Santo Lake

An enchanting lake mirror, it is located at 1,200 m, in the watershed basin originating from the erosion of the ice in the porphyry, 4 km from the historic village of Cembra, in the homonymous valley. Its name derives from a popular legend. It is said that hundreds of years ago, right where the lake rises, there was a plot of land that was the subject of disputes between heirs. One of these wished that the land would turn into a lake so that the dispute would cease. So magically one night, the water filled the large basin threatening the village below, to the point of attracting the inhabitants of Cembra for a pilgrimage who, as a sign of supplication, threw the ring of the Madonna there. The waters stopped and Cembra was saved. Since then, popular tradition has wanted the lake to become “holy”. An excellent starting point for hikes along the Dürerweg and the European Path E5, the lake also offers short stretches of natural beach.