I a Riva del Garda I was born there and I have never appreciated it as much as I appreciate it today that I live far away. It is located in the northwestern side of the Garda Lake , in Trentino, something known to few, but a step away from the border with the Province of Verona and that of Brescia.
The main attraction, it is obvious to imagine it, is that lake nestled in the mountains, like a mirror that doubles the sky.
So if you happen to be one day you can't absolutely miss a walk along the lakefront. Start from the pizza in front of the Municipality, Piazza 3 Novembre, and continue along the banks, crossing the Rocca di Riva, the Spiaggia degli Olivi, a historic venue, the Sailing Club, and then arrive at the beaches. You should know that the wide beaches are a real gem of Riva del Garda, as it is not common to find beaches of this size on the lake. Then continue along these for a beautiful walk that in about 1km will take you to Porto San Niccolò, where you can decide to continue on the beaches of Torbole sul Garda or to go back.
I highly recommend that you take this walk in the morning, when the sky is usually totally clear of clouds and the wind from the lake has not yet risen.
In the afternoon, however, after a stop in one of the restaurants that offer lake fish (among these I recommend the Al Volt Restaurant in Via Fiume), you can take a tour in the historic center and get on Apponale Tower which stands on the city center with its 34 meters. It is a tower, built in 1555 with stones of different and particular sizes, and which faces the port in the square where the Municipality is located. Since 2002, in the months from March to October, paying a ticket that costs 2 € (free under 16 years), it is possible to climb the 165 steps of the tower and enjoy a beautiful view of the lake and the town from up there. . The tower is open every day, from June to September, from 10.00 to 18.00, while from March to May it closes on Mondays.
At this point go to the Rocca of Riva, a medieval fortification with four towers, today with facades from different periods. The building, of which there are testimonies since 1124 and once a military symbol, is surrounded by a canal, and a small bridge allows access to it. La Rocca is also the seat of the picture gallery and civic Museum, where important finds of local art and culture are preserved. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10.00 to 12.30 and from 13.30 to 18.00. From July to September it is also open on Mondays. Entrance to the museum costs € 2 but access to the Rocca's garden is free.
Now sit on a bench in the internal gardens or in the Brolio which is next to it, and enjoy the unmistakable breeze of the lake.
