Rivoli Veronese Pro Loco Revival Aims to Boost Culture and Tourism

The Amphitheater is reborn after 20 years, along with the new Pro loco di Rivoli Veronese. The unofficial announcement of the association’s re-establishment was made in recent days by the new president Ivan Bertani. “The association has been officially formed with a statute,” explains President Bertani. “The next step will be the official appointment through the approval of the city council.”

The Pro loco in Rivoli Veronese ceased to exist at the end of the 1970s due to a series of internal problems. Since then, there has been almost a complete lack of initiatives, until around the 1990s when several associations began to emerge. Currently, there are about thirty and they span all sectors of volunteering, from social to sporting. Rivoli, in fact, is the town with the highest number of volunteer groups among those existing on the Veronese shore and inland from Lake Garda.

Goals and projects of the new Pro loco

The founders’ intention is that the purpose of the new Pro loco is not to replace existing associations but rather to serve as a reference point to coordinate various initiatives. “It has happened at times that there has been an overlap of events, resulting in dispersing both citizens and tourists who wanted to participate,” explains Bertani. “To avoid this, we will have the competence to create an organized calendar of events, but each association will be free to continue acting independently.”

But beyond this purely organizational role, the Pro Loco intends to propose its own projects. One, called “Progetto Forte,” which is currently under study, concerns the enhancement of Rivoli’s territory as a whole, with particular attention to the Austrian fort. “Rivoli with its fort can become a cultural center and a major event venue, making it a suitable place to attract foreign and Italian tourists staying on the Riviera degli Ulivi.”

This is a proposal that has also attracted the attention of the Azienda di promozione turistica del Garda, with which the Municipality has already held some meetings. In the Progetto Forte, a series of tourist packages are proposed, including guided tours of the fort, amphitheater, and tastings of local products. There will also be a lineup of shows and events aimed at attracting both tourists and locals. Additionally, food and wine routes, art and culture festivals, and markets are planned. There will be ample space dedicated to history and reenactments in costume.

“The costume reenactment of the Battle of Rivoli in 1797 could become an annual event to attract enthusiasts and curiosity-seekers to Rivoli,” Bertani explains. In this project, the sports sector is also expected to play an important role, “important for promoting the image of the town and fostering community with neighboring municipalities,” as well as twinning agreements, “which are crucial for increasing our recognition abroad.”