Trailhead: Porto San Nicolò; Distance: 6.8km
Just like the Ponale Trail, this walk combines some incredible views with a glimpse into the area’s military past, as you make your way from the San Nicolò harbour and along the Peace Trail, ascending into the ridges of Mount Brione.
Some 30 minutes into the walk you’ll come across the trail’s first defence, Forte Garda, a stronghold built in the early 1900s. It’s one of many here, as this area was heavily fortified in anticipation of the First World War. Relics of five generations of forts, observatories, trenches and military routes dot the trail, while the remains of Fort Garda, which could garrison up to 200 men, open to the public every summer.
It’s not just man-made surprises that await. The Mount Brione natural protected area is home to around 817 different species of plants (35% of the flora of Trentino). Brush past overhanding olive branches and gaze down at the spectacular variety of orchids that bloom in spring, but spare a moment to look up: the views of Lake Garda from here are some of the finest around.