The pretty town of Riva del Garda, (also known simply as Riva), sits nestled between the mountains and the shore of lovely Lake Garda in the Northern Italian province of Trento. This is a particularly charming lake town to visit, and has become very popular as a holiday resort for both Italians and many English- speaking visitors from outside the country.

Riva has plenty to offer her visitors; a mild Mediterranean climate means that it seldom gets uncomfortably hot in summer, when most people visit, making it the ideal location for action-packed holidays. Of course, there are lovely beaches, but if you like to be more active on your holiday, this is the place for you! The resort offers excellent opportunities for water-based sports such as sailing, wind-surfing, canoeing and fishing, but landlubbers are also well catered for. Hiking, cycling and mountain biking are very popular holiday activities in Riva – you can hire bikes at several places – and many people also come to enjoy playing tennis and golf. Those who just want to relax can explore the very attractive town, with her many Venetian-style buildings, wander around the Historic Centre, shop or just sit in one of the many outdoor cafes and enjoy an espresso while they watch the world go by.

Things to do and see in Riva

Explore the town and learn some of her history; Riva del Garda has been around for a very long time! Etruscan and Roman remains have been excavated, and it is documented that it was an important strategic town on the North/South trade route over the Alps. As such, it was necessary to build defensive structures to protect the town from invasions. Today you can visit some of the defensive structures that are still in place. Start with the Rocca, or castle near the harbour; built in the 12th century to protect the little town. Today the Rocca houses a museum which stages exhibitions about the history of the town. From the Rocca, you can walk to the Torre Apponale, the look-out tower of the town which was at one time connected to the castle by an underground tunnel. As defensive towers go, this one is quite modest – only 34 metres high – and dates from around 1300. You can climb to the top for a good view of the town and lovely Lake Garda. You can also take a walk (about 30min from the town) to the Bastione, once also a defensive structure on the wooded hillside above the town; today it is a museum and restaurant with excellent views.

Visit the Thermal Baths: the Garda region has been known for the curative properties of the thermal springs found around the lake and there are two excellent venues you can visit to “take the waters”; The Garda Thermal Park in Lazise or the Thermal Baths of Sirmione. This is a very relaxing way to spend a day or two.

Play some golf: Golfers are well catered for, with no less than 12 golf courses around the Lake, 3 of them within 30km of Riva.

Emilia Delizia offers chauffeured tours around Lake Garda for an unforgettable Italian experience please get in touch to know more.