Going South, our tour of the area’s ancient castles leads to Riva del Garda, where on the lake we find the austere Rocca.

This building has seen various changes over the centuries: when construction started in the 12th century, the four corner towers were higher than the rest of the building. They were, however, reduced to the height of the roof – with the exception of the keep – under Austrian rule. The alteration and enlargement works followed each other over the course of time, varying depending on the signorie and rulers governing the town: not only the Scaliger and Visconti family, but also the Republic of Venice and the the prince-bishops of Trento, among them Bernardo Clesio.

Access to the building, which is partly in brick, partly in stone, is via a small bridge that divides the moat surrounding the castle. Due to renovation works carried out recently, the Rocca now houses the Civic Museum of Riva del Garda and a part of the Museo Alto Garda (MAG), where objects testifying to the artistic and cultural history of the area are on display.

The Rocca and the museum inside are open throughout the year. There are guided tours for both individuals and groups; the MAG website features more detailed information.

The square in front of the entrance can be reached on foot and there is a large carpark not far away.