Arco · Northern Lake Garda

Monastero Arx Vivendi

A restored monastery, a garden spa and time to enjoy both — with Arco’s restaurants and northern Garda’s landscapes beyond the walls.

40 rooms & suitesHeated garden pool & spaDesign-led monastery stayInland from the lake
Plan with ExpertoItaly

The ExpertoItaly view

Architecture and a slower pace in Arco

Monastero Arx Vivendi is a hotel to make time for. The restored monastery combines tall rooms, long corridors and vaulted communal spaces with a contemporary spa in the garden. Breakfast, an outing and an afternoon beside the pool make a satisfying day here.

Hosts Steffi and Manuel have given the former religious house a clear new identity. Restrained interiors let the building lead; outside, glass-fronted wellness spaces sit among lawns and planting, with the mountains around Arco framing the garden.

We particularly like it for couples interested in design who want to explore northern Garda without filling every day. Arco gives you town life and places to dine, with easy bus connections for days by the lake.

Our starting point: three or four nights within a longer holiday, leaving at least one afternoon largely free for the hotel.
Arched monastery window framing the garden and contemporary spa
Monastery garden and pool with Arco Castle and mountains beyond

Planning your stay

Is Monastero Arx Vivendi right for you?

Best for

Couples who value the hotel

Choose it when architecture, wellness and time together matter as much as the places you visit. Children are welcome; the appeal is the setting rather than a family entertainment programme.

Atmosphere

Quiet time behind the walls

A garden swim, a book in the shared rooms and an aperitivo suit the pace. This is an Arco stay, with the lake nearby rather than outside your bedroom.

Transport

Easy to enjoy without a car

Arco is enjoyable on foot, with local buses for Riva del Garda and Varone Waterfall. Add a car only for particular outings or an onward route that benefits from one.

Stay length

Leave room for an unplanned day

Three or four nights give a useful introduction. Stay longer if you want to alternate active days with afternoons at the monastery.

Rooms and suites

Choose the outlook and outdoor space

Room choice changes the stay here. We would start with Cella Spatiosa for a garden outlook, Loggia for a balcony or Hortus for a more private retreat.

High-ceilinged monastery bedroom with a four-poster bed
Monastery bedroom · high ceilings and restrained interiors
Bedroom beneath timber roof beams with a skylight
Roof-level bedroom · light from above

Our first choice for an outlook

Cella Spatiosa

35 m², with garden views and a bath. We favour this category when time in the room is part of the holiday: generous proportions and a view out make it worth the upgrade.

For your own balcony

Loggia

36 m² for two, with a private balcony and freestanding bath. Choose it for outdoor sitting space and the mountain outlook.

For a special occasion

Hortus

A 70 m² suite with a private sauna and a 280 m² garden with terrace. The strongest choice for privacy and time outdoors; its sauna is separate from the shared spa.

For the original architecture

Cella

24–27 m² formed from former monastic cells, with high ceilings. A good starting point if the character of the building matters more than extra space.

For light from above

Lux & Lux Spatiosa

Lux is 22–26 m²; Lux Spatiosa is 28–30 m². Both use roof windows. Choose them for overhead light, rather than expecting an outward garden view.

For more than two guests, we match the room and sleeping arrangement to your party. Tell us about access requirements so we can check the complete route to the bedroom and shared facilities.

Life at the monastery

Good breakfasts, garden swims and dinner in town

Tall windows and armchairs in a shared sitting room at Monastero Arx Vivendi
Places to pause between outings.
Vaulted breakfast room with long tables and contemporary pendant lights
Breakfast in the former monastery.
Heated outdoor pool seen from the glass-fronted garden spa
The garden pool and shared spa.

Morning and lunchtime

Time to eat well

Breakfast brings regional cheeses and cold cuts, bread, homemade baking and eggs to order, with vegan and gluten-free choices. Light seasonal lunches make it easy to stay by the pool, followed by cocktails or local wine.

Wellness

Make an afternoon of the spa

The heated outdoor pool, Finnish and bio saunas and relaxation areas make wellness a substantial part of the stay. Spa windows look towards Arco Castle. Hotel guests have shared spa access; treatments and hammam rituals are reserved and charged separately.

Evening

Explore Arco’s restaurants

Plan most dinners in town. The hotel advertises Friday Ars Cenae events with guest chefs and producers; we check the programme for your dates. An honesty bar is available when the main bar closes.

Arco Castle on its rocky hill above the town, framed by trees
Arco Castle: a local outing from the monastery.

Location and logistics

Arco, the Sarca Valley and northern Garda

The hotel is on Via Mantova in Arco, approximately 4 km from Lake Garda according to its own directions. Enjoy Arco’s streets and restaurants on foot, or make the uphill walk towards the castle a separate outing. We match walks to the gradients and distances you enjoy.

The hotel can arrange bicycle hire for the cycle route towards the lake. Riva del Garda and Torbole add waterfront walks and lakeside days; climbing and more demanding mountain activities can be arranged with suitable local guides.

Explore comfortably without a car

A car is not needed for a stay centred on Arco and northern Garda. The Alto Garda local buses make Riva del Garda easy to reach. Continue on foot through the centre to the ferry departure point at Piazza Catena for a day on the lake; we help match the bus connection to the seasonal boat timetable.

Varone Waterfall is also reachable by local bus from Arco, so you can visit its dramatic gorge without hiring a car. For arrivals, we arrange station or airport transfers. A car can be useful for specific countryside or mountain outings; for self-drive holidays, we reserve hotel parking in advance.

Hotel location

Monastero Arx Vivendi, Arco

Where it fits

A city or mountain stay alongside Arco

Verona and Arco. Begin in Verona for art, historic streets and restaurant evenings, then move north for spa time and outdoor days. Enjoy both stays without a hire car, travelling north by rail followed by a private road transfer to Arco.

Alta Badia and Arco. Combine the monastery with Alta Badia for summer or early-autumn walks, Ladin villages and mountain food. A private transfer or a hire car connects the two hotels, with a proper travel day allowed between them.

These are alternative overnight combinations, not day trips or a requirement to include all three places. Two bases are a comfortable starting point for 10–14 nights; we adjust the balance to the time you want at the monastery and your other chosen stop.

Plan with ExpertoItaly

Include Monastero Arx Vivendi in your Italy holiday

Tell us your dates and whether a balcony, garden outlook or private sauna matters most. We will recommend the room and plan your stay with the right balance of exploring and time at the monastery.

01

A route shaped around you

Combine Lake Garda with the cities or mountain landscapes that interest you, with time to enjoy each base.

02

The practical details arranged together

We arrange accommodation, private transfers, rail journeys, ferries and selected visits as one land-only holiday.

03

Personal advice and support

Receive personal advice on rooms, access and excursions, with support before and during your journey.

Your holiday enquiry

Tell us what you have in mind

Share your preferred dates, approximate duration and the destinations or experiences that interest you. You do not need to have the complete route worked out before contacting us.

(Places, who’s travelling, special occasions, interests, anything you'd like me to know)
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