Catena Square
Catena Square
4.4
About
The name refers to the large chain which in the past centuries was stretched across the water in defence of the harbour. Until 1929, the piazza was home to the Imperial Customs House: a sign of the borderline which for centuries separated the northern stretch of the lake from the regions just a little further to the south. On this square the baroque statue of San Giovanni Nepomuceno, patron saint of the waters, can be found, which until the Great War stood in Piazza Benacense.
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investigator64
Ivanovo, Russia47,791 contributions
Nov 2023 • Family
The word "catena" means "chain" in Italian. Therefore, when I found myself in the Italian town of Riva del Garda on Piazza Catena, I was at first puzzled. Like, what does the chain and the city square have to do with it? Moreover, the latter, curved along the lake shore like a “zy”, looked more like some kind of embankment or coastal promenade than a full-fledged square.
And only later did I find out that there really was a CHAIN!!! It turns out that the wise people of Riva del Garda stretched a thick chain over the water from one side of the harbor to the other - the latter blocked the access of ships directly to the piers. By the way, similar examples - a chain over water as an artificial barrier - have already been encountered in history: remember the chain across the Golden Horn of Constantinople, the chain in the Leonine Wall for blocking the Tiber, the chain that protected the harbor during the siege of Damietta, the chain for blocking Parana during the Battle of the Vuelta de Obligado etc.
So the chain in the harbor of Riva del Garda is by no means exclusive. It was in her honor that the square located on the shore of the harbor got its name!!! Until 1929, one of the most important structures of Plaza Catena was the Imperial Customs House: a trade and border “line” that for centuries separated the north of Garda from the southern lake regions. Now on the square you see several different-colored three- and four-story buildings, on the first floors of which there are cafes, restaurants and shops, and above are not the cheapest hotels (after all, the historical center!!!).
Here, not far from the shore of the lake, there is a statue of St. John of Nepomuk (Statue of San Giovanni Nepomuceno). I talked a lot about the latter in my Czech travel notes. How the Czech saint, drowned in the waters of the Vltava, faces the Italian lakeside city - I still haven’t figured out.
It seems that, if you believe all sorts of legends and traditions, the people of Riva del Garda erected this monument because John of Nepomuk, due to the circumstances of his death, is considered a protector from floods and drowning. I am sure that once you find yourself in Riva del Garda, you will never be able to miss the cozy Piazza Catena. I recommend!!!
And only later did I find out that there really was a CHAIN!!! It turns out that the wise people of Riva del Garda stretched a thick chain over the water from one side of the harbor to the other - the latter blocked the access of ships directly to the piers. By the way, similar examples - a chain over water as an artificial barrier - have already been encountered in history: remember the chain across the Golden Horn of Constantinople, the chain in the Leonine Wall for blocking the Tiber, the chain that protected the harbor during the siege of Damietta, the chain for blocking Parana during the Battle of the Vuelta de Obligado etc.
So the chain in the harbor of Riva del Garda is by no means exclusive. It was in her honor that the square located on the shore of the harbor got its name!!! Until 1929, one of the most important structures of Plaza Catena was the Imperial Customs House: a trade and border “line” that for centuries separated the north of Garda from the southern lake regions. Now on the square you see several different-colored three- and four-story buildings, on the first floors of which there are cafes, restaurants and shops, and above are not the cheapest hotels (after all, the historical center!!!).
Here, not far from the shore of the lake, there is a statue of St. John of Nepomuk (Statue of San Giovanni Nepomuceno). I talked a lot about the latter in my Czech travel notes. How the Czech saint, drowned in the waters of the Vltava, faces the Italian lakeside city - I still haven’t figured out.
It seems that, if you believe all sorts of legends and traditions, the people of Riva del Garda erected this monument because John of Nepomuk, due to the circumstances of his death, is considered a protector from floods and drowning. I am sure that once you find yourself in Riva del Garda, you will never be able to miss the cozy Piazza Catena. I recommend!!!
Written February 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reisemaus6271
Crailsheim, Germany1,838 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
Catena Square is a beautiful square in the port of Riva. There are countless cafes where you can sit down and enjoy the beautiful view. However, as everywhere on Lake Garda, you will look in vain for peace and quiet here.
Written June 3, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
karen c
London, UK49 contributions
Jun 2022
Love his beautiful old square. It is full of character with great views. ou can shop, eat drink. or just watch the world go by at one of the many bars and restaurants over looking the lake and port.
Written June 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
stephenskier123
Newtownards, UK324 contributions
Jun 2017 • Couples
Right in the port area of Riva del Garda.
Very busy with lots of outdoor restaurants where you can have coffee/lunch/beer etc and people watch.
Super way to spend an hour or so.
One thing to watch out for is the amount of mountain bikes coming through on the way back from the mountain, can be scary at times.
Very busy with lots of outdoor restaurants where you can have coffee/lunch/beer etc and people watch.
Super way to spend an hour or so.
One thing to watch out for is the amount of mountain bikes coming through on the way back from the mountain, can be scary at times.
Written June 12, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Claire F
Dubai, United Arab Emirates51 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
Nice place to sit and people watch from one of the restaurants facing the square. Plenty of cafes and restaurants to choose from.
Written June 10, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Diana C
Silver Creek, NY225 contributions
Apr 2019 • Friends
what a lovely square!! So enjoyed walking about, amongst the ducks, seeing the various activities,etc. We went there all 3 days in Riva del Garda. A definite must see.
Written May 12, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Josef B
Weiningen, Switzerland981 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
The Piazza Catena is a promenade along the Lake Side of Riva del Garda. The attractive coffee houses and restaurants are facing the lake and the harbour and invite to relax and to have leisure time according to the principal “to see and to be seen”; original by Ovid – Spectatum veninunt, veniunt spectentur ut ipsae. We have very much enjoyed the short time here and hoped that it would last forever.
Written April 22, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
amynor11
United Kingdom28 contributions
Jun 2018 • Couples
Lovely square in the heart of Riva. Breathtaking views and plenty of amazing places to get gelato! Lots of restraunts and hotels in the square where you can grab a drink and watch the world go by.
Written September 15, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thomas F
Nottingham, UK73 contributions
Jul 2018 • Couples
Lovely little square to hang out in for a while but watch out for all the cyclists who think it's appropriate to storm through at 30kph!
Written July 18, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John G
Somerset, UK107 contributions
May 2018
We allow ourselves a complete day to wander around this interesting Italian town. So much to see and do. For a waling excusion and views do not miss the walk along the old military road. About a 3 hour trip to the cafe at the top. For an equaly pleasure able walk then the Bastioney with it cafe beer and veiw provides its rewards with less effort and a shorter distance.
Written June 18, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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