May is the start of the lemon harvest on Lake Garda in Italy. Known as the Riviera dei Limoni, lemons were once a booming industry for the region, which is famous for its distinctively designed wooden lemon houses dotted along the lakeside. Lemon production in Lake Garda still continues, albeit at a reduced level, and resorts like the eco spa Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda are helping to maintain this local tradition by introducing guests to the local lemon cultivation through visits to the lemon houses and using more locally grown lemons in their Summer menus and spa treatments.

 Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda overlooks Lake Garda, just twenty minutes from the lake-side village of Gargnano, where lemons were first introduced to the area by monks from the Monastery of San Francesco in the 13th century.   The lemon harvest starts in May and continues through to September.

Lefay can organise for its guests to have a private tour around 'La Malora', one of the oldest and last lemon houses still in production on Lake Garda.  Not generally open to the public, Lefay guests will meet owner Giuseppe Gandossi, who will explain how the lemons are grown.  Guests will have a chance to enjoy Giuseppe's homemade drinks and sample his pickles and jams, before exploring the shore side town of Gargnano.  The cost is 20 euros per couple and includes a private transfer to and from Gargnano.

Menus in the resort's two restaurants - La Grande Limonaia and Trattoria La Vigna - showcase an holistic way of cooking where respect for the seasons and their rhythms is fundamental, as well as the provenance and freshness of ingredients.  Executive Chef, Matteo Maenza, has created a new recipe inspired by lemon harvest season using saffron carnaroli rice, Gargnano capers, lemon and Claudio Corallo chocolate.  The saffron risotto, generally served as a first course, is flavoured with Gargnano lemon juice and garnished with lemon rind before serving.

Lefay has developed its own spa method that combines the principles of Classical Chinese Medicine with Western scientific research. Their Perfumes of the Lake range of treatments bring together perfumes and essences that are characteristic of the local area, including lemons, extra virgin olive oil and lavender.  The Lefay Massage is a 50 minute aromatic anti-stress massage, which combines the anti-ageing effect of olive oil with aromas of lemon and lavender (100 euros per person).

The two and a half hour purifying and regenerating body ritual with volcanic stones starts with a scrub and olive oil wrap followed by a massage using hot volcanic stones along the body's energy points and meridians of the body together with the essence of lemon, rose, rosemary and lavender. (260 euros per person)

A stay at Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda costs from 290 Euros per room per night including breakfast.  lefayresorts.com

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