Garda Inaugurates Innsbruck Christmas Market and Watches Tourism Exchange
It will be Davide Bendinelli, in his dual role as provincial tourism councilor and mayor of Garda, to inaugurate the Innsbruck Christmas market on the afternoon of Friday, November 23. A delegation from Garda will be in the Tyrolean town to establish collaboration agreements between their respective tourism entities.
This is a way to strengthen the friendship that was born last summer, when the mayor of Innsbruck, Herwing Van Staa, and the director of the city’s casino, Hannes Matheowitsch, visited Lake Garda. This visit was made possible thanks to Rudi Federspiel, the Tyrolean city councilor, who is also a native of Verona, as he owns a house in Santa Lucia ai Monti, on the morainic hills south of Garda.
Agreement and Tourism Exchanges
“I believe it is important for us to try to reach a good agreement with Innsbruck,” says Bendinelli, “because we can both benefit from reciprocal tourism. It’s true that in terms of inhabitants we have little in common, but in terms of tourist presence, we are very close.”
The good feeling between the two locations is demonstrated not only by the exchange of visits but also by the fact that Innsbruck will be among the highlights of the “Christmas among the Olives” event in Garda, from November 30 to December 2. The Austrian delegation will bring their local cuisine, a Swarovski crystal exhibition, and a taste of their casino environment, including a demonstration gaming room in the exhibition building.
Christmas Program and Other Twinnings
The entire Garda Christmas program will also be presented during a press conference scheduled for Friday in Innsbruck. “This will be an important step forward in building a strong friendship between our communities,” says Deputy Mayor Gian Paolo Rossi. “Although our visit will be brief—we will return already in the evening, also to avoid burdening the municipal treasury. However, our intention remains to develop exchanges in the fields of culture, sports, and tourism.”
However, the relationship with Innsbruck is not Garda’s only Christmas twinning. The full program of “Christmas among the Olives” also includes dedicated spaces for Istria and the German town of Beilnegries. The Istrian region will be featured from December 14 to 16, with a photography exhibition, a display of typical products, and a gastronomic stand showcasing local cuisine.
In this case, the friendship has also recently been established. Garda was recently visited by Ivan Jacovcic, one of the highest political authorities in Istria and leader of the regionalist party Dieta Istriana. Until a few months ago, he held the position of Minister for Europe in the Croatian government; he has now stepped down to become regional president.
Regarding the Bavarian town of Beilngries, a twinning proposal had previously been considered by the previous administration. “We invited them because we do not want to neglect the relationships established in the past,” says Bendinelli. The mayor of Beilngries, Franz Xaver Uhl, recently visited Garda to explore potential collaborations. The partnership will be formalized with Bavarian stands on the lakeside promenade from January 4 to 6.
