Italy is a popular travel destination and attracts crowds every year. Nevertheless, there are still places in this beautiful southern European country that have so far spared from overtourism and are mainly locals mostly visit. The following seven lakes can still visited in almost peace and quiet.
Lots of people love the Italian lakes. Particularly popular are the huge Lago di Garda (Lake Garda) and Lago Maggiore or the picturesque Lago di Como (Lake Como). And because so many people love to visit these pretty lake landscapes, their shores and surrounding towns often turn into what feels like mass event locations, especially in the summer months. But are there also unknown lakes in Italy, i.e. ones where you can be almost alone?
In fact, it is not so crowd everywhere in this area. There are even a few lakes in Italy that are just as beautiful, but far less or even almost unknown. We would like to introduce you to seven of these lakes that are not yet so crowd with tourists.
7 Almost Unknown Lakes in Italy
Lago di Massaciuccoli
The picturesque inland lake Lago di Massaciuccoli is located in Tuscany, not far from the cities of Pisa and Lucca. The most famous place on its shore is Torre del Lago. It is particularly famous because the Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) spent more than 30 years of his life there. Tourists can visit his villa right on the beautiful Lago di Massaciuccoli. Every year in summer, the “Puccini Festival” takes place there on a lake stage, with opera performances by the Italian master.
The lake was originally a freshwater lagoon. The Mediterranean beaches of Versilia in Marina di Torre del Lago, a few kilometers south of Viareggio in Tuscany, are only a few hundred meters from the lake. Directly opposite Villa Puccini there is a pier for excursion boats. There is also a nature conservation camp on the lake. Boat trips through the nature and bird sanctuary with its huge reed beds are offer from there.
Lago del Turano
Another of these well-kept lake beauties is the Lago del Turano (Lake Turano). It is located in the Lazio region (in German: Latium) and thus not far from the capital Rome. Originally created by former dictator Benito Mussolini in the 1930s as a supply point for nearby power stations, the artificial lake is now a local recreation area for Romans and other people seeking peace and quiet in the area. According to ” Turano Resort “, the approximately ten-kilometer-long lake is connect to the nearby Lago del Salto by a tunnel and has a circumference of 38 kilometers.
Lake Turano is located north of Rome, surrounded by hills and dense forest. There are two picturesque towns on its shores: Castel di Tora on a cliff and Colle di Tora right on the water. The lake is well develop for tourism, there are pebble beaches with various facilities such as rubber dinghy, canoe and boat rentals. Holidaymakers can also stay in hotels and holiday apartments nearby. The holiday resort is desert in winter and even in spring you will mainly find locals.
Lago di Scanno
The Lago di Scanno is a photographer’s favorite, as it nestles in the shape of a heart on its shores. The deep green lake is located in the province of L’Aquila in Abruzzo (in German: Abruzzen) and thus east of Rome.
But the romantic Lake Scanno is not only a picturesque excursion and holiday destination, it is also a mysterious place, surrounded by various myths and stories. According to CNN, it still attracts scientists and paranormal investigators who want to discover what secrets hidden in its depths. Because: The natural lake, which is declare to be magical, is said to be responsible for unusual events such as exploding televisions, shattered light bulbs and dancing ceiling lights. And that’s not all. According to locals, the lake is also said to have caused its water level to suddenly drop or for long-lost weapons to float on its surface. Divers’ compasses are also said to have gone haywire and fish have suddenly been found dead. There are even myths about an unidentified object on the bottom of the lake.
In addition to these potentially mysterious events, the mysterious lake is also simply a pretty holiday destination, surrounded by the Apennine Mountains, where you can go swimming and windsurfing. There is also a beach on the lake, as well as rental companies for rickshaws, rowing boats, pedal boats and canoes. There are various accommodation options, such as a farm B&B with horses and a camper van parking area. The village of Scanno itself is consider one of the most beautiful in Italy.
Lake Iseo
A piece of real Italy and still an insider tip is Lake Iseo. The fourth largest of the northern Italian lakes is 65 square meters in size and is located just a few kilometers from Milan between Lake Garda and Lake Como in northern Italy. The quiet lake consists of the meltwater from the glaciers of the Alps and is still one of those almost unknown lakes in Italy that promise its visitors a quiet refuge in the most beautiful nature.
There are three islands on the lake, the largest of which is open to visitors. The island, called Monte Isola, is a “paradise for nature lovers” according to “CNN”. Holidaymakers can also expect colorful fishing huts on stilts, canoe and fishing boat rentals, as well as restaurants and accommodation. Last but not least, the Franciacorta wine-growing region begins at the southern end of the lake.
Lago di Nemi
Another largely unknown lake is located not far from Italy’s capital Rome, Lake Nemi. Locals come here for Sunday lunch, but the small crater lake is not yet a top attraction for Italian holidaymakers. Lake Nemi is located behind the south-western suburbs of the Italian capital, in the Alban Hills (Italian: Colli Albani) and surrounded by dense forests and archaeological ruins. The lake can be reached via a footpath from the village of Nemi. There are a few tourist facilities directly on the shore of the lake, such as a B&B and a fish restaurant. There are also beautiful hiking routes in and around Nemi.
Lago d’Orta
Not far from the tourist magnet Lake Maggiore, Lake Orta in the Italian region of Piedmont receives far less attention. The small, 18 square kilometer lake is, according to the information website of the same name, the smallest lake in northern Italy.
This lake was also formed by the water of melting Alpine glaciers and its clear water is even ideal for diving. Visitors to the largely unknown lake in Italy can expect an idyllic backdrop of villages, chapels and medieval towers. Another special place in the lake is the monastery island of San Giulio with its basilica of the same name. The lake also has a pebble beach, various cycling and horse riding trails and opportunities for water skiing. Accommodation is also available near Lake Orta.
Lake Trasimeno
With a circumference of 57 kilometers, Lake Trasimeno is the fourth largest lake in Italy. It is located in a part of the central Italian region of Umbria that is not very popular with tourists and is surrounded by Tuscany, Lazio and Marche (in German: the Marches). The lake, which is up to seven meters deep and where some Italians have their holiday homes, was formed thousands of years ago by tectonic movements in the earth’s crust, as “CNN” writes.
The lakeshore of Lake Trasimeno is home to medieval villages and beaches, as well as wooden bridges. There are also opportunities for windsurfing and kitesurfing. The area around this pretty and largely unknown lake in Italy also has a few accommodation options and local restaurants.
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