One of the side trips that we took during our trip to Nürnberg was a four day getaway to Riva, Italy on the Gartersee or Lake Garda in Northern Italy. Riva is one of the larger cities on the lake and is located at the northern end of the lake nestled between Mts Baldo and Rocchetta. This location makes for spectacular views as well as an ideal place to enjoy the lake.
With a population of almost 16,000 Riva's main source of revenue is from tourism and it does not forget this as the town is very tourist friendly. With a main street that runs parallel to the lake until it runs into the main part of the town, there is plenty to do from dining to shopping to cycling and even hiking and rock-climbing.
The beach that lies beyond the road however is quite beautiful. Covered with small, rounded pebbles and friendly ducks, geese and swan, the beach is perfect for a picnic or even to rent a small boat and go for a sail. We opted for a picnic and had a great time until a gentle shower forced us into the hotel and out onto the balcony for the remainder of the first evening that we were there. We made up for it with the rest of the trip though as we tried to utilize every minute possible to see the town and do as much as possible.
We spent a lot of time walking around downtown, enjoying the sights, eating great food and relaxing in the atmosphere. The restaurants that we ate at were great, although the names escape me now, however, I will try to refresh my memory by reviewing the photos to see if I can remember any to do reviews on as some of them were worthy of their own reviews. I would also recommend any of the many gelaterias that dot the main street into town. If you've never experienced Italian gelaterias, you're in for a definite treat as their treats are beyond description.
Riva is located in an ideal spot to see northern Italy. I would recommend Riva to anyone who wants to enjoy authentic Italy and not be faced with the massive amounts of tourist activity that occurs in Venice or Trentino. However, Riva is close enough to make these cities a possible day trip.