Italy has a knack for hiding its best cards. Beyond Rome, Florence and Venice, there are incredible places in Italy that feel lifted straight out of a historical novel: alpine lakes that once turned red, Moorish revival castles, lava-carved gorges and abandoned hilltop towns. If you’re after unusual places to visit in Italy, these eight are well worth a closer look.
Lake Tovel, Trentino Alto Adige
Set in the Adamello Brenta Nature Park at 1,178 metres above sea level, Lake Tovel sits beneath the Brenta Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the strangest places to visit in Northern Italy, it was once called the “Red Lake” due to a seasonal algae bloom that tinted the water crimson. Today it’s known for its clear emerald tones and sharp mountain backdrop.
