Chapel of Santa Barbara Riva del Garda hike

High above Riva del Garda on lake Garda sits the graceful chapel of Santa Barbara, to which a hiking trail climbs that is as scenic as it is rewarding.

Directions to the chapel of Santa Barbara

The hike to the chapel of Santa Barbara begins in the center of the former spa town of Riva del Garda. Here you follow the wide "Via Dante Alighieri" to the Gardesana.

Near the traffic circle, cross the road and you will immediately find the beginning of the trail.

Always following the signs 404 in the direction of "Capanna S. Barbara", the initially wide, gently ascending paved path winds in numerous serpentines to the Bastione, a massive fortress built in the 16th century.

Behind this monumental fortress made of light-colored natural stone, the wide path turns into the narrow, largely stone-covered hiking trail no. 404.

Rich in picturesque views and initially covered with wooden planks, this path leads steeply uphill between shady trees. Along the way, you will encounter a monumental pipe of the Ponale power station, fed by the waters of the higher lago di Ledro lake.

After about an hour you reach the "Capanna Santa Barbara", which is open on weekends and during the summer also on holidays.

From here, the picturesque Chiesetta Santa Barbara, perched in the middle of the Rocchetta massif, is only a ten-minute walk away. It was built in 1935 by miners in gratitude for the fact that the risky construction of the Ponale hydroelectric power plant went relatively smoothly.

The way back from the chapel of Santa Barbara

The way back from the chapel of Santa Barbara is the same as the way there. Walking poles are particularly recommended for this, especially since the sloping path is quite steep and leads down over numerous and irregular stones.

Specified ascent times Chapel of Santa Barbara

Beginning of the trail - Bastione: 0:30 hrs.

Start of the trail - Capanna S. Barbara: 1:20 h

Capanna S. Barbara - Chapel S. Barbara: 0:10 h

Details about the Chapel of Santa Barbara

The bastion was built at the beginning of the 16th century in order to better protect the lower lying Riva del Garda. Moreover, those stationed here were supposed to watch over the paths leading from the north to lake Garda.

After the bastion was mined and badly damaged in 1703 by order of the French general Vendome, it was abandoned to decay for a long time. A few years ago, however, the striking fortress structure was restored by the Monuments Office of the Province of Trento.

Infos Chapel of Santa Barbara Riva del Garda hike

• Duration:03:20 h
• Length:7.7 km
• Height gain:575 m

• Min. elevation:66 m
• Max. elevation:630 m