After a good breakfast at Apart Pension Bergfrieden in Nauders we pointed the car south towards Riva del Garda and crossed the border to Italy.

The fourteenth century bell tower of Graun is all you can see from the village after the dam construction.
The Swiss company Elektrowatt wanted to build a dam in Switzerland but the people of Splügen did not like it too much. So they voted against it. Why like this? Elektrowatt went to Italy! They paid 30 million Swiss francs to the Italian company Montecatini for constucting the dam (in exchange for 10 years of electricity). The people of Graun where not so successful and a few years later 163 homes where submerged.
Lago del Garda
Yes I know what you say – this is a big tourist trap – and you are right. But if you find a reasonable hotel and do skip the restaurants it is still very affordable and you can enjoy the lake and views of the mountains. Swimming in the lake is also free if you dare!
Booked at Hotel Canarino only a few steps from the Piazza Tre Novembre. They have a pool area, sauna and a salt grotto. Interesting! The room was nothing special but we had the view over the pool with mountains in the back. Big buffet style breakfast with lots of options to choose so we never went hungry down to the lake.
Read the whole Blog Post here: http://hastenteufel.name/blog/trip-to-lago-di-garda-riva-del-gardo/