What experts say about the AktivHotel SantaLucia.

“What do bikers really want? A great panorama, riding fun, then good food, good drinks, good accommodation, bike service. Lake Garda offers all of this better than any other region in Europe: stunning views over the lake on most tours, military roads and fantastic trails covering all difficulty levels, excellent gastronomy featuring Italian specialities. One of my favourite places to stay is the AktivHotel SantaLucia – a sporty yet cosy atmosphere, great service with a bike room, bike wash, workshop and laundry, sumptuous breakfast buffet and atmospheric wine cellar. In addition, a very quiet location with direct access to the most beautiful tours in the east and north of Lake Garda. In summary: highly recommended.”

“The hotel for active holidaymakers lives up to its name. The accommodation is situated in a quiet location yet in the immediate vicinity of the lake promenade. As an ambitious cycling team we felt more than well looked after. From the breakfast to various sports-specific services, to the exceptionally friendly and helpful hotel staff, we felt very comfortable and had a great time. We’re already looking forward to our next stay and to the excellent training region in the north of Lake Garda.”

“My name is Christian Brückner; I am a triathlete, extreme athlete and trainer. In spring 2022, I spent 3 weeks at the hotel for active holidaymakers preparing for the Ironman Austria with the aim of qualifying for the world championship in Hawaii. The AktivHotel SantaLucia at Lake Garda provides the perfect conditions even in late winter with a heated outdoor pool, which is 25 m long, as well as the option to test wetsuits, as the hotel for active holidaymakers has become a test centre for Sailfish. There is also a bike workshop and a bike washing facility. The location on Lake Garda is ideal offering flat or mountainous cycling routes – there’s something for everyone. You can go mountain biking, trail running or via ferrata climbing. There are also activities for the whole family. The Italian flair is a dream in any case, and the staff at the hotel for active holidaymakers are friendly and courteous. The breakfast is huge – perfect for athletes!”

“Lake Garda offers an enormous variety of trail options for mountain bikers. There is a little-known network of trails in the hinterland that is ideal for electric MTBs and the ultimate uphill flow. Uli Stanciu is well-versed on this topic, and his Lake Garda book is full of inspiration for discovering new trails on an electric MTB. Le Busatte is also right next door – conveniently located for use as a training area. The AktivHotel SantaLucia is a great location for active holidaymakers, with ideal facilities for e-biking, such as a workshop and cellar with charging facilities, etc. The owner Silvio is often out and about on the trail himself with his electric MTB and can give valuable tips. Good food and a great team perfectly round off the overall experience. I’m already looking forward to the next courses and exciting trail scouting around the lake to discover more exciting electric MTB uphill flow connections.”

“In 2003, I wore the yellow jersey at the Tour de France, and it was a real dream come true for me to be able to train at Lake Garda for 20 days in January this year. For many years, we have always talked about this at international races, and it was really a huge surprise for us and for me that we can now train here in a really great place. We would like to thank Silvio Rigatti for giving us all the support we needed at his AktivHotel SantaLucia in Torbole. As a result, I can only invite all cyclists in the world to train in this beautiful place at Lake Garda.”

Nicole and Lothar Leder are two German triathletes – both multiple Ironman winners and former professionals. After enjoying a successful career, the Leders now dedicate themselves to coaching and sharing their enthusiasm for the triathlon discipline. What they have to say about the AktivHotel SantaLucia: “Lake Garda is perfect for us triathletes. We can get there by car, and it’s easy to get around once you’re there. After training, you can relax by the pool at the hotel or simply walk down to the town to unwind and enjoy a coffee. We have been visiting Lake Garda regularly since 1989, mainly to go road cycling. Many cycling routes have been added in recent years, which of course pleases us, as we don’t do much MTB riding.”

“I have been coming to Lake Garda to work for years – testing bikes, first for BIKE magazine, now mainly for E-MTB. Most of our tests take place during the winter season. It is always a few degrees warmer and pleasantly dry here. My favourite place to stay is Silvio’s hotel for active holidaymakers: the trails are right on the doorstep. The hotel has everything bikers could wish for, and the chemistry is just right. Thanks to the whole team for the great collaboration!”

“20 years of cycling have given me the opportunity to ride all over the world, but I have never found a place like Lake Garda: here the “language of cyclists” is spoken, there are routes of all kinds and for everyone: for beginners, amateurs, groups of friends or professional teams. It’s a perfect landscape not only thanks to the combination of lake and mountains, which makes it possible to find routes with high-quality climbs or long flat stretches within a few kilometres offering breathtaking views, but also thanks to the Mediterranean climate, which makes cycling a pleasure all year round.”

“Triathletes have very diverse requirements when selecting the ideal hotel for a training stay. We’re very happy that we have definitely found the perfect destination to suit our purposes with the AktivHotel SantaLucia hotel for active holidaymakers at Lake Garda. The 25-metre pool in the garden is a dream, but both the flat and mountainous cycling routes for road bikes, the running routes and the well-equipped gym also create ideal conditions. In addition, there is a large selection at the healthy breakfast buffet and rooms that guarantee relaxation. We also know of no other hotel where the staff are so friendly, competent and understanding of athletes’ wishes. You can tell straight away that the boss himself is a sports enthusiast. The lavishly equipped bike workshop in the hotel, the secure bike cellar and the seminar room are extras that are hard to find elsewhere and make the AktivHotel SantaLucia the perfect hotel for triathletes. We will definitely be back!”

“There are many hotels that have made biking their theme, and in my work as a consultant for tourism regions and hotels, I see dozens every year. But I know of few hotels where the topic of bicycles is lived as passionately as it is by Silvio and his team. Added to this is the outstanding location between the lake and Monte Baldo. This means the next trail is just as close as a plunge into Lake Garda. This combination of professional hotel standards and genuine hospitality is the reason I’ve been happily returning as a guest of Silvio and his team for many years.”

“I chose Lake Garda for an important occasion the final training session in preparation for the 2018 World Cycling Championships in Innsbruck-Tyrol. Torbole is the perfect base: there are roads, climbs, an ideal climate and a bike hotel like the AktivHotel SantaLucia. We enjoyed getting ready for the race in total relaxation, spoiled by the high-quality service and facilities, such as the workshop and the entire bike point area, which we really used extensively to prepare the bikes for training.
We also appreciated the quality of the products at the hotel for active holidaymakers: the excellent selection at the breakfast buffet and during dinner, which were perfectly tailored to the needs of our athletes. We will definitely be back.”

“I visit the AktivHotel SantaLucia at Lake Garda very often and always experience special tours with breathtaking views of the lake and the landscape. The surrounding mountains are reflected in the lake, and experiencing this by bike is a beautiful thing and a wonderful experience. Lake Garda can be described as a large radiator that maintains the surrounding temperature and never lets it fall below zero. This gives you the opportunity to train in winter too, allowing you to cover a few more kilometres on your bike and experience gorgeous, sunny days. Training around the lake also gives you the opportunity to include a few gradients, and I have to say, for the start of the season, it really is a great place. You could say that the Lake Garda area in Trentino is a paradise for anyone who likes to ride a road bike. I recommend that everyone should try it out for themselves.”