Lake Garda - Lifestyle

What to do in Riva del Garda with children when it rains?

Luckily, more often than not on Lake Garda it’s sunny and nice. However, rainy days also occasionally happen here. What do you do in these cases? We have collected a series of ideas on what to do with children when it rains in Riva del Garda. Little Riccardo gave us a hand, accompanied by his mother Debora, experimenting all these activities for us. For your convenience, we have divided them by distance from Riva, so you know in advance how long it will take you to get there.

0 km: Reptiland and Riva del Garda hydroelectric power station

Let’s start close to home. You don’t need to travel long distances to reach the historic center of Riva del Garda and the beauties that our city offers. One of the most popular attractions for children is “Reptiland”, a natural science gallery and herpetological center. There, you can admire some of the most beautiful and rare species of snakes, insects and butterflies.

It takes just five minutes on foot from the center of Riva to reach the hydroelectric plant. It is a stunning building, built on the lakeside in the 1920s based on a project by Giancarlo Maroni, architect of D’Annunzio’s monumental villa, Vittoriale degli Italiani. It is possible to join guided tours: children under 6 enter for free and there are interesting offers for families.

20-30 km: Museum of Science and Archeology in Rovereto

You’ll need to drive to reach Rovereto, just over twenty kilometers from Riva del Garda. In Rovereto, Riccardo enjoyed visiting the Museum of Science and Archeology, one of the sections of the Civic Museum. Inside, it is possible to admire archeology, zoology, botany, astronomy, earth sciences and robotics collections. There are rooms dedicated to minerals, fossils and birds, with some of the most important regional collections. The planetarium is also worth mentioning, located in the museum garden, and the first LEGO Education Innovation Studio in Italy is also worth a stop. Entrance to the museum is free with the Garda Guest Card.

40-50 km: Muse – Science Museum in Trento

Moving a little further north, Riccardo tells us that he really enjoyed the Muse – Science Museum of Trento. Opened in 2013, it is one of the most innovative science museums in Italy. The exhibition is divided into 6 floors, each dedicated to a specific theme: ‘History of life’, ‘Discovery begins with the senses’, ‘From the first men in the Alps to the global future’, ‘The long history of the Dolomites’, ‘Alpine nature’, ‘High peaks’. Children will especially like the tropical greenhouse, reproducing the climatic conditions of the hottest latitudes with constant temperature and high humidity. Discounted admission for families.

50-60 km: Base Tuono in Folgaria and Forte Belvedere in Lavarone

The next two destinations bear witness to events of our recent history. We are talking about the Tuono Base in Folgaria, and the Forte Belvedere in Lavarone, both just over 50 kilometers from Riva del Garda. For Base Tuono, you need to reach Folgaria and then continue towards Fondo Grande, then Fondo Piccolo until you reach Passo Coe. Located at 1610 meters above sea level, Base Tuono was one of the twelve NATO missile bases in Northern Italy during the Cold War. Decommissioned in the late 1970s, it now houses an exhibition about that period.

Forte Belvedere in Lavarone is a military fortress dating back to the Austro-Hungarian period, when Trentino was ruled by Vienna. It is set at an altitude of 1177 meters above sea level, on a rock spur reaching out towards the Valdastico. It was designed to be completely autonomous, even in the event of a prolonged siege (up to 100 days!). After several decades of neglect, in 2002 it was purchased by the Municipality of Lavarone, restored and equipped to welcome visitors.

70-80 km: Erdemolo Mine in Valle dei Mocheni

The Mocheni Valley is a side valley of the more famous Valsugana. In the municipal area of Palù del Fersina, you can visit the Erdemolo Mine, “De Gruab va Hardimbl” in the Mochena language. It can only be reached on foot, after a 2 kilometer walk from the nearest car park. Visits take place in groups, wearing helmets and waterproof capes provided at the entrance. The mine was active from the 15^th to the 17^th centuries, but there are still traces of the miners’ life. During your visit, crossing the narrow tunnels and the majestic caves, you will discover different mining techniques and the tools used, as well as the different minerals extracted. The family ticket costs 16 euros.

How about enjoying these experiences with your children? This is just part of what you can discover on Lake Garda and Trentino… even when it doesn’t rain!