Tourists regularly flock to Italy to enjoy its beaches and islands, admire its historic cities – and of course enjoy the food.
Lately they have been coming in much greater numbers, overwhelming some destinations. However, there are still places to visit that offer an escape from the crowds and beautiful scenery.
We’re talking about lakes. But not Lake Garda, the enormous body of water that hugs the Alps, full of seaside resorts. And not the celebrity-favorite Lake Como.
Italy has dozens of secret smaller lakes with beautiful scenery, unknown to mass tourism, where locals gather on day trips and enjoy picnics.
These are some of the best:
Lake Turano
One of the best-kept secrets of Lazio, the region around Rome, is Lake Turano. Visitors to Rome, many of whom wilt in the heat of the Eternal City’s fiery summers, have no idea that nearby lies an enchanting place with views, history, food and welcome relief.
It was not initially intended as a holiday destination. When Benito Mussolini, Italy’s former dictator, ordered the creation of this artificial lake in the 1930s to supply water to nearby power stations, the last thing he expected was for it to become a weekend detox retreat for people craving open spaces.
Lake Turano is ideally located, close to the capital but far away from the noise and chaos.
Located in the wild countryside north of Rome and surrounded by hills, the site was once home to the Fallisci, an ancient tribe, before they were wiped out by the ancient Romans.
Free-roaming cows and sheep greet visitors along a road that passes through a deep forest and leads to the lake. Once out of the forest, the lake’s enchanting scenery forces drivers to stop at a lookout point with benches to enjoy the view.
The lake is packed with giant carp that attract anglers from all over Italy for fishing competitions.
Two picturesque towns with stone houses and panoramic balconies overlook Lake Turano: the medieval Castel di Tora on the cliff and the centuries-old Colle di Tora are right on the coastline. There is also a high peninsula jutting out into the lake, with an old monastery on top.
The water is crystal clear and the pebbly beaches are dotted with beach facilities where one can hire dinghies, canoes and boats, or simply sunbathe and sunbathe in tropical waters.
Only one metal bridge crosses the water and connects Castel di Tora to the main road. In winter, most holiday homes are closed and the narrow alleys are largely deserted, apart from cats. In the spring, local residents decorate their outdoor patios and meet in the small square.
Fresh fish is served in L’Angoletto restaurant, a stone cottage with an open panoramic veranda over the lake. Hotel Turano has cozy, simple rooms by the lake and a restaurant serving local specialties.
The Scanno Lake
The most intriguing of all the lakes, however, is Lake Scanno, the “pearl” of the Abruzzo region in eastern Italy, which is as beautiful as it is mysterious.
Over the years, stories and myths have been spun about this deep green, heart-shaped lake that still exists today, attracting scientists and paranormal investigators trying to find explanations for strange events that have long baffled locals.
Surrounded by the Apennine Mountains, this natural lake, named after the overhanging village above it, is said to have magical powers.
Locals believe the lake is alive and some have previously reported unusual phenomena such as shattering light bulbs, exploding TV screens and ceiling lights that dance as if a small earthquake has just occurred.
They also tell stories of other unexplained events: sudden drops in water levels, diver’s compasses going crazy and dead fish and even long-lost weapons from World War II floating on the surface. It is said that a mysterious, unidentified object is buried at the bottom of the lake.
The unusual atmosphere of Lake Scanno is almost palpable. On the stormy summer days, the feeling of mystery hangs in the warm air.
Despite the green color, caused by harmless algae in the water, swimming is allowed here, as is windsurfing. The lake is also ripe for exploring, with a ‘Path of the Heart’ trail running along its banks and passing a church, said to be a place of miracles, and an ancient hermitage.
There is a beach along the banks where you can swim in summer. There are mountain bike trails and it is possible to rent rickshaws, rowing boats and canoes. Other facilities include a children’s playground and camper parking.
Lakefront Agriturismo Miralago is a farm and B&B, where horses roam freely. It serves traditional dishes such as tagliatelle with wild boar. The village of Scanno, a puzzle of opulent bourgeois mansions and simple shepherds’ homes decorated with brightly colored flower pots, is a must-see.
Lake Iseo
Located just a few kilometers from Milan, this picturesque spot formed from pure Alpine glacial water is also a source of great sparkling wines, made from grapes grown on its banks.
The lake has three islands. The two smallest are private, while the largest, Montisola, a huge mountain jutting out of the deep blue waters, is a nature lover’s paradise.
Here visitors can rent canoes or fishing boats for a private tour of the lake. Another attraction on the coast are the brightly colored houses built for fishermen that stand on stilts at the water’s edge, including the Locanda al Lago restaurant, known for its seafood dishes and the sardines hanging on the quay to dry. Hotel Sensole is a baroque lakeside palazzo with a gourmet bistro.
Lake Nemi
This small lake just outside the southwestern outskirts of Rome is where locals gather for a Sunday lunch of traditional dishes veranda pork sandwiches and heady red wines.
They follow in the footsteps of their ancient predecessors. In the days of the Roman Empire, senators and wealthy families came here to relax in lavish retreats around the coast of Nemi, where juicy strawberries grow amid archaeological ruins and dense forests.
Located among the Colli Albani hills on the outskirts of Rome, the lake is of volcanic origin and lies in an extinct crater. It can be reached on foot via an ancient route that winds down from a village on the slopes above that shares the lake’s name.
Lakeside B&B Lago di Nemi is an old, restyled farmhouse that offers bicycle rental, while La Fiocina restaurant on the coast serves fish specialties such as fried whitebait with green pepper.
Lake Orta
Orta is one of the secret gems of Italy’s Piedmont region, usually overlooked by visitors who flock to the more touristy Lake Maggiore nearby.
Created by a melting Alpine glacier, it is a tranquil idyll with picturesque villages, chapels and medieval towers lining its banks. The monastery island of San Giulio rises from the water in the middle of Orta.
In addition to numerous cycling and horse riding trails, it is possible to water ski and even dive in the translucent waters that line the pebble beaches. L’Approdo is a four-star hotel-restaurant on the lake with a panoramic terrace and swimming pool.
Lake Trasimeno
This shallow lake formed thousands of years ago by tectonic movements of the earth’s crust is located in a less touristy part of Umbria, where only locals have holiday homes and shops in the overhanging village of Castiglione do not sell the usual souvenirs.
The shores of Trasimeno are dotted with medieval hamlets and wooden bridges crossing the water, ideal for birdwatching and a sunset drink.
Beaches here rent out windsurfing and kite equipment.
B&B Dolce Dormire has cozy rooms in the old Castiglione district, while La Casa di Campagna is a rural farmhouse and tavern serving local specialties.
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