Alberto Rania: The last fisherman of Riva del Garda
Munich/Garda Trentino, September 2024.
If you want to eat fish from the northern part of Lake Garda, buy from Alberto Rania. He is the last fisherman in Riva del Garda and knows the waters and their pitfalls like no other. In October, the "Festival del pesce d'acqua dolce" invites you to try the lake's specialties in special menus.
“El Pescador” on the water castle in Riva
In the morning, a small white three-wheeled scooter on the Piazza of the Rocca di Riva becomes the number one port of call for anyone who wants to enjoy freshly caught fish from Lake Garda. From perch to sardines to pike, Alberto Rania offers what he caught a few hours earlier from his mobile stand on the back of his Ape, which is labelled "El Pescador". This is a special feature in the north of Lake Garda, as Alberto Rania is the last professional fisherman in Riva del Garda.
Born in Florence in 1961, Alberto Rania's family returned to his mother's hometown of Riva del Garda after his father died in 1966. Alberto discovered his passion for fishing as a child, when his uncle took him out on the lake and initiated him into the secrets of the water and fishing. Nevertheless, after school he went north to study art at the Vittoria di Trento Institute. After working as a chef in Hamburg and Munich, he returned to Riva del Garda in 2015 and decided to work full-time as a fisherman - an ambitious undertaking, as the north of Lake Garda is considered a difficult and dangerous region for fishing due to the strong winds. The rocks that protrude from the northern fjord further limit the areas suitable for fishing. Alberto's love for the region and the lake outweighed his concerns: "After many years abroad and in northern Italy, I longed to return. This is my home, I know it best here," he explains. In addition to the difficult conditions, the northern part of Lake Garda also offers advantages: the water is clearer and richer in oxygen, and the fish is therefore of higher quality. Every morning, sometimes long before sunrise, Alberto sets off in his motorboat and hauls in the nets he has previously laid out. Once he arrives at the port, he loads his catch onto his three-wheeled scooter and takes it home to his workshop, where he sorts, cleans and fillets the fish according to customer requirements. With his business, Alberto wants to make sea fish popular again. "It is difficult to find freshwater fish in fish shops or large retail stores. There has been no fisherman in our area for more than 20 years. People have accepted my offer of sea fish with great enthusiasm." From perch to pike to sardines, Alberto offers a variety of sea fish and helps his customers with preparation and recipe tips. The people of Riva know and appreciate Alberto. Business relationships have now developed into friendships.
From perch to sardines to pike, Alberto Rania offers every day from his mobile stand on the loading area of his Ape, which is labelled “El Pescador”, whatever he caught a few hours earlier.
However, the profession also has its downsides. "Being a fisherman is not an easy job. You have to know the lake and its currents perfectly. It is a job that is carried out mainly at night and there are no days off. You fish when the lake allows it. I remember wonderful nights with plenty of fish, but also disappointments when the nets were empty, but that's just how fishing is. As the old saying goes: 'Fisherman... one joy, a thousand worries'," says Alberto, remembering a stormy night in 2016: "I was hauling in the flying nets when I saw the lightning in the south. I still had about 300 meters of nets to haul in and I thought I would make it before the storm arrived. Unfortunately, that was not the case. The storm hit me three kilometers from the coast and blew the net into the propeller of my engine, leaving me at the mercy of the water. Fortunately, the storm was short-lived and as soon as it was over, I was able to free the propeller and return to the harbor. Today, I wouldn't take such a risk again." Roberto's heart still beats for fishing: "It's a job that you have to have in your blood, you have to do it out of passion. I really hope that there will be someone after me who will continue my job."
Explore Rivas’ waters yourself
For Alberto, his home town of Riva del Garda is one of the most beautiful places on the lake. He would advise tourists not to just relax on the beach, but to explore the shores of the lake. The fjord and its shores are mostly inaccessible from land, but only by boat, and hide some remote treasures. Those who prefer a quieter approach can explore the deserted lake by kayak at dawn, spot rare kingfishers, or jump into the cool water in search of small fish and explore the underwater world of the northern part of the lake.
“Festival del pesce d'acqua dolce” in October
If you want to try freshwater fish from northern Lake Garda, October offers you a very special opportunity to do so. The "Festival del pesce d'acqua dolce" as part of the "Mese del Gusto" invites you to celebrate fish from northern Lake Garda from October 4th to 6th. It starts on Friday at the Palazzo Martini in Riva del Garda, where chef Stefano Rossi from the Hotel Lido Palace prepares delicious fish tapas accompanied by music. The following Saturday, chef Marcello Franceschi spoils his guests at lunchtime on Lietzman Square in Torbole with a special lake fish menu. All of the fish for the menu comes from fisherman Alberto Rania. A four-course dinner prepared by Sebastian Sartorelli (Restaurant Hosteria Toblino), Ivo Miorelli (Restaurant La Terrazza) and David Cattoi (Restaurant Antiche Mura) in the setting of the Hotel Arx Vivendi with musical accompaniment by Gardajazz completes the gourmet program centered around freshwater fish on Sunday.
The dates for the “Festival del pesce d'acqua dolce” will be available HERE shortly.
Photo Credits: Archivio Photo Garda Dolomiti Spa.