Lago di Resia or Lake Reschen

After a good breakfast at Apart Pension Bergfrieden in Nauders we pointed the car south towards Riva del Garda and crossed the border to Italy.

The fourteenth century bell tower of Graun is all you can see from the village after the dam construction.

The Swiss company Elektrowatt wanted to build a dam in Switzerland but the people of Splügen did not like it too much. So they voted against it. Why like this? Elektrowatt went to Italy! They paid 30 million Swiss francs to the Italian company Montecatini for constucting the dam (in exchange for 10 years of electricity). The people of Graun where not so successful and a few years later 163 homes where submerged.

Lago del Garda

Yes I know what you say – this is a big tourist trap – and you are right. But if you find a reasonable hotel and do skip the restaurants it is still very affordable and you can enjoy the lake and views of the mountains. Swimming in the lake is also free if you dare!
Booked at Hotel Canarino only a few steps from the Piazza Tre Novembre. They have a pool area, sauna and a salt grotto. Interesting! The room was nothing special but we had the view over the pool with mountains in the back. Big buffet style breakfast with lots of options to choose so we never went hungry down to the lake.

View from the room – any questions? There is even a hot whirl pool down there.

Well – the beds – but comfortable mattress, TV, desk, chairs and a fridge. Big enough bath room as well.

Confused? Ha Ha – this does the trick!!

The hotel has a back door right into the small streets of Riva del Garda. Only a minute after you pass the door you are down at the Piazza Tre Novembre. The tower is all that is left from the first fortress of Riva. It is called the Torre Apponale and more than 800 years old.

View from the Piazza Tre Novembre over the lake and mountains. The sky was a mix of blue and clouds but no rain.

A welcome to the lake Birra Moretti

Down at the water

The 3 Brothers

Another War memorial

At the Via Guiseppe Mazzini

Chiesa Parrocchiale di S. Maria Assunta

This 14th century church was originally a romanesque-gothic building that was rebuild 1728.

The fresco in the dome is by Giuseppe Alberti.

Madonna dei Miracoli made by Antonio of Chiavica in 1488.

The High altar from Baroncini and Bombastoni from Rezzato, created 1748 to 1753. At the center the ciborium with the resurrected Christ. In the background you see the altarpiece. The “Assumption of Mary into Heaven” painted by Giuseppe Craffonara from Riva in 1830.

Back over the Alps

Blue sky and sunny – what a great day to drive back. Opted for a different road over the Penser Joch this time. After that down towards Salzburg in Austria and from there the easy way back to Stuttgart.

On the SS508 after Sarentino or Sarnthein – lots of nice farm houses and everything is so green.