Directions
The departure point of the route is the Torbole information office, on Lungolago Conca d'Oro. From here we continue southwards.
In summer, this road is very busy, so remember to proceed in single file, being careful of the vehicles that catch you up. The first 10 km features a series of tunnels, where wearing a high-vis jacket (or braces) and having working front and rear lights is compulsory to improve visibility.
In Navene, after the tunnels, we carry on along the main road (S.R. 249) which, after a few kilometres, meets Malcesine, recognisable for its Scaligero castle built right above the lake. For a long section of road, splendid views of Lake Garda alternate with characteristic Veneto locations. In fact, after Malcesine we come across Cassone (where we can admire the shortest river in the world, the Aril), then Assenza, Brenzone, Castelletto, Pai, and Torri del Benaco. After Torri del Benaco, a short, gentle incline takes us to Punta San Vigilio. Now the road descends slightly, and we are treated to a marvellous view of the port of the town of Garda. At the first roundabout we encounter, in the residential part of Garda, we take the second exit, in the direction of Costermano.
The road now begins to climb, but never reaches significant gradients. After a few bends, we get to Costermano del Garda. We carry on straight ahead, on the S.P. 8, until we reach a roundabout. We take the first exit on the right, and after another 2 km, at the roundabout we turn left, and take the third exit, heading towards Rivoli Veronese. Now a great section of continuous ups and downs awaits us, finishing up in the town of Rivoli. We enter the built-up area and once we’ve passed a small roundabout, we continue for another 150 metres then turn left, in the sharp bend that runs into Viale Caduti del Lavoro. We follow the signs for Fort Wohlgemuth until we meet the beginning of the cycle path. A few hundred metres later, on our right we can’t help but notice Fort Wohlgemuth, which is well worth a detour. We follow the signs that indicate the cycle path, in the direction of Rovereto.
The cycle path is a perpetual series of ups and downs, at times skirting the river Adige and at times surrounded by vineyards, the most common type of crop in this valley. We keep heading north and at a certain point on the left side of the valley we can make out the Castle of Avio, standing tall over the town below. We continue following the signs for the cycle path which lead us across the river Adige near the town of Chizzola. Having covered almost 4 kilometres, the cycle path crosses the river again. Here we come off it and turn on to the provincial road (S.P. 90) We ride until the town of Mori, where we turn left at the traffic light. On the main road, we see the signs indicating the cycle path, which we follow. Along this route, we can admire the riverbed of Lake Loppio, a basin drained in 1956 following the construction of the Adige-Garda tunnel that made the groundwater sink. Now we tackle the last challenge of the day, the brief climb to the San Giovanni Pass, before the descent towards Nago.
Coming out of the village, we enter the “old Nago”, a quiet road that leads to Torbole. The road is very steep, and the panorama is ultra-photogenic. Here we leave the surfaced road and head down the cobbled street until we reach Piazza Goethe, then turn left, returning to our departure point.
