Lago del Turano is 536m above sea level.
About 10 km long, with a perimeter of around 38 km, connecting with Lago del Salto via a 9 km long tunnel.
Halfway down the banks of the lake, the two villages of Colle di Tora and Castel di Tora look onto one another, the first on a peninsula and the other on a rocky summit, their names recalling the ancient Sabine-Roman city of Thiora.
The villages of Castel di Tora and Colle di Tora, along with Ascrea and Paganico Sabino, overlook the lake and offer breathtaking views.
It is said that in October 1938, in the Valle del Turano, the local farmers harvested and picked their cobs of maize from the water, because the 80 m dam, put into operation a few days before, had begun to form an artificial lake, rising dramatically day by day due to an intense autumn rainfall.
In October of that year, while the waters were already rising, the inhabitants built boats and to picked their corn and the grapes not yet submerged.
In the winter, the valley disappeared beneath the waters.
Thus, Lago del Turano was born.
It was built to obtain electricity and to regulate the flow of the River Turano, thus avoiding the frequent floods that damaged the local planes.
The hydroelectric basin was built to develop electricity and also to promote the industrial progress of nearby Terni. But it took with it the rich lands of the farmers, forcing them to sell their land in exchange for a few Liras.
For the locals, the lake only caused problems and gradually the villages began to empty.
Today, Lago del Turano is a corner of rural beauty, immersed in the green of nature, far from crowds, noise and yet only an hour’s drive from Rome.
It lends itself to please those seeking a quiet place for a picnic, passionate naturalists, horse riding, trekking, the practice of sports such as fishing, biking, canoeing, swimming, water skiing, motorcycle trials, enduro, the training of hunting dogs or just simply relaxing.
The lake has an area of 4.75 km², a capacity of 163 million cubic meters, and a maximum depth of 60m. 60.
The basin is located in the province of Rieti, in the centre Italy, in the upper Sabina.
Lago del Turano is a hidden jewel, reflecting the beautiful Monte Navegna and Monte Cervia, the cone of Monte Antuni, and higher still at 700m, the rocky spur of Ascrea and the village of Paganico Sabino, sitting on a rugged precipice.
In 1997, the Riserva Naturale dei Monti Navegna e Cervia was born: a vast area covered with beech woods, beautiful oaks and ancient chestnut trees gifting precious fruits.
The excellent quality of the ingredients used in the kitchen makes the food outstanding, ingredients which can also be found in the many festivals organized by the Pro Loco of the Valle del Turano: truffles, porcini mushrooms, fish from the lake, chestnuts and even wild boar and polenta.
