Lake Valvestino

Lake Valvestino is a reservoir in the province of Brescia in Lombardy, created by a dam and situated at about 500 meters elevation. The water stretches between steep mountain walls that resemble Scandinavian fjords, fed by several streams flowing down from the surrounding forests.

The lake was created in the 1960s by building the Ponte Cola dam to generate electricity. The region was once an important border crossing between Austria-Hungary and Italy, with a customs station whose ruins become visible when the water level drops.

The name Valvestino comes from the region's ancient border and trade history. The villages around the lake preserve simple ways of living today, with traditional stone houses, small churches, and people who use the land respectfully, much as earlier generations did.

The lake is difficult to reach and there are no major roads or towns right next to it. Visitors can arrive from nearby towns like Gargnano or Idro and follow the winding road along the water, which is particularly suitable for hiking and bird watching.

When water levels drop, the Lignago customs house becomes visible, a former border post from the time of Austro-Hungarian rule that had been submerged underwater. In the nearby Valle di Vesta, visitors can discover a very rare insect called Boldoria vestae, found only in this region.