The lakes occupy the crater mouths of the ancient volcano on the southwestern slope of Monte Vulture. While communicating, the lakes have different colors: the Small Lake is greenish, while the Large Lake tends to be olive green. Both lakes have the highest temperature of the lakes in Italy... #tuttitaly
The lakes of Monticchio extend on the slopes of Monte Vulture. The two basins occupy the mouth of an ancient volcanic crater: the Vulture.
Although communicating with each other, the lakes have different colors: the greenish color of the Small Lake and the olive green of the Large Lake.
The area of Lake Piccolo, the most visited, offers tourist picnic areas and games for children.
There are also craft shops, bars, and restaurants where you can taste the goodness of Basilicata.
A luxuriant forest of beech, hornbeam, maple, and ash
trees extends around Lake Piccolo.
The area is rich in rare and varied flora flanked by diversified lake fauna.
The Lago Grande area hides a nocturnal butterfly of a unique species for Europe: Harting's Brahmea, discovered in 1963 by the scholar Federico Harting.
To safeguard the famous nocturnal Brahmea, an Oriented
and Protected Nature Reserve was created, not accessible to visitors.
In an elevated position on Lake Piccolo, the Abbey of San Michele Arcangelo.
The Church is partly built and partly excavated on an ancient pre-existing hermitage.
It can be glimpsed from every shore of the lake for its white walls that emerge from the green vegetation on the northeast shoulder of the mountain.
The entire complex consists of a multi-story convent, an eighteenth-century church, and the chapel of San Michele.
The Grotta dell'Angelo dedicated to San Michele is adorned with frescoes dating back to the mid-11th century
From here, you can enjoy a suggestive landscape of the lakes.
From Easter to autumn, the Monticchio lakes are populated by lovers of hiking and nature walks.
On the table
The typical dishes of the place are based on pork, mushrooms, and peppers.
