To the north of Riva, roads run through a magnificent scenery of rugged mountains and small lakes. Follow the road signs from Riva to the “Cascata del Varone” (“Varone” Waterfall), a dramatic waterfall that has carved a corkscrew-shaped vertical gorge in the rocky mountainside.

Limone sul Garda is an elegant lakeside town surrounded by citrus groves. Planted on terraces dug into the steep rocky slopes and fortified with stone walls, hundreds of citrus trees grow in and around this small Lombardian town which is characterized by a typical Mediterranean scenery.

Gardone Riviera is one of several beautiful towns on the western shore, in the Riviera Bresciana.The town, located on the lake and surrounded by hills, has a climate in which luxuriant vegetation can thrive. In Gardone, the magnificent Hruska Botanic Garden exploits the landscape and the climate.

In Valeggio sul Mincio there is a medieval castle, a 14th-century bridge, and a medieval hamlet – Borghetto – with ancient watermills. Nowadays the watermills have been turned into boutique hotels with lovely river views and wisteria-draped restaurants which serve local delicacies. One of Italy’s most beautiful parks is right next to the town. As a whole, Valeggio sul Mincio is well worth the drive from the nearby lakeside towns of Peschiera del Garda, Lazise, and Desenzano del Garda.

Punta Larici is located in one of the most iconic locations, at 907 meters above sea level, and not surprisingly is a favorite destination for hikers and bikers. The view that this peak offers is unique, with the gaze that sweeps between the northern part of the lake, and then on Riva del Garda, Monte Brione, and Torbole, to reach the southern part, up to the thin and unmistakable peninsula of Sirmione; on the sides, all the small villages of Lake Garda, as well as Mount Altissimo and Mount Baldo.

It is a nature reserve and a very rare conservation area in Europe and unique in Italy. The nature reserve extends to the lake environment, the typical protection of coastal areas to preserve both the biodiversity of the aquatic and terrestrial elements. On the lake side of the park it is allowed to approach the coast only and exclusively with sailing boats and oars. As for the terrestrial reserve, the protection of the lake environment is also aimed at the study and scientific dissemination of the ecosystem.