Riva del Garda is a town and comune in the northern Italian province of Trentino of the Trentino Alto Adige region. It is also known simply as Riva. The estimated population is 16.000. Tourism is the most important activity of the town. The town is also home to industries such as paper manufacturing. Riva del Garda is located at the north-western corner of Lake Garda, approximately 70 metres (230 feet) above sea level. The town is located at the southern edge of the Italian Alps, near the Dolomites. It is bordered by Monte Rocchetta to the west and Monte Brione, 376 metres (1,234 ft) above sea level, to the east. East of Riva del Garda is the village Torbole, bordered by Monte Baldo. With its two harbours, Riva del Garda is well equipped for sailing and windsurfing. Rock climbing and mountain biking are also practiced.
The Museo Civico is located in the Rocca, a medieval fortress with quadrangular bastions, placed on the lake, bounded by a canal with drawbridge. It was the fortress of the noble family Scaligeri (1124), who became the Lords of Verona. It was rebuilt several times and it was used by the Austrians as barracks in the 18th century. It is frequently the seat of cultural activities, especially during the summer months. The medieval belfry Torre Apponale was first mentioned in 1273, but is probably older. It belonged to the first fortress of Riva, that no longer exists. Modifications wre made in 1555 and it was raised to 34 m. The Piazza III Novembre is situated between the belfry and the harbour. The city hall comprises the Palazzo Pretorio from 1375 (the former cantonal courthouse) and the Palazzo del Provveditore (the governor’s palace), built between 1472 and 1485.
The city gates Porta San Marco (11th century), built by the Venetians, and Porta San Michele (13th century), at the Piazza Cavour, are remnants of the medieval city walls. The Porta San Michele has a small battlemented belfry for the parochial church of Maria Assunta. This church was originally a romanesque-gothic building from the 14th century (attested by a medieval relief at its southern side), but was rebuilt in baroque style in 1728. It has a single nave and nine baroque altars. The altarpieces were made by local artists, such as Ignazio Martino Oliari da Riva, Giuseppe Craffonara da Riva and Giovanni Caliari da Verona. The fresco in the dome is by the baroque painter Giuseppe Alberti (1664–1730).
The church Chiesa dell’Inviolata, dominating the Largo Marconi, is considered among the most beautiful baroque churches in Trentino. It is an octagonal building with the belfry next to it. It contains the altarpieces “San Carlo Borromeo” and “San Gerolamo” by the Mannerist painter Palma il Giovane. In the middle of the octogonal dome is a Baroque fresco “The coronation of Maria in Heaven”. Places of geological interest in the vicinity include Tenno Lake, Lago di Ledro (with its paleoethnographic museum), and the Varone Falls.
