Description of the attraction
Riva del Garda is a picturesque resort town with a population of just over 15 thousand people, located on the northwestern shore of Lake Garda in the province of Trentino. The city lies in the southern spurs of the Italian Alps, near the Dolomites mountain range, and is bounded by the Monte Rocchetta mountains in the west and Monte Brione in the east. The winters are cold, but sunny and with little snow, while the summers are warm and windy. In the warm season, storms often rage at night.
Archaeological excavations show that Riva del Garda was inhabited even in the era of Ancient Rome, but there is practically no historical evidence of those times. At the beginning of the 16th century, the city became part of the Venetian Republic: the Venetians built a Bastion here from which it was possible to control the entire Lake Garda - its ruins can still be seen today. Then Riva del Garda was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and in 1918 joined Italy. The local economy is almost entirely based on tourism. In addition, there are several paper mills operating in the city.
Tourists love to visit Riva del Garda for its scenic beauty and interesting sights. So, in the medieval fortress Rocca, standing on a lake and surrounded by a canal with a suspension bridge, today the City Museum is located, which hosts a variety of cultural events, especially numerous in summer. The Church of Inviolata, built in the Baroque style, stands in the very center of the city. If you go from it towards the 3rd November Square, then on the way you can admire the historical buildings erected in the Lombard-Venetian style - the Palazzo Pretorio (1375), the façade of which is decorated with frescoes, or the Town Hall with the coat of arms of the city. There is another square nearby - Piazza San Rocco, surrounded by the ruins of the old city walls. There is also the Church of San Rocco, partially destroyed during the First World War. At the eastern end of the square rises the 34-meter Torre Apponale tower, built in 1200 - in different years it served as a prison and an observation tower. Also noteworthy are Piazza Catena, Piazza Battisti and Piazza Garibaldi. From the latter begins Via Maffei, along which there are luxurious palaces - Palazzo Lutti, Palazzo Armani, Palazzo Martini and Palazzo Clari. The main staircase of the small church of Santa Barbara, built in 1935 on the slope of Monte Brione, offers a dizzying view.
In the vicinity of Riva del Garda, it is worth visiting lakes Tenno and Lago di Ledro, on the banks of which there is a paleontological museum with an interesting collection, as well as the Varone waterfalls.
In addition, Riva del Garda, with its winds blown all day long, is considered a great place for windsurfing and sailing. Fans of active recreation should visit the Fraglia Vela Riva center. You can take the cable car to Monte Rocchetta, go on a walking tour of Monte Brione or cycle by bike to the neighboring towns of Torbole sul Garda and Arco. You can also go rafting on one of the rivers of the Val di Ledro. In winter, the Monte Baldo ski resort is located 17 km from Riva del Garda.
