Lago di Bomba, Artificial lake in Abruzzo, Italy
Lake Bomba is an artificial lake in Abruzzo, Italy, set in a valley between the towns of Bomba, Pietraferrazzana, Colledimezzo, and Villa Santa Maria. It was formed by damming the Sangro River and sits surrounded by wooded hillsides and small hilltop villages.
The lake was created in the 1950s when the Sangro River was dammed as part of an irrigation project intended to support farming across a large part of Abruzzo. The flooding permanently altered the shape of the valley and the course of the river.
The shores draw families from nearby villages on warm weekends, gathering for picnics, fishing, and long walks along the water. This easy, seasonal rhythm of local life is something visitors can naturally join in with during summer months.
The lake can be reached from several surrounding towns, and small roads lead down to the shore at various points. Having your own transport is helpful, as public connections in the area are limited.
Because the lake sits over a former riverbed, old stone remains and ground structures sometimes appear at the surface during dry periods when water levels drop. This makes it one of the few places in the area where traces of the pre-flood landscape can still be seen.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
