Riva del Garda is the main town in the Garda Trentino area, where the opportunity to play sport in contact with nature is the main reason that draws visitors to the coastline. Sailing and windsurfing above all, but also hiking, Nordic walking, cycling, mountain biking, tennis and canoeing... you’ll be spoilt for choice, with something to suit all tastes. The centre of Riva del Garda is fascinating for its art and architecture, evidence of a past rich in culture. Here you can enjoy the pleasure of a first-class holiday, surrounded by history, art, sport and nature, as well as warm hospitality, modern hotel accommodation, wellness centres and restaurants serving the traditional dishes of the Trentino… just some of the reasons to plan a holiday in Riva del Garda.
Riva del Garda is also the trade fair capital of the Trentino, boasting modern exhibition and conference facilities and a long international experience of organising major cultural and sporting events. The centre of Riva del Garda looks out over the lake and invokes the past, starting from Piazza III Novembre, surrounded by Lombard Venetian style buildings, including the Torre Apponale, Palazzo Pretorio and Town Hall. Following a complete restoration, you can now climb the 165 steps to the top of the tower and admire the geometric pattern of the square, which borders on the quay, the town of Riva and the beautiful blue waters of Lake Garda. The Palazzo Pretorio, which dates from the sixteenth century, is the place where justice was administered and the superintendent ensured the town’s statutes were respected. The wall facing the square bears the crest of Prince-Bishop George of Neideck, dating from 1509, the year which marked the end of Venetian rule.
Another unmissable site is the ancient Rocca, which now houses the MAG Museo Alto Garda and Art Gallery. The Rocca is a long-standing feature of the local history and has adapted its appearance to the changing centuries. In the early sixteenth century, it was embellished and became an occasional residence of the Prince-Bishops. It was radically transformed in the mid-nineteenth century, when it became an Austro-Hungarian army barrack and lost its medieval and Renaissance features. The recent renovation has brought some of the original structures to light and made it suitable to house the Civic Museum and Art Gallery. The view from the keep is beautiful and unmissable.
Other fine examples of Baroque architecture in the city include the Chiesa dell´Inviolata and the church dedicated to Saint Mary of the Assumption. The Chiesa dell’Inviolata is the most important monument in Riva, an elegant baroque building with a square plan outside and octagonal plan inside, including five altars, one with frescoes and stucco, carved wood confessionals and marble floors. The Chiesa Parrocchiale di S. Maria Assunta stands in the centre of Riva del Garda and looks out over the wide expanse of Piazza Cavour. The existing building, first mentioned in the 1100s, is a Baroque reconstruction with a single nave inside and a side chapel of the Suffrage.
The Garda Trentino area has the perfect ingredients for a healthy and relaxing holiday. Sport, nature, culture and the famous spas, wellness centres, extensive parks and countryside walks are the perfect combination to revive your body and mind. Around Christmas time, there is a traditional market of stalls set up around the city’s squares selling gifts and typical Christmas products. The Garda Trentino area will never cease to amaze you, thanks to the hundreds of feasts, food fairs and traditions you can enjoy with our holiday packages to Riva del Garda.
