Varone Waterfall, the cascade inside the rock

What it is

Three kilometres from Riva del Garda, in the municipality of Tenno, a mountain torrent plunges down inside a narrow gorge carved by the water. The cascade falls almost entirely inside the rock: you do not see it from outside, but from two caves reached by a path of stairs and walkways. It is a short, noisy, damp visit, and a good alternative when it rains or is too hot to be in the sun on the lake.

What the visit is like

You enter through a garden and go down to the lower cave, where you see the last stretch of the drop, the water hitting the bottom of the gorge. Then you climb about 40 metres up a path with seventy landings to the upper cave, from which you see the waterfall falling entire through the air, wedged between walls that almost touch. Time is your own: the minimum route takes about 20 minutes, and an hour at a relaxed pace.

You will get wet from the cloud of spray, especially in spring and after rain. Bring a light waterproof or a garment that can get wet.

Hours and prices

It is open all year, except 25 December. From May to August, 9:00 to 19:00; in April and September, until 18:00; in March and October, 9:00 to 17:00; from November to February, 10:00 to 17:00. Individual admission costs €7. There are family tickets: two adults and one child, €19; with two children, €24; with three, €28. You pay at the entrance; tickets are not sold online.

Getting there and parking

The entrance is at Località le Foci, 3, Tenno, on the road from Riva towards Tenno. From June to September, every day, and in April, May and October at weekends and on public holidays, a free shuttle leaves every 15 minutes from 10:00 to 17:00 from Località Baltera, Via Marone 26, and takes about three minutes. Dogs enter on a lead.