The Latemar is one of those mountains you know at a glance: a crown of ragged pinnacles between the Val di Fiemme and the Val d'Ega. At its foot lies Lake Carezza, small but famous for its colours, which run from emerald green to turquoise depending on the light and the hour. The Ladins have always called it the lake of the rainbow, and there's a legend behind the name. The wizard of the Latemar, smitten with the nymph Ondina, conjured a rainbow over the water to lure her; when she fled, he smashed it into a thousand pieces and threw them into the lake. Ever since, every colour shows in its depths. On windless mornings the surface turns into a perfect mirror of the peaks and woods, which is why it's one of the most photographed subjects in the Dolomites.
The loop around the lake is very short, on a flat path you can walk in half an hour between photos. If you want more, there are climbing routes, via ferratas, scenic trails, and in winter a ski area on the Latemar massif that links down into the Val di Fiemme. In summer the area is a base for trekking through dwarf-pine scrub and pale limestone, and it's worth coming back to the lake early or late in the day, when low light fires up the reflections and far fewer people line the banks.
Frequently asked questions
Can you swim in Lake Carezza?
No, swimming isn't allowed. It's a protected natural site and access to the shore is regulated on purpose, to keep the colours and the ecosystem that produces them.
How long does the walk around the lake take?
Not long: the loop is short and almost completely flat, about half an hour. Allow a bit more for photo stops and the classic viewpoint.