Lake Garda access controversy sparks clashes between tourists and local operators

“Are you going to Limone? Take the roundabout around the lake!” This is the message of the signs that have appeared in recent days throughout the lower Sarca area, and which are literally infuriating the tourist operators of Limone. The yellow signs, placed almost everywhere by the Province, invite drivers heading towards Limone and Brescia to take the Gardesana Orientale, effectively forcing them to go down towards Peschiera del Garda, then head towards Desenzano, and thus climb back up towards the northern part of Lake Garda. No mention, however, is made on these signs of the possibility to use the Navigarda ferry to transport cars to Limone.

Reactions and controversies among operators

These new measures have enraged “limonesi & C.”, who are more ready than ever to take the path of conflict. “It’s a decision that’s downright absurd,” snaps Franceschino “Chicco” Risatti, vice mayor of Limone and president of the “Riviera dei Limoni” association, which brings together hoteliers from various towns up to Salò. “We will fight against it with every means possible. They’ve placed those signs everywhere, without even mentioning the ferry. It’s shameful, I’m disappointed and worried about the attitude of the Province of Trento and also of the Rivana administration, with which we had excellent relations until now.

I’ve already called an extraordinary assembly for this evening (yesterday, for readers ndr) and we will decide on the next steps, not ruling out legal action… these things should not be done. Is this how they think they can solve the problem? Is this how they plan to thank us for the patience and understanding we’ve shown so far? Do they realize that we also have to live here, or not?

They like to say in Trento that the ferry should be used almost exclusively by workers and suppliers: what are they coming here for if there are no tourists?

But on the other hand – Risatti continues, increasingly agitated – we should have expected such insensitivity: at the assembly last Wednesday, to which we invited representatives from all categories and administrators from all interested municipalities, there was no one from Riva del Garda. No, this is not how one behaves.

Rivana administrators, who, after being asked, have warmly accepted the controversy signs. “The fewer people who arrive at the dock, the better,” cuts short Deputy Mayor Pietro Matteotti.

“We must absolutely avoid paralyzing Riva by allowing more cars than the dock can handle. And the solution is certainly not to increase the Navigarda fleet, but rather to create new, more convenient docks.” The war, it seems, is inevitable.