Lake Ledro: a turquoise pearl set among the mountains

Clear turquoise waters where in summer you can swim, dive and enjoy sailing, canoeing and windsurfing. Lake Ledro is truly a corner of paradise, an oasis for a holiday of sport and relaxation amid fairy-tale scenery.

The natural setting is truly extraordinary: Lake Ledro sits in a small valley that links the Garda plain to the Chiese valley. Nestled among vividly green mountains that are mirrored in its clear waters, Lake Ledro covers an area of around 2.2 square kilometres with a shoreline of roughly 10 kilometres. At an altitude of 655 metres, it is Italy's highest regatta lake and regularly welcomes sailing and kayaking champions from around the world who compete here in thrilling regattas and match races.

Above all, though, Lake Ledro is a calm, clear lake, one of the cleanest in Trentino. In summer, its four equipped public beaches, easy to reach and comfortable, allow you to enjoy it to the full, whether swimming, diving, playing in the water, taking long swims or paddle-boat and canoe trips. The lake is a genuine magnet for water sports enthusiasts, but also for families with children, thanks to waters that are never too cold (reaching up to 24°C on the warmest days), and for anyone who simply wants to sunbathe in peace and enjoy a relaxing weekend or holiday.

In colder weather, Lake Ledro becomes a destination for romantic or relaxing walks along its shores or through the dense network of surrounding trails, many of which can also be explored by mountain bike. Higher up, the views are nothing short of stunning, both over the lake and the surrounding mountains. For the fitter among us, one of the finest views of the lake is from the summit of Monte Corno. An alternative way to discover the natural surroundings of the lake is Ledro Land Art, a trail of fascinating sculptures winding through the woods of the Pur plain.

What makes Lake Ledro truly special and unique in the world are, finally, the pile dwellings of Molina di Ledro. This is a large, perfectly preserved pile-dwelling village dating back to the Neolithic period, around 4,000 years ago. At this carefully reconstructed archaeological site, and at the nearby Ledro Lake Pile Dwelling Museum, visitors can discover how our ancestors lived thousands of years ago. These features make it the most important pile-dwelling site in Europe, and since 2011 it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site — a title matched by that of UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, awarded in 2015 to the Trentino area known as the Ledro Alps and Judicaria, which also includes Val di Ledro.