24 Jul
Tenno
- Inland
- Nearest train: Rovereto, 16 km
- 2,002 residents
Good for HikingFamiliesVillagesSwimmingCycling
Tenno is a scattering of small villages on the hillside above Riva, between vineyards and olive groves at the foot of Monte Misone. The battlemented castle, sacked by French troops in the 18th century, still watches the old road from the lake to the Giudicarie, and below it the fortified hamlet of Frapporta is entered through an arched gate.
A few kilometres up the road, Canale di Tenno is a medieval village of stone houses, vaulted passages and flower-hung balconies, listed among the Borghi più belli d'Italia; artists have come here since the Second World War, and the Casa degli Artisti Giacomo Vittone hosts exhibitions and summer courses. Higher still, at about 570 metres, Lago di Tenno is a turquoise lake in the woods whose level can change by 10 to 15 metres over a year.
At the bottom of the municipality, the Cascata del Varone drops almost 100 metres into a gorge fed by water from that same lake. Tenno suits walkers, families and anyone wanting cooler air and village life a short drive from the lake.
Events in Tenno2
Filter →Running all through2
5 Sept
What to see
Lago di Tenno
Turquoise lake at about 570 m below Monte Misone, a local nature reserve since 2024, with no surface outlet and an island that becomes a peninsula in summer.
Canale di Tenno
Medieval stone village among the Borghi più belli d'Italia, with the Rustico Medioevo festival in summer and a Christmas market in winter.
Cascata del Varone
Waterfall dropping almost 100 metres into a gorge, viewed from an upper and a lower cave inside the Parco Grotta Cascata Varone, about 3 km north of Riva.
Castello di Tenno and Frapporta
Battlemented castle above the fortified hamlet of Frapporta, which is still entered through its old arched gate.
Museo degli Attrezzi Agricoli
Small museum of farming tools used in Tenno's fields, stables, dairies and workshops.
Beaches
Spiaggia del Lago di Tenno
Small grassy and stony beaches reached on foot by steps and a lakeside path, with summer lifeguards, a snack bar and toilets.
Getting there and around
- By car
- From the A22 exit Rovereto Sud/Lago di Garda Nord follow the SS240 to Riva, then climb north past Varone towards Tenno.
- Train and bus
- Rovereto is the nearest station; from Riva, local buses serve Varone and the Tenno villages.
- Parking
- In Tenno village there is parking on Via dei Laghi near the playground; Lago di Tenno has a car park with an info point, and the Cascata del Varone park has free public car parks.
Things to do in Tenno1
Parco Grotta Cascata Varone
For kids
Park with paths through a gorge to the Varone waterfall and its grotto, with picnic area and bar, 3 km from Riva.
€7 adult; family from €19 · Season: Open all year (closed 25 Dec)
Tenno climate by month
| Month | Day | Night | Rain days (≥1 mm) | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7° | 0° | 7 | 58 mm |
| February | 9° | 2° | 10 | 85 mm |
| March | 13° | 3° | 11 | 83 mm |
| April | 16° | 6° | 13 | 111 mm |
| May | 19° | 11° | 18 | 142 mm |
| June | 25° | 16° | 12 | 88 mm |
| July | 27° | 17° | 13 | 92 mm |
| August | 27° | 18° | 11 | 98 mm |
| September | 22° | 14° | 11 | 93 mm |
| October | 17° | 10° | 11 | 136 mm |
| November | 11° | 4° | 11 | 128 mm |
| December | 7° | 1° | 8 | 86 mm |
Averages 2016–2025 from reanalysis data (Open-Meteo); a single year can differ a lot.
Questions visitors ask
Can you swim in Lago di Tenno?
Yes. Small grassy and stony beaches are reached on foot from the car park, with lifeguards in summer. In spring and autumn high water can cover the path and most of the beach.
Why is Lago di Tenno so turquoise?
Its rocky bed has no vegetation, which gives the water its vivid colour. The lake has no surface outlet: water seeps underground and reappears in the Magnone stream that feeds the Varone waterfall.
Is Canale di Tenno worth visiting?
It is one of the best-preserved medieval villages around the lake and belongs to the Borghi più belli d'Italia. It is busiest during the summer Rustico Medioevo festival and the Christmas market.
Nearby
Researched from: gardatrentino.it, gardatrentino.it, gardatrentino.it, gardatrentino.it, gardatrentino.it, gardatrentino.it · checked 2026-09-26.