Sirino Lake
The tear of the mountain between myth, nature and seasons
According to an ancient legend, Lake Sirino was born from a divine tear: a sudden flood, unleashed to punish an act of arrogance on a sacred day, submerged fields and farmyards and left, when the waters receded, a clear mirror at the foot of the mountain. Myth and reality still intertwine today in this small natural basin nestled at an altitude of 788 metres, in the territory of Nemoli, the green heart of the Lucanian Apennines Val d'Agri Lagonegrese National Park.
The lake, gathered in a karst sinkhole, is considered the last remnant of the great Pleistocene lake that once occupied the entire Noce Valley, extending as far as Lauria and beyond.
Slightly elliptical in shape, Lake Sirino now covers about five hectares at its fullest and is fed by perennial springs, such as those of Sambuco and Torbido, with no visible outlets. Its calm waters reflect the slopes of the mountain and preserve a geologically valuable seabed, composed of Triassic limestone and polychrome siliceous schists from the Jurassic period. Furthermore, during the summer months, the enchanted mirror of the lake reflects the splendid water lilies that float on the still waters like light thoughts suspended between the sky and silence.
Surrounding the lake is a lush vegetation of alders, elms, chestnut trees, poplars, conifers and marsh vegetation, contributing to a rich and delicate habitat populated by a variety of fish and amphibians.
Today, the lake is a popular destination in every season: an ideal place for fishing, walking, mountain biking and relaxing in the open air, it offers views stretching from the Lucanian Apennines to the Tyrrhenian Sea. In the winter months, the nearby Sirino area is transformed into a fully equipped ski resort, making the area a reference point for snow activities.
In recent years, Lake Sirino has also been able to renew its cultural narrative, becoming the natural stage for La Signora del Lago (The Lady of the Lake), an evocative musical fairy tale that, amid water, lights and dancing fountains, evokes the history, memory and identity of the area.
A place where nature is not just a landscape, but a living narrative, suspended between legend and the present.