We were back from our trip in the Trentino region in North Italy and one of the memorable part for me is seeing the ruins of Castello di Arco.I have seen many beautiful castles here in Germany, probably not as enchanted as Neuschwanstein Castle, which is inspired by King Ludwig II of Bavaria but Castello di Arco in Trentino is quite special. Most of German castles are more like fairy tale castles like the one in Linderhof near Ettal Valley and Burg Eltz.Their beauty is quite remarkable and details are splendid.

But what beauty does old ruins have?

Arco Castle is a castle with a flourishing garden.But one thing that I noticed, Arco area is flocked by mountain climbers, mountain bikers and nature trekkers. Everyone seems to be involved in such outdoor sports.In fact,the royal Habsburgs of Austria chose this area as their health and holiday resort because of its special Mediterranean climate.

The Castle of Arco is one of the most famous castles in the Trentino region, and is featured in many paintings, including the famous watercolour painted by Albrecht Dürer, found at the Louvre in Paris. In 1927, the Countess Giovanna d’Arco, Marquise of Bagno, purchased the castle and become its sole owner up to 1982, when it returned into the hands of the Municipality of Arco. I personally loved its location.

We started hiking from the bus stop where the uphill steps started. The tiny village took us by surprise.The old houses, tiny little gardens and nooks are always enchanting in Italy.Once I saw the path leading to the Olive groves,i started to get excited. It´s always been a dream of mine to walk through old age row of olive trees.They are really a beauty to see.The barks and its branches tells a lot of history, aged by time and holds a special meaning.The rows of cypress trees, fig and gigantic Agave cactus just made our walks more and more exciting.In Trentino, we took a Olive oil tasting and it was great. Got to learn the process and the story behind olive oil making.

Another thing that caught my attention was these giant Agave Cactus. The sight of them became such a norm during our stay. Almost everyday, i would stop and admire them, prickly pear, Contantinople acacia, Fig trees, Yucca palm which grows enormously!

Maybe its appropriate to call Arco as a “garden city‘” and it is certainly no coincidence that its historic centre is home to the Arboretum, with its lush vegetation. The climate here is mild, favourable to the development of many plant species, including Mediterranean and subtropical ones, which find an ideal habitat. The town is a jewel in the north of the Altogarda valley, in the Basso Sarca basin. I canút get enough of its beautiful and lush landscapes of flowering Oleanders!

Seeing the Castello di Arco was quite a nature adventure itself.It is perced on top of a mountain, overlooking the charming old town of Arco.The scenery around it quite stunning, the Palazzo inferiore and the Rocca. I once saw it when we drive passed through it and been quite intrigued what is it, then after a quick research, we went on a hike to see it.

From Riva del Garda, we took the bus going to the direction of Varone where the cascading waterfall is situated. It was a hot August morning and tourists already swarm on the place.I must say that bus drivers in Italy are quite impressive. I was sitting on window side and I almost screamed when it makes its turns totally relentless.

Seeing a castle often reminded me of medieval times where Kings, Dukes and prominent rulers lived.Nowadays visiting their ruins brings out a nostalgic glimpse in History that once, these castles holds a precious part of to the locals and rulers.

Ciao and until then.