Why Italians Love Riva: Climate, Beauty, and Exclusive Charm
“The city is very well-maintained. This is the third consecutive summer we come here, and we always find something new: we were amazed last year when we saw that the square renovation works had already been completed. Unthinkable in Rome, where we live,”
This is how some Roman tourists began when we asked them what had struck them during their stay in Riva. It’s truly true that everything is relative: remember that hoteliers, shopkeepers, and locals complained about the slow pace of the renovation works?
The same question, asked to these friendly Romans, was put to about fifty fellow compatriots randomly selected from those we could meet while strolling at the beginning of July. A sort of empirical survey was born, nonetheless meaningful, that can help understand why Italians choose our city for their holidays.
Attractiveness features of Riva
Unique climate. Some people have known and frequented Riva for a lifetime, while others discover it for the first time thanks to friends or relatives’ advice, but mostly through personal initiative. Among all, the feature that generally attracts respondents is the same: the unique climate, which combines the fresh mountain air with warm sunshine and lake baths.
Many have noted this splendid combination due to the simultaneous presence of imposing mountains, destination for hikes and walks, and a lake that, because of its size and the expansiveness of its beaches, is comparable to the sea for some—but as one girl exclaimed with satisfaction, “It’s not the usual sea, because it offers many alternatives to the monotony of beach life and, above all, it’s not so chaotic.”
Many families with small children or elderly couples have arrived in the area specifically to escape the urban chaos, breathe some pure air, and immerse themselves in the tranquility offered by the town with its “delightful historic center, its villas, and well-maintained gardens.”
For some, who have been visiting for a long time and have had the opportunity to see many locations in Trentino, Riva with its lake is even considered the most beautiful town in the region.
The perception of beauty and its flaws
The flaw. Are all the evaluations positive following this survey, considering the attraction Riva has for Italians? Not exactly. It’s important to note that few have said they chose Riva or appreciate it for its shops, the modernity of its accommodations, or the friendliness and courtesy of merchants and hoteliers.
Moreover, no one has pointed out economic advantages, neither regarding restaurants, hotels, and bars, nor concerning shops. In short, Riva is beautiful but not necessarily cheap.
This view is confirmed by the fact that many—perhaps too many—Italian tourists are just passing through, 34 out of 50: some come to Riva for a day trip, some to greet friends or relatives, others stay for a couple of days during sailing races at the Fraglia della Vela, or simply take a walk along the lake after visiting Gardaland.
These people remain enchanted by the beauty of the place, but like admiring a precious jewel that they dare not touch, they leave after a day or two.
Apparently, Riva is seen as an elite destination (or, better, within the reach of foreign tourists’ wallets, such as Germans, who benefit from a favorable exchange rate): precious, not accessible to everyone, but perhaps precisely for this reason, to visitors it appears as a beautiful and incredibly well-maintained place—unique and rare.
In short, the pearl of Trentino: whether this is positive or advantageous for tourism in the Alto Garda Trentino remains to be seen.