Walking the dog in a picture-perfect landscape: this too is the beauty of Lake Garda
The charm of the forest and the picturesque setting of mountains and endless skies
You’ll never be surprised by how much the Benaco has to offer: its waters contain an infinite number of secret wonders and, outside them; all nature’s wonderful colours are within easy reach (of man and dog). All the colours found in nature’s timeless masterpieces await you for the most poetic and unforgettable of walks. And your devoted companion is ready to run alongside you on the wild tangle of paths and trails that are always safe, fascinating and full of adventure. You wouldn’t want to leave him at home?
Three areas of the beloved lake for three walks suitable for all ages and abilities. To get away from it all in a timeless, enchanting setting that provides the perfect opportunity for those who love to explore their surroundings, including children, making it ideal for a day out for the whole family.
The ‘Forest of Poets’: a place that stimulates the mind and allows the body to breathe
Dreams of lost and distant memories
The first walk we recommend leads to Dolcè, a small Veronese municipality east of Lake Garda, in the Adige valley. The name ‘Dolcè’ suggests all the attraction of the purest and most unspoilt nature: already in the 12th century it was known as ‘Dolcei‘ or ‘Dolcedo‘, Latin derivations testifying to that ‘sweet wood’ whose ancient origins are unfortunately unknown to us today. Truly, this valley must have once been a charming natural landscape, a protected and prosperous land that attracted various groups of settlers over the course of the centuries. A place of dreams and gods.
The first, mysterious witness to its wild magnificence: a woman found at the ‘Soman Shelter‘. It was the Bronze Age when she was buried in this long natural prehistoric ‘canopy’ of rock. No settlement has yet been discovered, yet in that bright ‘castelliere’ sheltered from beasts and the elements (in some ways similar to some South American troglodyte villages) the arms of her loved ones laid her down to sleep for eternity.
A walk that fortifies the spirit
12 kilometres in 130 hectares of deep green landscape, half an hour from the city of Romeo and Juliet and a quarter of an hour from the ‘Bay of Sirens‘. But that is not all. The ‘Forest of Poets’ is named after poems and works that were written about it and became the silent and enchanting guardians of its nature. Poems and drawings by Italian and international artists such as Alda Merini, Andrea Zanzotto, Patrizia Cavalli, Nanni Balestrini, Maurizio Cattelan, Arturo Schwarz, Nicola De Maria and Luigi Ontani: there are more than a thousand of them and more than 600 signatures. Among the stones scattered on the grassy path, pay attention: you might come across one with a poem specially donated by John Paul II or an engraving bearing a thought offered by the Dalai Lama to the Forest of Poets.
But as you walk along with your four-legged friend, you may encounter many other curiosities along the way: unusual works of art and ‘poetic banners’ are just some of them. There are three classrooms for educational activities and a covered area for reading or concerts, which are the perfect places for you and your children to break your journey. In fine weather, then, you might come across an author in the forest, someone ready to show you ‘their’ fairytale world, guide you on a tour of discovery and adventure, engaging both your mind and body.
With ‘Ledro Land Art’ the pine forest becomes an artist’s studio
For 4,000 years the mysterious beauty of nature
Overlooking Lake Garda, the Trentino municipality of Ledro also has its own enchanting lake, with iridescent turquoise waters. Situated in the suspended Ledro valley, 650 metres above sea level and with a catchment area of more than 2,000 square kilometres, it is considered one of the clearest and most beautiful in the entire region. A stretch of water that the whole world envies and that was once the cradle of life.
A pile-dwelling site dating from 2,200-1350 B.C., discovered by chance in 1929 on the eastern shore of the lake, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important museums in the Alps. A few metres from the ‘shaman’s hut’, in a Bronze Age village carefully reconstructed as a copy of the original, it is possible to imagine the day-to-day lives of our ancestors. Here you could use tools to work with clay, leather and metals and even take part in prehistoric dances. In the nearby museum, you will find pottery, diadems and brooches, as well as balls of yarn, fragments of nets, an ancient decorated belt and a 3,600-year-old canoe. For an instant, you will be completely immersed in the ancient world of our ancestors.
A park where you can find art, made within the park
In the ‘Pur pine forest‘ along the Assat stream, on the road to ‘Malga Cita’, lies the most unexpected art gallery in the most unusual place. A green space a stone’s throw from Lake Ledro is ‘Ledro Land Art‘, ready to welcome you and your dog on a relaxing and ‘supernatural’ walk.
The flat and well-shaded path meanders between Scots pines and tall conifers, allowing your gaze to wander between the trees and the lush undergrowth which is full of surprises. You will then be able to see countless native species including small plants, shrubs and delicate flowers. But time, the implacable master of the forests, has also blended the work of man into nature: here art and vegetation interact in a process of constant renewal and transformation. There are dozens of ‘site-specific’ works, mostly made only with what was available in the forest. Huge creatures and musical instruments have been created using natural and perishable materials. There are also ladders leading up towards the sky and small floating spaces suspended in mid-air, monkeys the size of small buildings and little hints suggesting faraway places.
The ‘Strada del Ponale’, the Great War and mountain biking
A 33-kilometre trail carved out from the rocks providing great views of Lake Garda
A loop or the entire route, starting from Riva or from the western shore of Lake Garda, either on foot or by bike: due to its geographic features and its history, the Strada del Ponale is one of the most evocative and popular trails in Europe. It goes without saying that it’s pet-friendly.
The old road has bridges over small gorges, tunnels carved by hand through the rock, romantic viewing points, wooded areas and old First World War shelters. But above all, it is suitable for all tastes. Thanks to its gentle climbs and to the possibility of choosing different routes, it really is suitable for everyone, provided they are prepared to embrace a unique experience.
Made by trade, reborn for tourism
Once it was only ‘Porto Ponale‘ and the mule tracks. There were no other connections with civilisation for mountain areas such as the Ledro Valley and for many small villages. Not to mention the difficulties faced when transporting goods down from Trentino to the Brescia area. This was precisely what prompted a wealthy merchant from Bezzecca in 1848 to start building a roadway carved out of the sheer rock face above the lake, including the creation of three tunnels through the rock. After the construction of the new main road to Lake Garda in the 1990s, largely built inside the mountain, the Ponale Road fell into disuse to be reopened to tourists, on foot or by bicycle just 20 years ago.
Lovers’ square
Traditionally one of the most secluded and romantic places frequented by lovers in the area, the first to sing its praises was the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph, who was captivated by it, even though he did not have his beloved Sissi at his side on that occasion. It is one of the many fascinating places you will encounter.
Dog-friendly
The trail, which is closed from November to April. The more direct route takes about three hours to hike and even has a dog-friendly bus service from both Riva del Garda and Valle di Ledro to take everyone, including Fido, back to the car park. Wide and well signposted, the first section of the trail is paved: in summer, it is therefore best to avoid the middle of the day or those hours when the tarmac is very hot. In general, as there are few shaded areas, it is better to opt for late summer or early autumn, wear comfortable shoes, take water to drink, and enjoy a wonderful a day between the lake and the sky.
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