Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Side profile of the bomb prototype.
Petwood Hotel Bouncing Bomb
RAF Harrington
RAF Harrington
The Beaux-arts interior with Pool layout still visible.
Écomusée du fier monde
Village du Livre de Fontenoy-la-Joûte
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è pasta... E pasta!
Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
The gnocchi here get blanketed in a sugo with braised oxtail.
Cesare al Pellegrino
Romans insist you should feel the cracked peppercorns and cheese grains on your tongue.
Flavio al Velavevodetto
Tripe is fried to a crisp.
L’Osteria della Trippa
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
One of the PATH’s many entrances.
A Supposedly Boring Mall I Might Actually Visit Again
about 13 hours ago
People paddling in their wooden canoes on one of the lakes near the Allagash Waterway in the north woods in Maine
The Allagash Abductions: This State Park’s Most Famous Visitors ... Are Aliens?
1 day ago
The rocky Revere Beach coast in Revere, Massachusetts, just outside Boston.
Which Places With Bad Raps Are Actually Worth Visiting?
3 days ago
A dugong displays the telltale “smile.”
Saving the Sea Cows of Vanuatu
3 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Italy Carezza Rainbow Lake
AO Edited

Carezza Rainbow Lake

According to the local folklore, the myriad colors of this lake are the result of a lovelorn wizard's blunder.

Italy

Added By
diseasefire
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Carezza Lake at the foot of the Dolomites   Flickr user kaibara87
Carezza Lake at the foot of the Dolomites   Flickr user kaibara87
Color gradients and reflections at Carezza Lake   Flickr user yomo_13
Carezza Lake   Luigi Rosa on Flickr
2024   Grave with a view Marjolein / Atlas Obscura User
2024   Grave with a view Marjolein / Atlas Obscura User
2024   Grave with a view Marjolein / Atlas Obscura User
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Lake Carezza in early Spring   Esenko Workshops / Luka Esenko
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Lago di Carezza   PhotoHound / Luka Esenko
Karrersee / Lago di Carezza   Luka Esenko
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Gorgeous mountain lakes may be a dime a dozen, but how many can boast brilliant waters whose colors are the result of a lovesick sorcerer and drowned rainbows?

According to the traditions of the Ladin people in Italy’s South Tyrol region, once upon a time, a beautiful water nymph called the pristine waters of Lake Carezza, at the foot of the Dolomites, home. One day, while braiding her hair on its shores, the sorcerer Masaré was overcome by the sound of the nymph as she softly sang to herself. Head over heels in love, he sought the help of a witch to make the nymph his own. An elaborate plan involving a disguise as a jewelry salesman, and casting a rainbow across the lake ensued.

Unfortunately for the sorcerer, he forgot to wear his jewelry salesman outfit and was discovered by the nymph even as she marvelled at his creation. Evading his trap, she hasn’t been seen since. Completely distraught at his own foolishness, Masaré smashed the rainbow into a million pieces, which fell into the lake’s waters below.

Their fractured magnificence continues to radiate through its crystalline waters to this day, and account for Carezza’s other name: Lec de ergobando, or “Rainbow Lake.”  

Related Tags

Lakes Legends Witchcraft Natural Wonders Nature Water

Know Before You Go

To get to the lake head south on the main N241 and the lake is on your left.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Flavors of Italy: Roman Carbonara, Florentine Steak & Venetian Cocktails

Savor local cuisine across Rome, Florence & Venice.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

diseasefire

Edited By

littlebrumble, Max Cortesi, Mike Portanova, MagnumPI...

  • littlebrumble
  • Max Cortesi
  • Mike Portanova
  • MagnumPI
  • coreyjo92
  • aribrown
  • EricGrundhauser
  • Grave with a view Marjolein
  • Luka Esenko

Published

July 17, 2015

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/italien/legends_in_english/carezza.html
  • http://www.suedtirol.info/en/Destinations--Things-To-Do/Culture--Sights/Legends--Mystical-Places/detail/d5966dd2-4d4f-46cf-9beb-e5b522141533/Legend-of-the-nymph-of-Lago-di-CarezzaKarersee.html
Carezza Rainbow Lake
123 Karerseestraße
39056
Italy
46.410488, 11.575833

Nearby Places

Banco della Reson

Cavalese, Italy

miles away

Funivia del Colle (Kohlerer Bahn)

Bolzano, Italy

miles away

Cappella di San Giovanni

Bozen, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Italy

Italy

Europe

Places 1,064
Stories 110

Nearby Places

Banco della Reson

Cavalese, Italy

miles away

Funivia del Colle (Kohlerer Bahn)

Bolzano, Italy

miles away

Cappella di San Giovanni

Bozen, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Italy

Italy

Europe

Places 1,064
Stories 110

Related Stories and Lists

17 Places to Mentally Escape To While Waiting for Election Results

List

By Meg Neal

Related Places

  • Synevyr Lake.

    Mizhhirs'kyi district, Ukraine

    Synevyr Lake

    This stunning mountain lake was named for a pair of tragic lovers whose statues stand at the center.

  • Lac Salé

    Bangoua Kouni, Comoros

    Lac Salé

    Legend says this remote, “bottomless” lake was created by a curse.

  • Jusanji Pond in autumn

    Cheongsong, South Korea

    Jusanji Pond

    Trees emerge from the surface of this small man-made reservoir.

  • Lake Tyrrell during sunset

    Sea Lake, Australia

    Lake Tyrrell

    Victoria's largest salt lake is a favorite haunt for photographers and stargazers.

  • Silent Pool

    Albury, England

    Silent Pool

    This peaceful oasis appears dreamy, but it's also the site of a nightmarish legend.

  • Sopotnički Vodopadi

    Sopotnica, Serbia

    Sopotnički Vodopadi

    This natural monument has an origin story steeped in legend.

  • Stromatolite.

    Cervantes, Australia

    Lake Thetis

    One of the few places in the world home to living stromatolites.

  • The cave entrance is unassuming.

    Oracle, Arizona

    Peppersauce Cave

    An off-the-beaten path cave with an underground lake.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.