: less “postcard-perfect” and much more “visionary.”
Useful Info (to avoid being “cut off” by the Queen of Hearts)
Specific guided tour dates for the exhibition:
15 May at 16:15 – 22 June at 15:45 – 6 July at 15:45 – 22 July at 16:15 – 15 August at 10:45 – 28 September at 15:45 – 12 October at 15:45.
The exhibition is also visible during standard island tours departing from various ports, though these offer less in-depth commentary.
- Where: Departure from the port of Portese to Isola del Garda.
- How to join: No Mad Hatter riddles required—just a click. Book your visit on the official website: www.isoladelgarda.com
- Dogs: You may bring your dog to the Island, though the organisers advise against it for this specific tour. Small dogs may enter the villa if carried in a bag or held. Medium or large dogs must wait outside during the indoor portion of the tour (approx. 15–20 minutes where exhibition works are displayed). All dogs must be kept on a lead for the entire duration of the visit.
- Catalogue: The exhibition catalogue, edited and designed by Giusi Zane, will be presented during the summer.
Whether you are a die-hard fan of Alice’s world of art and literature, or simply a seeker of beauty, the Island awaits. Bring your curiosity; the artists and the lake will handle the rest.
See you there, dear Outdoors — what better occasion to celebrate your un-birthday?
Silvia Turazza
