Description of the attraction
The town of Arco is located on the right bank of the Sacra River, in the place where the river valley begins to expand, and stretches all the way to the shores of Lake Garda. The popular tourist resorts of Riva del Garda and Torbole are just 5 km away.
Arco is divided into two parts: at the foot of the cliff, where the ruins of an ancient castle are visible, is the historic center of the city with its elegant buildings, and to the west lies the new part of the city. Thanks to the "protection" of the mountains from the north and the waters of Garda in the south, Arco boasts a mild climate all year round, ideal for growing olives, magnolias, laurels, cacti, palms and other plant species more typical of the Mediterranean.
Archaeological excavations in the region have uncovered traces of settlements from the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. There were also the Romans. Over the centuries, Arco was attacked by the Goths and Lombards, until it became an independent commune in the 11th century, and in the next century it passed into the possession of the Counts of Arco. Several times in the years of bloody feuds between the Guelphs and the Ghibellines, the city was destroyed. In 1703, Arko was seriously damaged by the invasion of the French, who literally dismantled his castle, and in 1804 the city became part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Only in 1918 did it become part of a unified Italy.
Today, in the very center of Arco, there is a public park with a monument to the local artist Giovanni Segantini, the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, the Mose fountain, the Town Hall and Palazzo Giuliani. Nearby is the Palazzo Marcabruni, which houses 16th-century frescoes by Dionysius Bonmartini. And in the former building of the municipal Casino, various cultural events are held today. In the town of Largo Pina, a luxurious villa was built in the middle of the 19th century, where the Austrian Archduke Albert lived. There is a park named after him to the north of the villa. There are also the ruins of a medieval castle. If you go towards the bridge over the Sacra River, you can come to Palazzo dei Panni, which is now occupied by the city library and exhibition halls. And in the town of Cheole there is the Madonna delle Grazie temple, built in 1492 by the Franciscan monks.
In summer, walks around the Arco provide travelers with breathtaking views. The city is surrounded on almost all sides by picturesque olive groves, in one of which the Church of Madonna del Lagel is hidden. Mountain hikers should definitely visit the San Pietro climbers' shelter or climb Monte Stevo. Arco's beaches are ideal for windsurfing, diving, swimming or sailing. In winter, on Monte Stevo, ski slopes are open, which are considered quite extreme.
