Arco di Trento: what to see

Il Garda Trentino è il luogo perfetto dove perdersi tra borghi vista lago e passeggiate in luoghi incontaminati. Leggi il nostro articolo e scopri cosa devi assolutamente visitare in una giornata ad Arco.

Are you on Lake Garda and want to visit its beauties? Then you cannot miss Arco and its surroundings.The village so dear to the Habsburgs is rich in history and walking through the narrow streets of the historic center has a unique charm. Here is our top 5among romantic views, ancient parks and breathtaking panoramas from the charming Arco Castle.

The ancient keep of the Arco castleoverlooks the village and is the perfect spot to admire Arco di Trento and Lake Garda. The walk to reach it winds through cypress trees and olive trees, a charming path that is mostly uphill but accessible to everyone and takes about 30 minutes from the main square of Arco.
At the top, a beautiful meadow awaits you, from where you can admire the panorama and the castle with its imposing Great Tower and well-preserved frescoes.

An extra tip?If you are a castle enthusiast, don't miss the Drena castle, in the Valle dei Laghi, just a few kilometers from Arco di Trento. Find out more in our article dedicated to the castles of Trentino.

Starting from the historic centre of Arco di Trento, you can stroll through the beautiful olive grove that surrounds the town. Let yourself be enchanted by the scent of the Mediterranean scrubland surrounding Arco. Thanks to its proximity to Lake Garda, you can admire unique and lush vegetation, including numerous succulents.

Choose the length of your walk according to your plans: you can simply walk through the part of the olive grove below Arco Castle or continue and extend your route. We recommend the paths that wind from the Arboreto towards the Baone cliffor along the road leading to the small hamlet of Laghel.

The Trentino Garda area is also a climber's paradise, and here you will find several areas dedicated to climbing, one of the most popular sports in the region.

Our extra tip? If you want to taste "the gold of Trentino Garda", don't miss a tasting at one of the local oil mills. A truly unique culinary experience!

The fascinating Arboreto di Arco is also known as the Archduke’s Park. It was, in fact, inaugurated in 1872 by Archduke Albert of Austria-Hungary, one of the Kaiser’s cousins, next to their residence. The Habsburgs loved spending the winter months in Arco di Trento, and the mild climate attracted many members of the aristocracy, who also spent periods here recuperating at the renowned Kurhaus.

The park is home toaround 200 different species,including sequoias and tropical plants, and has been enriched over the years with new areas. Since 1960, themed areas dedicated to the world’s various environments have been created: for this reason, we recommend that you don’t miss the bamboo jungle and the pond with its water lilies!

An extra tip? If you want to discover another natural beauty of the area, you can visit the nearby Bosco Caproni. In the hamlet of Massone di Arco, there is a park dedicated to Gianni Caproni, an aeronautical engineer born here and owner of the land. A green lung where you can walk a nature trail to discover the flora and fauna at the foot of Mount Stivo.

Among the most fascinating parts of Arco's historic center is certainly the Stranfora district.This medieval neighborhood begins behind Via Vergolano and winds uphill along the road leading to Arco Castle.

Get lost among the narrow streets admiring the typical facades and the ancient washhouse to end the walk at Porta Stranfora, once a drawbridge whose mechanisms can still be seen. The district is beautiful in every season: in spring it is colored by the flowers on the balconies and numerous planters, and in winter it dresses up for the Christmas Markets.

An extra tip? Don't miss the other splendid villages of Trentino, many of which are part of the Club of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy. Discover them all in our article.

Arco di Trento has no shortage of cultural attractions. The wonderful historic centre is best explored at a leisurely pace, stopping at one of its many cafés, symbols of the dolce vita of the Trentino Garda. In addition to the Church of Sant’Anna, the charming Municipal Casino and Palazzo Marchetti, with its 16th-century frescoes and distinctive terracotta chimneys, theSegantini Gallery is certainly not to be missed. 

The city’s pride and joy, it houses a collection dedicated to the renowned Arco-born painter Giovanni Segantini. His Symbolist paintings, many of which immortalise stunning views of the Trentino Garda,are famous worldwide and are held by numerous museums.

One more tip? After exploring the historic centre of Arco di Trento, take some time to discover the surrounding area. The small Church of Sant’Apollinare and the Hermitage of San Paolo in Prabi are must-see stops. Continuing along the unpaved roads, you can reach the Roman bridge of Ceniga in 30 minutes, where you can swim in the Sarca River.

After a day exploring the beauties of Garda Trentino, we look forward to welcoming you to end the day in style. Our Il Parco Restaurantawaits you to continue discovering the local area through the flavours of Garda Trentino. Chef Christian Venturini and his team are ready to amaze you with fresh, carefully selected ingredients. From olive oil and lake fish to Trentino winesand Slow Food Presidia products and the famous Carne Salada. Don't miss the traditional Trentino dishes, thoughtfully reimagined with respect for the raw ingredients. 

Credits: APT Garda Dolomiti SpA - Visittrentino ©