THE PLACE YOU GO, THE SOUVENIR YOU FIND

Some places are better than others, and we know the best shops and artisans around here. Here you can find our favorite and the most original.

ANTIQUARIAN BOOKSHOP BENACENSE

Do you love books as much as we do? The Studio Bibliografico Benacense is one of the most renowned antiquarian bookshops in Italy — a peaceful haven nestled in the heart of Riva del Garda’s historic center. With over fifty thousand volumes spanning all eras and subjects, it's the perfect place to discover true literary treasures, unique in the world. You’ll also find beautiful reproductions of vintage postcards and posters.

PIQUÈ SLOW JEWELLERY

Elisa’s story is one of those we love to tell. After graduating in philosophy, she spent a few years teaching high school before her passion for jewelry took over. After learning the art of goldsmithing, she became a full-fledged artisan and opened a small workshop in the heart of Riva del Garda. That’s where Piquè was born — her original, modern line of handmade jewelry crafted from high-quality, sustainable materials.

MODUS LIVING

In one of the most charming streets in Riva del Garda’s historic center, Modus Living is Federica’s home design boutique. With love, passion, and a clear vision, she collects and showcases some of the most beautiful and original pieces of Italian and international design. Together with a group of designer and artisan friends, she has also created a line of alternative souvenirs — inspired by the early 20th-century iconography of Riva, envisioned by the legendary architect Giancarlo Maroni.

MOLINO PELLEGRINI

Just outside Riva del Garda, in Varone, near the famous waterfall, you'll find Molino Pellegrini — a historic mill that has been producing corn and buckwheat flour for over a hundred years. Still using original machinery and fully traditional methods, it’s a place where time seems to stand still. If you’d like to discover this fascinating spot, hear the sound of flour being ground, and smell the aroma of freshly milled corn, you can book a visit to the mill — and take home lots of delicious local products.

MASO BÒTES

They say that the “olif del Bòtes” — the majestic olive tree standing at the entrance of the Maso Bòtes estate, on the hillside above the village of Varignano near Arco — is over a thousand years old and the oldest in the Garda Trentino area. It’s the patriarch of Lake Garda’s centuries-old olive-growing tradition. The DOP extra virgin olive oil we use here at the Luise is made by Maso Bòtes. You can visit the estate to discover the world of olive oil and honey — and take home some truly special treats.

OMKAFÈ ROASTERY & MUSEUM

For all coffee lovers like us, a stop at Omkafè — located between Riva and Arco — is an absolute must. This historic coffee roastery has been in operation for over 70 years, and the aroma of freshly roasted coffee is always in the air. In the shop, you can taste a variety of blends and find great gift ideas. Upstairs, there’s also a small museum dedicated to the history of coffee and its brewing methods — a true journey through legends, recipes, and ancient secrets.

MUSEO DEL LABORATORIO FARMACEUTICO FOLETTO

In the heart of the village of Pieve di Ledro, the historic Farmacia Foletto has also become a museum that tells a story spanning 170 years. It showcases professional equipment and period furnishings, scales, distillers and alembics, mortars and pestles, Bohemian glassware and 18th-century porcelain, as well as ancient handwritten herbal manuals. Thanks to their knowledge of the secrets of herbal and pharmaceutical traditions, here they produce specialties like the legendary Picco Rosso, Amaro Proibito, Tintura Stomatica, Vermut, and Bitter 1850.

MADONNA DELLE VITTORIE

The Garda DOP extra virgin olive oil from Madonna delle Vittorie — which we also use here at the Luise — has been awarded the title of Italy’s best olive oil. You can visit the vineyards and olive groves of Madonna delle Vittorie (located between Riva del Garda and Torbole), then tour the winery and the mill to taste their oils, wines, and Trento DOC sparkling wines. And if you’re not yet satisfied, you can stay for dinner at the restaurant — an ancient farmhouse nestled among the vines.

AGRARIA RIVA DEL GARDA

Agraria Riva del Garda is the association of farmers and producers from the Garda Trentino area. Their mill produces the Garda Trentino DOP extra virgin olive oil, while the winery crafts wonderful local wines made exclusively from native grape varieties. You can taste and purchase these wines at their shop, along with other top-quality regional specialties such as cheeses, ham and sausages, honey, grappa, and the legendary “carne salada”.