Top 6 Lakes around Pornassio

short and easy tour, but very impressive. Starting from Quarzina, you go up to the Church of San Giovanni, then reach Lake Lao with its newts. Finally, through alpine meadows you reach Biranco houses returning to Quarzina.

Lake above Alto, the pub seems to be open on Sundays. Access road paved.

Wonderful pond immersed in a breathtaking environment.

The sanctuary is so named because it is situated on the shore of a small lake and is nestled in a magnificent natural setting. The original structure dates from the 16th century and was dedicated to Our Lady of the Visitation. The old church was rebuilt several times, in particular it was enlarged in 1842. Today it houses an inn (telephone 338 839 5737 for opening hours). On the first Sunday of July, the feast of the Madonna del Lago is celebrated with the associated and traditional procession. The place is equipped with a picnic area. In addition, from here start the paths to Alta Via dei Monti Liguri, Armetta, Dubasso and Galero mountains. Nearby there are numerous rocks, very popular with free climbers. The place is also frequented by paragliders, who have suitable take-off and landing sites nearby. The legend: It is said that the lake was miraculously and suddenly formed. It is said that a farmer with his oxen preferred to continue working on Sundays even though he disregarded Sunday mass and was punished for it. A mass of water coming down from the sky flooded him and swept him along with the oxen. Precisely because of the miraculous formation of the lake, it was decided to build a sanctuary on this site.

This path descends from Bocchino della Brignola towards Lake Raschera. Walking you can admire lakes and majestic peaks.

And another update: In the summer of 2023, it was possible to dam up water again. Swimming is possible - although no longer with the previous water depth and size - but that is probably only a factor for people with special needs :-) Because the water is of course still very fresh, so longer swims are likely to be the exception. There are places for a blanket, but mostly on small pieces of rubble. Update at the beginning of 2023: From what we hear, the small dam that created this lake will no longer be repaired. This beautiful place is and will remain history :-( For posterity, I'll leave the original comment anyway... A well-hidden alternative is Lago Degno, which is located around 3 km west of Molini, where the Rio Grognardo and the Torrente Argentina meet. Park on the SP65 in the first hairpin bend, then hike almost 1 km (including a steeper section through bushes and trees by the lake), and you're there. Somehow, somewhere, you have to be able to use another path, but we haven't discovered it yet. As of early 2021: One of our favorite places in this beautiful region! The water from the mountain streams flowing into it is anything but warm, but once you've gotten over the initial shock, it's very refreshing :-) The streams are constantly carrying debris into the lake, so it has to be dredged again and again, and unfortunately a storm really hit at the beginning of October 2020. The entire lake, the neighboring sunbathing areas, the new playground and even the smaller of the two bridges have been flattened. Work is underway to restore the lake and everything around it (I have put two photos - before and after - from the webcam at www.windy.com/de/-Webcams/Italien/Ligurien/Molini-di-Triora/Lago-dei-Noci/webcams/1535457200?43.989,6.130,8 in the gallery), but it is to be feared that it will take longer until everything is as beautiful as before. Despite everything, I hope to be able to jump in there again in summer 2021...

Lake Raschera gives its name to the famous cheese and is a pasture at the foot of Mount Mongioie (2,630 m). A beautiful lake that I reached during the tour of the Marguareis Park.