The infrastructural system on the western coast of the Garda lake between the 19th and 20th centuries

The article focuses on the west coast of the Garda lake as a case study of the development of an infrastructural system during the early 20th century. The analysis starts from the infrastructural system of the 19th century, its shortcomings and subsequent amelioration, in order to understand the starting conditions and the importance of the works realised later. The focus is the shifted on the construction of the tramway line from Brescia to Toscolano, Gardone Riviera and Gargnano from 1897 to 1922, and on the western "gardesana" route built from Gargnano to Riva del Garda inaugurated in 1931, considering in particular their effects on the local economy and on the landscape and its perception. A peculiar attention is paid, by way of archival sources, to the motivations for starting these works, and to their consequences on the local culture, economy and social behaviour, together with landscape perceptions. The impact on local sites was relevant. During the period investigated, due to the replacement of traditional activities (agriculture and commerce) with tourism, a "break of perspective" took place, as the ancient relation of the villages with the lake was also redefined in favour of a new phase in which the exploitation of environmental assets became relevant

Keywords: Garda Lake Tramway line Gardesana route Landscape

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