Strada del Ponale

The Strada del Ponale traces a remarkable nineteenth-century road through the cliffs above Lake Garda. Conceived by the Ledro merchant Giacomo Cis, it transformed the connection between his valley and Riva del Garda.

Why it matters

Before its construction, movement between Ledro and Riva involved a steep descent to the Ponale landing followed by a journey across the lake. The new road provided a broader land connection for people and goods, making engineering part of the valley's economic history.

What to notice

The road follows the rocky face of the Rocchetta, bending around spurs and passing through tunnels cut into the mountainside. Its relationship with the cliff and the open lake gives visible form to the challenge faced by its builders.

Context and history

Work began in the late 1840s and the road was completed in 1851. Motor traffic arrived later in the nineteenth century. Eventually superseded by a modern tunnel connection, the old road was adapted to a different role: a local association's initiative led to its reopening as a pedestrian and cycle trail in 2004.