Cascate del Varone

Cascate del Varone is a waterfall and show grotto near Riva del Garda in Trentino, northern Italy, where the River Magnone flows through a narrow limestone ravine. The site is developed with walkways and viewing platforms inside the rock cavity.

Visitors descend into a controlled grotto to view the river where it plunges through the rock, with separate viewpoints for the upper and lower cascades. The carved cavern and walkways permit close views of the water churning through the ravine.

The gorge has been a local attraction since the 19th century when walkways and visitor paths were constructed to allow safe viewing of the falls. The infrastructural layout seen today reflects that visitor development and subsequent maintenance.

The falls sit a few kilometres north of Riva del Garda in the Trentino region, set in a steep rocky ravine just off the road that connects the lake shore to nearby mountain villages.

• Hydrology and view: The waterfall is fed by the River Magnone and is set within a narrow limestone ravine that can be viewed from purpose-built platforms inside a grotto.
• Proximity to Riva del Garda: Located a few kilometres north of Riva del Garda, it is a short excursion from the Lake Garda area and is managed as a visitor attraction with paths and viewing areas.

What to See #

• Grotto and viewing galleries: A showcave with constructed walkways and viewing galleries that allow visitors to observe the falls from inside the rock void through which the river flows.
• Upper and lower falls: Two main cascades-the upper fall where the river first drops into the gorge and the lower fall farther downstream-channel the River Magnone through the limestone ravine.