Arco Castle
Castello di Arco
A medieval castle ruin perched on a cliff above the town of Arco, overlooking the Sarca Valley and Lake Garda; Albrecht Dürer once painted it.
The castle is built in tiers up a steep rocky hill. From the old town, a stone path winds up through olive groves and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to reach the top. The views along the way and from the summit are excellent, with distant vistas of the northern shore of Lake Garda and Riva. Inside the castle is a 14th-century hall with secular frescoes (the Game of the Nobles), and the towers and walls are still standing. Arco itself was a winter spa resort for Austria-Hungary in the 19th century, with palm-lined promenades and a casino building, and it is one of Europe's leading climbing towns, hosting climbing competitions every autumn. Admission costs about €4, and opening hours are shorter in winter.
Opening hours
About 10:00–18:00 (shorter in winter)
Nearby sights
- Varone Waterfall
- Riva del Garda
- Lake Tenno
- Lake Ledro & Pile Dwelling Museum
- Lake Toblino & Castle
- Monte Bondone
- Bell of the Fallen (Maria Dolens)
- MART – Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art