Lago di Molveno

Lago di Molveno lies at around 860 metres in the Brenta Dolomites of western Trentino, a long emerald-and-blue lake cradled directly beneath the jagged Brenta peaks and repeatedly voted the most beautiful lake in Italy. Despite its high-mountain setting, Molveno is a genuine bathing lake: the village has invested in a large, well-kept lakeside park that includes a rare sandy beach, broad grassy lawns, a children's playground, mini-golf and a tree-top adventure park, all gathered along the shore beneath the mountains. The water is clean, clear and noticeably cooler than the warm Valsugana lakes, so swimming is most comfortable in the heat of July and August, though the shallow, gently shelving beach makes paddling safe for children at any time. The setting is the great draw — few beaches anywhere offer a swim with the Brenta Dolomites rising sheer across the water — and the lakeside park is designed for a full family day, with bars, toilets, pedalo hire and shaded lawns. Behind the lake, the Molveno-Pradel cable car climbs into the mountains, opening onto hiking trails, more adventure facilities and dramatic Brenta viewpoints, so a beach day can easily be combined with a cable-car excursion. The village of Molveno itself is a relaxed, traffic-calmed resort with family hotels and restaurants a short walk from the shore. Because of its fame the lakeside park and car parks fill on hot summer weekends, so an earlier start is wise in peak season. For the combination of a real beach, safe shallow swimming, family facilities and incomparable Dolomite scenery, Molveno is the most rewarding alpine bathing lake in the region.