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On these hot days we can’t wait to jump into the sea in the cooler weather and reset our already heat-blinded minds. If vacations are still a mirage, you can always think about planning a trip to the cooler weather. There are wonderful places to discover in Lombardy! Near Milan there are waterfalls and natural pools where you can relax, find some refreshment and enjoy a wonderful trip out of town. You don’t have to go to the beach or lake…. Discover these amazing destinations just a short distance from you.
Parco delle Fucine di Casto (BS)
This natural park offers numerous natural pools created by the stream that runs through it. You can relax, in fact, beside the three small lakes of clear, cool water (which can be pleasant in summer). It is a perfect place for a day of relaxation surrounded by nature, with picnic areas, trails and rest stops.
Where: Via Guglielmo Marconi, 25070 Casto, BS.
Pozze di Erve (LC)
Among the natural swimming pools near Milan, you find Pozze di Erve, about an hour and a half from the city. This place is suitable for both adults and children and we recommend it if you want to have a pleasant immersion in nature. From the quaint village of Erve you can easily get to the pools, thanks to a path along the Gallavesa stream. A very suggestive natural path full of vegetation. Once there, you can choose to stop and take a nice regenerating bath in the water (very cold eh) or continue to the Alpinisti Monzesi hut (about 2 h). The first pools are found as soon as you enter the trail with nice waterfalls. In short if you want to escape the heat this is definitely a worthy option (even your 4-legged friends are allowed without any problem)
Where: Via Resegone, 23805 Erve, Lecco.
Vertova Valley Waterfalls (BG)
Some call it an enchanting place, and how can you blame them. If you’re really low on energy, you can recharge your batteries here. Already we are dreaming of diving into these crystal clear pools. And we have the Vertova stream to thank for this extraordinary work! The trail is easy to walk on. For this reason, it is a recommended destination for the whole family (including our four-legged friends). Once we reach the locality Cà Rosèt, a mule track begins that runs along the stream, among small waterfalls and emerald pools. The total duration of the stretch is about 45 minutes. It is recommended to arrive well equipped; the route involves fording the river several times.
Where: Via Cinque Martiri, 24029 Vertova, Bergamo.
Acquafraggia Falls (SO).
This is a suitable destination for finding natural pools near Milan and for those who crave nature walks and picnics. A very easy route suitable for all ages. The falls have been recognized as a natural monument of the Lombardy Region. On warmer days you can also decide to bathe in the waters of the Acquafraggia stream, which forms a small natural pool. On weekends, there is an entrance fee for nonresidents (3 euros). Leonardo Da Vinci also liked this place, who mentioned it in his Codex Atlanticus.
Where: Strada Comunale di, Via Sarlone, 23020 Piuro, SO.
Ferrera Waterfalls (VA).
Another among the natural pools near Milan is located in the province of Varese you can admire a thirty-meter waterfall that juts out of the rocks. The Fermona waterfall is among the most beautiful in Lombardy, just because of the surrounding landscape. Great destination for a summer swim in the clear waters below the falls (there is also the smaller one).
The main waterfall is very scenic, but the smaller jumps and small lakes scattered along the watercourse are also very beautiful
To reach the falls, just start from Ferrera and follow the signs. You can leave your car in the village near the kindergarten and follow the signs that lead to a dirt path. At the fork, proceed left along a narrow and not very easy path that in a few minutes allows you to arrive at the sight of the main drop that reaches 30 meters.
The path is doable; however, we suggest getting sneakers to walk the path to get to the main waterfall.
Where: Via Castello, 14, 21030 Ferrera di Varese (VA).
“The Maldives of Milan.”
Now we move outside of Lombardy. They deserve mention, however, the Maldives of Milan, dubbed so on social media, are located two hours from Milan. We are in Switzerland in the Canton of Ticino. To be precise in the Verzasca Valley, these are real natural pools near Milan where you can swim while feeling elsewhere, in these places you see in travel magazines. But no. We are close by, just a few hours away from the Lombard capital. Perfect destination to feel far away while staying close to home.
Where: Verzasca Valley, Ticino Canton.
Bellano Gorge
Not quite a natural swimming pool we propose anyway. On the Lecco side of Lake Como, in the municipality of Bellano we find these magnificent gorges carved by water in which you can walk in total safety in close contact with the water, you do not bathe as in the places previously proposed but you walk the footbridges very close to the flowing water giving moments of great coolness. You can then bathe in Lake Como, which has partly free and partly equipped beaches. It is 75km from Milan, the state road to take is N.36.
Where: Piazza S. Giorgio, 23822 Bellano – LC.
Baia del Bogn (BG).
If earlier we were in the Maldives now we move to the Philippines with these views of Lake Iseo. This place is heavenly, about an hour and a half from Milan. The Bay of Bogn is the result of the accumulation of marine sediments in ancient times, the subsequent transformation into limestone and dolomite rocks, and the erosive action of glaciers and waters that sculpted the shoreline during the ice ages.
This place is located in the area of Riva di Solto, on the Bergamo side of Lake Iseo. The bay has small pebble beaches and flat grassy areas ideal for lounging and sunbathing.
It is possible to swim in the cool waters of the lake, with due caution, especially in the areas of the small beaches and caves hidden along the bay.
Marmitte dei Giganti (BG)
In the province of Bergamo, in the hamlet of Valzurio in Oltressenda Alta, are the spectacular Marmitte dei Giganti: natural basins carved over time by the icy waters of the Ogna River. These authentic natural pools are distinguished by their crystal-clear water and a series of fascinating waterfalls that follow one after the other, creating an enchanting landscape.