Lake of Carezza
Lake Carezza (Italian: Lago di Carezza; German: Karersee; Ladin: Lec de Ciareja) is a small alpine lake set within a spruce forest in the Dolomites of South Tyrol, Italy, at an altitude of 1,519 metres above sea level. Celebrated for its extraordinarily vivid turquoise and emerald waters — produced by the lake’s shallow depth and mineral-rich runoff — and its backdrop of the Latemar mountain range, it has been called the “Rainbow Lake” and is one of the most photographed natural sites in the Alps.
At a glance
- Type
- Small alpine lake
- Period
- Post-glacial origin; protected nature reserve since the 20th century
- Style
- Natural landscape within UNESCO Dolomites World Heritage Site
- Location
- Nova Levante (Welschnofen), South Tyrol, Italy
- Coordinates
- 46.4102° N, 11.5749° E
- Altitude
- 1,519 m (4,983 ft) above sea level
Overview
Lake Carezza lies in the municipality of Nova Levante (Welschnofen), in the Val d’Ega valley, roughly 25 km south-east of Bolzano. Despite its small size — the lake’s surface measures only about 160 by 70 metres — it draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year due to its intense colouration, which shifts from bright green to turquoise to deep blue depending on the season, weather, and viewing angle. The lake has no permanent outlet: water seeps through the porous limestone bed and re-emerges as springs lower in the valley.
History
The lake and its surrounding forest have been a tourist destination since the mid-19th century, when the Dolomites began attracting Alpine explorers, painters, and naturalists. In Ladin folklore, the lake’s colours are attributed to a wizard who cast a rainbow over the water to attract a water nymph; when the nymph laughed at the deception, the wizard shattered the rainbow, whose fragments sank to the lake’s floor. The area was formally protected in the 20th century and is today part of a nature reserve managed by the Province of South Tyrol. The Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed in 2009, encompasses the surrounding Latemar massif.
What you see
The lake is framed by tall Norway spruce and silver fir forest, with the jagged grey limestone towers of the Latemar reflected in its surface on calm days. A wooden boardwalk encircles most of the lake, offering views from multiple angles and protecting the fragile shoreline vegetation. The Latemar massif, which forms the backdrop to the east, is composed of Middle Triassic reef limestone and displays classic Dolomite architecture of vertical walls, towers, and couloirs. In spring, snowmelt increases the lake’s level and intensity of colour; in dry summer periods the lake may partially shrink.
Cultural significance
Lake Carezza is one of the defining images of the Dolomite landscape and appears in countless paintings, photographs, and promotional materials for South Tyrol and the broader Italian Alps. Its Ladin name and associated folklore preserve the oral heritage of the Ladin people, a Rhaeto-Romance-speaking minority indigenous to the central Dolomites. As part of the UNESCO Dolomites site, the Latemar area around the lake is recognised for its Outstanding Universal Value as a geological and scenic landscape of exceptional beauty.
Practical information
A pay car park operates at the lake from spring through autumn (free in winter). The boardwalk circuit takes approximately 20–30 minutes. The lake area is managed as a nature reserve; swimming and fishing are not permitted. A café and souvenir shop operate seasonally near the car park. The lake can be crowded at peak summer weekends; early morning visits are recommended. Check local tourism websites for current car park fees and seasonal access restrictions.
Getting there
From Bolzano: drive south-east on the SS241 (Val d’Ega road) approximately 25 km; the lake car park is signposted. By public transport: take the SAD bus line 180 from Bolzano Busbahnhof to Nova Levante / Karersee stop (journey approx. 50 minutes). From the Brenner motorway (A22), exit at Bolzano Sud and follow signs for Val d’Ega / Karersee. The nearest railway station is Bolzano (Bozen), connected to Trento and Innsbruck by Trenitalia and ÖBB.