One of the most beautiful lakes in Italy
At the foot of the eastern walls of the Brenta Dolomites, at about 820 metres, Lake Molveno is a large Alpine lake with deep blue and turquoise water, surrounded by forests of spruce and beech, overlooked by the pale peaks of the Brenta. Formed thousands of years ago by a landslide that blocked the valley, it is about 4 kilometres long and has been repeatedly awarded as one of the most beautiful lakes in Italy in the annual guides to the cleanest and best preserved lakes. The novelist Antonio Fogazzaro called it a "precious gem in a more precious casket".
The village of Molveno, on its northern shore, is a popular holiday resort in summer and winter, with a large beach of grass and pebbles, a lakeside promenade, paddle boats, canoes and boats for rent, and the possibility of swimming in the clear, cool water in the hottest months. A path of about 12 kilometres runs around the whole lake, through woods and beaches, an easy and pleasant walk. From Molveno, a cable car climbs to Pradel, at 1,400 metres, the starting point for some of the classic hikes in the Brenta Dolomites, such as the one to the Croz dell'Altissimo and the Selvata refuge, or to the Pedrotti and Tosa refuges, in the heart of the massif. In winter, Molveno is connected to the ski area of the Paganella, one of the most popular in Trentino, which can be reached from nearby Andalo.
Tip: for the most beautiful view of the lake, go up to Pradel by cable car; in summer, rent a pedal boat and swim in the middle of the lake.
Where it is
More things to see in Trentino-South Tyrol
Where to stay near Molveno
Tours and activities nearby
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