Attractions and Places To See around Lake Corlo - Top 20

The Corlo lake dam blocks the Cismon stream which flows towards the Brenta river.

Suggestive passage in the tunnel

This ancient ruined building stands on the left bank of Lake Corlo. It is difficult to imagine what it was used for, but it is a fascinating spot along the artificial lake, which owes its name to the village of Corlo, which is still located near the dam.

Dam immersed in the narrow gorge of the Cismon torrent, completed in 1953. Crossable, cycle/pedestrian. Pleasant walk with a view and the peculiarity of ending right inside a small tunnel in the rock, which then connects to the road to Corlo, very steep!

Lake Corlo (or Arsiè) is an artificial basin. Between 1951 and 1954, a massive dam was built at its southern end, damming the Cismon River to power several hydroelectric plants. The area now occupied by the reservoir was once known as 'el Ligònt': a broad, fertile plain, crossed by the stream, with several bustling hamlets. The construction of the dam significantly disrupted the valley: many villages were forcibly evacuated and submerged; many were deprived of their main source of livelihood (cultivated fields and pastures); the village of Rocca d'Arsié was largely engulfed by the water; of the 3,000 inhabitants scattered among the various factions, 2,500 were forced to emigrate; on the eastern slope, several farmhouses found themselves completely isolated from the outside world and were soon abandoned. Various promises were made to residents, such as free electricity, jobs, the construction of roads and new homes (which were indeed built, but quickly proved to be quite shoddy): promises that were submerged along with the valley. The solitary bell tower of Rocca, on the shores of the lake, has become the symbol of this story: it was left in its original site, while the church was demolished and rebuilt 500 meters to the south, at a higher altitude, protected from the waters; for this reason, it is said that the bell tower and the church have "divorced"! Today, the lake is very evocative and fascinating: the tranquil and flat western shores, a destination for recreation and summer activities (camping, SUP, canoeing, pedal boats, and swimming), contrast with the steep and desolate eastern side, with rocky cliffs overlooking the water. The water level can vary greatly, depending on the season and the weather. https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lago_del_Corlo

The Corlo dam (which takes its name from the village above) was built in the years 1951-53 to dam the Cismon stream and form the artificial lake, for hydroelectric use. The area occupied today by the basin was once known as the 'Ligònt plain': a fertile area, almost entirely cultivated with corn cobs and tobacco, with several inhabited hamlets. With the construction of the dam, many towns were forcibly abandoned, demolished and submerged; others, on the eastern side, found themselves isolated from the world and soon depopulated too. This civil engineering work amazes for its dizzying height of 71m, for the construction expertise thanks to which it slips into the mountain and for the view of the very narrow Cismon canyon. The crown of the dam can also be explored by car: after the tunnel, a very narrow and winding asphalt road ends in Contrà Corlo. When the bulkheads are raised, the power of the waterfall coming down the discharge chute is impressive and spectacular! https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lago_del_Corlo

Contrada Le Coste, abandoned in the middle of the woods, completely ruined and engulfed by vegetation: this slope was once inhabited and cultivated with great care and effort. The construction of the artificial lake was likely the final blow, isolating it and making it uninhabitable, forcing its inhabitants to emigrate. A desolate and fascinating place, evocative and melancholic, that now seems so inaccessible; but that was once teeming with life. The pragmatic craftsmanship with which these multi-story houses, with stone walls and wooden balconies, were built is admirable.

Lake Corlo is crossed by 3 bridges close together, at the Rocca d'Arsiè bottleneck: the Polo Bridge, the Bassane Bridge and the Vittoria Bridge. The Ponte della Vittoria (also called Ponte delle Corde) is the southernmost bridge, as well as the most evocative and characteristic: cycle-pedestrian, with a maximum capacity of 12 people (as per the sign), and consists of a wooden walkway supported by ropes metal, fixed to stone towers; although it is absolutely safe, you feel a wobble at every step and under your feet, between the cracks in the boards, you can glimpse emptiness and water! Crossing it, some might suffer from dizziness... It was built in 1928, before the artificial lake was created, to replace an old, much lower bridge, often submerged by the floods of the Cismon torrent; dedicated to the victory of the First World War.