Italian lakes

In the Ampezzo Dolomites, there's a body of water that appears mint-colored, a milky blue that surprises even those who've seen it a thousand times in photos. It's Lake Sorapis, one of the most photographed glacial basins in the Veneto region, suspended just below 2,000 metres and enclosed in an amphitheatre of bare rock faces. Its colour isn't an illusion: it's the result of suspended mineral dust that uniquely refracts light.

Tuscany really does have a medieval village that reappears at irregular intervals from the bottom of a lake. Tuscany’s Atlantis is not a legend. It is Fabbriche di Careggine, beneath the waters of Lake Vagli in Garfagnana. It last resurfaced in 1994, drawing more than one million visitors.

It looks like a volcanic lake, but it was shaped by ice. Lake Orta, west of Lake Maggiore, between the provinces of Novara and Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, packs an elegant waterside village, a tiny monastic island and a UNESCO-listed Sacro Monte into just a few kilometres. Two days are enough to combine scenery, art and a bit of peace and quiet without rushing, travelling on foot and by boat.

For years, buying a home by a lake largely meant buying a view. That is no longer the case. People choosing a second home on Lake Como or Lake Maggiore are looking for something more complex than a scenic panorama: a place to use throughout the year, where work and leisure can sit alongside each other, and where families can spend longer periods. That is the central argument put forward by Paola Cleps, senior sales consultant at Savills Residential, in an analysis of the high-end second-home market around northern Italy’s lakes. It is a market undergoing a cultural transformation before an economic one.

A village on Lake Como has decided to help young people stay and live there through funding allocated via a public call to people who choose to establish their official residence in Bellano and build a life there. Called “Abitare Bellano”, the initiative is a trial measure set up by the local Comune — municipal council — for 2026. It has a total fund of €100,000 and addresses an issue shared by many small Italian towns. On Lake Como, it takes on a particular form: a picturesque area that is increasingly unaffordable for the people who would genuinely like to make their home there.

It's hot, the seaside beaches are crowded, but there's an alternative: real beaches, at high altitude, where the water remains clear and the air is lighter. In Italy and Europe, you'll find sandy lakes, mountain beaches, meadows, and full-service amenities, ideal even for just a weekend getaway.

Stone lanes, a lakeside castle and the steep slopes of Monte Baldo give Malcesine a distinctly cinematic setting on Lake Garda’s eastern shore.

On Lake Como, there is a place where the sound of motorboats fades away, and only the water remains. The steep slopes shape the scene: houses clinging to the rock, narrow lanes, old mule tracks and a gorge where two streams meet before plunging towards the lake. The result is a striking orrido – a steep, narrow ravine – with a waterfall dropping for more than 200 metres and a stone bridge reached via a long staircase. It is a break along the road between Como and Bellagio, with a lesser-known extra just above the village: Onzanigo and the Val de Tuf.

A beach without stifling heat, set among forests and peaks, really does exist. In many cases, it’s just a few hours by car, with clear water to dive into and meadows where you can stretch out in the shade. The new “cool” summer destinations aren’t by the sea but at altitude: Alpine lakes and valleys with proper lidos, equipped or completely natural, suited to swimming, picnics and sport.

The four 2026 Blue Flags—Gozzano, Cannobio, Verbania, and Cannero Riviera—confirm the Piedmont lakes' position among Northern Italy's top-quality seaside destinations. The recognition is not limited to water cleanliness, but also to a complex system of environmental management, services, and sustainability.

When the cities start to bake in July, there’s another side to Italy that feels surprisingly liveable.

Tucked into the mountains of central Italy, Lago di Scanno is the famous heart-shaped lake in Abruzzo that tends to pop up in travel photos without much explanation. Where is the heart-shaped lake in Italy?Sitting at around 930 metres above sea level, the heart-shaped lake in Italy is located i

Is it really possible to walk along iron stairways suspended above the water and pause on natural terraces that open out across the whole of Lake Garda? It is, and these aren’t fantasy routes dreamt up for Instagram.

When people think of Northern Italy, they picture Lake Como, Venice canals and Milanese fashion week.

Italy’s luxury real estate market is strengthening, with requests for properties over €3 million having risen by 11.23% compared to 2024.

An Italian spa has been ranked the 5th most beautiful in the world, and it’s not based on gushy reviews or glossy brochures.

Life around the lake moves at its own pace, shaped by ferry timetables, mountain light and long lunches that drift into the afternoon.

Many make a move for a lifestyle change, and the natural beauty of Italy makes it one of the most desirable places to settle.

Italy works well for romantic getaways for couples because it lends itself to slowing down.

Not everyone dreams of living on Lake Como with superyachts and five‑star hotels in the background.

Italy has more than 1,500 lakes, from tiny Alpine pools to wide basins surrounded by vineyards and medieval villages. Many are swimmable and popular for holidays, weekend escapes and even second homes.

Italy’s lakes are famous for big‑name spots like Como and Garda, but the quiet corners are where things get interesting.

The largest lake in Italy, Lake Garda, stretches between Lombardy, Veneto and Trentino‑Alto Adige in the north.

Clear blue water, mountain backdrops and grand villas make the Italian lakes some of the most romantic landscapes in Europe.

Lake Como is one of the most beautiful destinations in Lombardy, with steep mountains dropping straight into the water and villages tucked along the shore.