GARDA BY BIKE, THE BIKE PATH AROUND THE LAKE

Thanks to a deal signed with the northern region of Veneto, Lombardy, and the autonomous region of Trentino Alto Adige, the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Logistics launched the “Garda by Bike” project, a spectacular 140 km bike route that, going through the above regions will create a ring around the largest and most picturesque Italian lake. The ambitious project will allow both beginner and expert cyclists to circumnavigate the lake’s perimeter while enjoying its breath-taking surrounding scenery. It will also be possible for the less experienced cyclists to skip the more challenging sections of the path, like, for example, the 27 km hilly stretch between the towns of Gargnano and Limone, by catching a ferry that will take them and their bikes to their destination.

Garda by Bike will be completed in 2021 with a predicted budget of 102 million EUR. However, the most impressive stretch, from Corno Reamol by Limone all the way to Riva del Garda, should be finished by this summer. This brand-new bike path will cost 7,6 million EUR and it will feature 2 km of pathway mostly suspended from the rock surrounding the lake, just a few meters above the water. The project puts its hopes in attracting larger numbers of tourists and boosting the area’s appeal, connecting individual cities and villages, and making cyclists safer by separating them from vehicular traffic. Local counselor Silvia Razzi said the project is intended to promote “sustainable tourism” as well as to offer “greater visibility for trade, restaurants, and hotels in the Garda area.”