ARCO, TRENTO, RIVA DEL GARDA E MERANO

Arco

Arch is located on the north shore of Lake Garda, at the end of the vast valley of Sarca and is part of the valley community of Alto Garda and Ledro. The city was nicknamed Natural Clinic or Nice of Trentino thanks to its clean air, the mild climate and the Mediterranean garden. Apart from this, the Sarca Bridge and the Sarca Dam at Arco are very famous and worth a visit. The emblem of the city is the rocky wall with the ruins of the Arch Tower, a medieval castle, located at 273 m altitude and reachable by a 20 minute walk through more than one path through the olive trees. The view over the city and the surrounding landscape is unique. The old houses and buildings of the old town, located at the foot of the rocky wall form an arc, from which the city is named. In the historic center there are many picturesque squares, ancient gates, wells and hidden alleys, with small shops and bars to discover. Particularly worth visiting is Arco's arboretum, a botanical garden that hosts about 150 types of plants, including gigantic mammoth trees and the famous Patone Grotto. The rocky walls surrounding the city are a true paradise for climbers and lovers of Free Climbing, which is why the city was named "Patria of Sport Climbers". Every year at Arch is held the Rock Master Festival massive event, during which athletes from all over the world try to conquer the difficult rock walls. Arch is a good starting point for further sports activities such as hiking and mountain biking tours (eg, Marocche, Mount Velo etc.).

Trento

Riva del Garda

Capital of the Garda Trentino area, Riva del Garda is an important tourist and trade fair site in the Province of Trento. With its two ports, Riva del Garda is an important center for sailing and windsurfing: it is the morning wind, the Pelèr, and the afternoon one, the Ora, to guarantee the right time every day. The Scaligera and then Venetian domination of the fifteenth century is clearly legible in the architecture of the palaces of the historic center. The Fortress of 1124 has become the seat of the Civic Museum and the Pinacoteca. On the west side of the village rises Mount Rocchetta, on the east side rises Monte Baldo. This particular location makes Riva one of the most spectacular villages of Lake Garda.

Merano

In the center of a valley, where you can meet the Val Passiria, the Val Venosta and the Val d'Adige, lies the city of Merano with its famous Spas.The city of Merano, composed by the districts of Quarazze, Maia Bassa, Maia Alta, Sinigo, Labers and the historic center, is located at an altitude ranging from 263 to 1,621 m asl and it is, after the city of Bolzano, the second largest city in South Tyrol. Thanks to its geographical position, in a naturally protected basin, the area enjoys a pleasant, mild climate. Here, in fact, you will find a very particular climate that favors the growth of palm trees, olive trees as well as cypresses. The magnificent Alpine panorama also gives the city a special charm. In the 19th century approx. Merano became known as a health resort. Scientists and doctors advised the mild climate and the pure air of the city, which was particularly beneficial for the treatment and healing of the respiratory tract. The city also became famous and attracted many guests with its famous grape and goat's milk care. The town's symbol is the Kurhaus, a beautiful and important Art Nouveau building, located along the Lungopassirio promenade in the city center. But also other places of interest, such as castles or museums, can be visited. With an exciting journey to discover nature, Castel Trauttmansdorff invites you with its famous botanical garden. 

Bologna

Home to the oldest university in the western world, Bologna, in Emilia-Romagna, is a city with an intense cultural life and a very interesting historical heritage. Important urban center first under the Etruscans, then under the Gauls and finally under the Romans, Bologna was also a major urban center in Europe in the Middle Ages. European Capital of Culture in 2000, in 2006 it was declared by UNESCO as a "creative city of music". Among the most important symbols of Bologna are its characteristic arcades, that is, covered walkways that connect streets, towers and buildings and that only in the center reach the total length of about 38 kilometers. Built during a long period of time from the 11th to the 20th century, the porticos of Bologna are considered a heritage of 'exceptional universal value' for which the city has been nominated for enrollment in the UNESCO World Heritage List. many noteworthy porticoes include, among the oldest, that of Casa Isolani in Strada Maggiore, which is one of the eight wooden remained today. Also in the same street is the largest portico of the city, that is the quadriportico of the Basilica of Santa Maria dei Servi. The highest is the loggia of the Archbishop's Palace in Via Altabella, which reaches almost ten meters. However, the most famous and longest portico starts in via Saragozza and leads to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca. Its towers are also characteristic of Bologna, offering tourists the opportunity to admire a wonderful panorama from above. Among the most important, Torre di Garisenda and Torre degli Asinelli are located at the entry point into the city of the ancient Via Emilia and belonged to a complex of about one hundred medieval towers, of which there are currently only about twenty examples. Among the other towers we also mention the beautiful Torre Accursi or dell'Orologio, which dominates Piazza Maggiore with its huge mechanical clock, and the Torre Azzoguidi, on Via Altabella, which is part of the so-called 'triad of medieval skyscrapers' of Bologna together with Torre Prendiparte and Torre Galluzzi. Very particular, finally, Torre dell'Arengo, located in a very central place of the city, above the Palazzo del Podestà. Among the palaces and historic buildings there is only the embarrassment of choice. Piazza Maggiore houses three: the first is Palazzo del Podestà, built around 1200, which was the first seat of the city government. A curiosity: for a particular acoustic effect, visitors can speak in a low voice from the opposite corners of the pillars that support the tower. The second, Palazzo Re Enzo, was joined to the previous one in 1244-46 and hosted for about twenty-three years the so-called 'king prisoner', King Enzo of Sardinia, son of Frederick II. Finally, Palazzo Comunale or d'Accursio was the residence of the Elders, the highest magistracy of Government of the Municipality, and today is the seat of the Municipality of Bologna. Finally, visit the National Art Gallery, which collects works by the likes of Giotto, Raffaello , Carracci, and the Archiginnasio of Bologna, seat of the ancient University.