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Lakes

Lake of the Idols

Lakes

Lake of the Idols

Highlight • Lake

Lake of the Idols

Recommended by 45 hikers out of 46

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Parco Nazionale delle Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona e Campigna

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Location: Pratovecchio Stia, Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy

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Best Hikes to Lake of the Idols

4.8

(39)

175

hikers

1. Passo della Calla – Monte Falco loop from Valagnesi

14.5km

05:41

710m

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Hard

4.8

(37)

130

hikers

2. Monte Falco – Monte Falterona loop from Stia

10.9km

03:52

480m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Moderate

4.9

(11)

hikers

3. Burraia Meadows – Monte Falco loop from Stia

21.7km

07:40

990m

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Hard

Tips

Pietro Valdinoci

August 30, 2020

The lake is an important archaeological site which over the years has yielded hundreds of Etruscan remains. Many statuettes of idols, votive offerings and weapons have been found in and around its waters. It is thought that in ancient times this was a sort of natural sanctuary: the Etruscans venerated the waters of this lake, perhaps attributing it thaumaturgical powers.

Translated by Google •

Sam Cardell

November 6, 2025

An ancient Etruscan archaeological site, where, following the chance discovery of a bronze statuette by a herdsman (around 1850), excavations were carried out several times, resulting in the discovery of over a thousand bronze archaeological finds (statuettes, fragments, and arrowheads), some of which were exquisitely crafted and valuable, and are now scattered throughout major museums worldwide.
The small lake, almost a puddle, was therefore a center of Etruscan rituals and worship.
It is considered the most important archaeological site in Casentino.

Translated by Google •

Christian Lorenz

October 11, 2020

Once called Lago della Ciliegina, it was renamed after the successful discovery of a huge number of Etruscan finds, including statues of idols and divinities, coins, weapons and so on, now kept in the Casentino Archaeological Museum.

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Details

Informations

Elevation 1,370 m

Weather

Thursday 25 December

4°C

0°C

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Max wind speed: 11.0 km/h

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Location: Pratovecchio Stia, Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy

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Lake of the Idols

1. Passo della Calla – Monte Falco loop from Valagnesi

2. Monte Falco – Monte Falterona loop from Stia

3. Burraia Meadows – Monte Falco loop from Stia

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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