Between Lombardy and Trentino, in the area of the Brescian Prealps, we find Lake Idro (or Lake Eridio).
Of glacial origin, it is located at an altitude of 370 meters above sea level, has an area of almost 11 km² and has a maximum depth of about 120 meters.
Beyond these characteristics, it is a wonderful, but still little considered tourist destination, surrounded by lush nature and picturesque and peaceful villages, all to be discovered.
Very frequent during the summer months (due to the paradisiacal climate that does not know muggy and oppressive heat, also thanks to the Ander or Vinessa, a wind that affects the whole southern part of Garda), Lake Idro offers the possibility to practice all year round sport in contact with nature: not only swimming, canoeing, Kite Surfing and Windsurfing, but also fishing, trekking, mountain biking, climbing and horse riding.
And for thrill-seekers there are also perfect places for those who love paragliding.
If you prefer doing nothing to sport and strong emotions, you can relax on the delightful gravel beaches (all generally easy to access), or discover the main lakeside seaside resorts.
Many villages that overlook it boast a medieval origin and, thanks to their cobbled streets and a thousand arcades, they are particularly fascinating and romantic.
Recall that the Lake Idro is fed by the waters of the Chiese River and falls, for a small portion, in the Provincial Nature Reserve (with the namesake of the lake) established to protect a unique ecosystem, characterized by the presence of a particularly valuable flora and fauna: migratory birds, aquatic species, royal hens, coots , gray herons, hoopoes and kingfishers.
From the receptive point of view, the offer in the area is more than good: there is no shortage of farmhouses, Bed and Breakfasts, hotels of all categories, and, above all, many well-equipped campsites.
THE MAIN CENTERS OF LAKE IDRO:
ANFO: tiny and suggestive center of Val Sabbia, Anfo, is famous for the homonymous fortress. The Rocca d’Anfo is a military fortress built along the slope of Mount Censo, in the 15th century, by the Republic as a defensive garrison to protect the nearby state border. Rebuilt by the French, it was also used as a prison and a powder magazine. Over the last few decades it has been completely abandoned and, currently, it cannot be visited internally.
IDRO: is the inhabited center from which it takes its name. Although it is not very large – it does not exceed 2,000 inhabitants – it is divided into various hamlets: Lemprato, Pieve Vecchia, Crone, Vantone, Vesta and Tre Capitelli. It rises in the southern part and looks like a quiet and timeless village, characterized by the presence of several rustic houses, directly overlooking the lake, and a good number of accommodation and recreational facilities. A little curiosity: it is the seat of the National Sailors’ Association of Italy.
PONTE CAFFARO: rises in the northern part and acts as a border with the nearby province of Trentino. It is not a real town, but a fraction of the Municipality of Bagolino. Famous for having been the scene in June 1866, the historic battle between Austrians and Garibaldians, remembered by the grandiose military memorial of Monte Suello, today hosts numerous sports competitions.
HOW TO GET TO LAKE IDRO:
The lake is 150 km from Milan, 60 km from Brescia, 70 km from Trento and 95 from Verona.
If you are on the A4 motorway, you can exit at Brescia Est, take the Tangenziale which leads to nearby Lake Garda and then follow the signs for the various centers.