The Phlegraean Lakes

Four green oases among the wonders of the Phlegraean Fields

The Phlegraean Fields, one of the most popular and well-visited areas in Campania, just minutes from the heart of Naples, is dotted with the many natural traces left over the centuries by the intense volcanic activity that has always characterised this area. Prominent among these are the "Phlegraean Lakes", ancient water bodies around which true oases rich in biodiversity have been created.

The most famous of the four Phlegraean Lakes, mentioned even by Virgil and Homer, is Lake Averno, the only one of volcanic origin, with over 4,000 years of history behind it. A short distance away, you can see Lake Lucrino, the smallest of the four, separated from the Mediterranean by a narrow strip of land. Meanwhile, to the east of Baia (a hamlet of the municipality of Bacoli), Lake Fusaro, once identified with the infernal swamp formed by the legendary river Acheron, reveals itself in all its splendour. This stretch of water was of particular importance during the Bourbon era, when it was included in the royal hunting and fishing reserve.

The most distant of all, divided from the sea by tufa rocks, is Lake Miseno, named after the legendary companion of Ulysses mentioned by Homer. In Roman times, this was the site of an important port that harboured the Roman imperial fleet.