Lago del Salto in a nutshell
Lago del Salto is a reservoir in the Cicolano, a valley in the province of Rieti in Lazio. It was created by damming the river Salto between 1938 and 1940, and it is the largest artificial lake in Lazio. Some villages were flooded when the water rose and rebuilt higher up on the shore, which is why the area is known for its drowned villages. Next door lies the smaller Lago del Turano with the stone village of Castel di Tora.
This guide covers both lakes: the villages, swimming spots, Rocca Sinibalda, Petrella Salto, hiking on Monte Navegna, Rieti, Terminillo, day trips from Rome, the weather, getting there and where to stay. Prices are in euros, as listed in 2026, and they can change.
Our picks: tours around Lago del Salto and Rieti
Most of these start in Rome or Rieti rather than on the lake, so check the start point first. The Sabina and Farfa trips and the Rieti vineyard lunch suit a day out from Rome, the e-bike tour is for active visitors who like village roads, and the winery visit or the museum ticket fits a short stop around Rieti.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Rieti vineyard visit and wine lunch from Rome
- Guided vineyard visit
- Four-course lunch
- Seven wines with the meal
A full day with a vineyard and winery visit near Rieti, then a four-course lunch with matching wines. It is offered from Rome, with pickup at a location you agree on.
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Sabina day trip from Rome: Farfa, Casperia and more
- Pickup and return in Rome
- Farfa, Casperia and Montasola
- Italian breakfast
A full day in the Sabina hills with a local expert, by car or van. It starts in Rome, not at the lakes, and entry fees are extra.
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Farfa Abbey and Sabina villages from Rome with lunch
- Farfa guide and abbey entry
- Panoramic stops in the Sabina
- Typical lunch
A day by coach from Rome to Farfa Abbey and medieval villages in the Sabina. The exact time and meeting point arrive only after you book.
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Guided e-bike tour through the Casperia countryside
- E-bike and helmet
- Village visits and cultural entries
- Guide in Italian or English
A three-hour ride in the Sabina hills that starts in Casperia, not at the lakes. Four bookings guarantee that it runs.
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Organic winery tour and tasting near Rieti
- Organic vineyard and cellar tour
- Four wines
- Homemade cured meats
A one-hour visit to an organic estate in the Rieti countryside, with an introduction to the Cesanese di Castelfranco grape. A short stop that fits easily into a day around Rieti.
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Rieti museum circuit with combined ticket
- Combined museum ticket
- Museo Civico
- Oratory and theatre by reserved slot
One ticket covers the Museo Civico and more sites in Rieti. Oratory and theatre can be visited only in the slot you reserve, Friday to Sunday.
Check availability →Guided visits and day trips around the lakes
Local guided visits, boat trips and excursions in the Rieti area and from Rome, with live prices and availability.
Plan your visit to Lago del Salto
Pick the pages you need. Each one stands on its own.
Lago del Turano
The smaller lake next door, its lake villages and how it differs from the Salto.
Castel di Tora
A stone village above the shore, its tower and the guided visit to Antuni.
The drowned village
Borgo San Pietro, the flooded settlements and the monastery museum.
Beaches and swimming
Bathing spots, the 2026 season and the rules that matter.
Rocca Sinibalda
A Renaissance castle visited on guided tours only.
Petrella Salto and the Cicolano
The hill village, the rebuilt shore villages and the valley.
Hiking on Monte Navegna
Trails in the nature reserve and one documented route.
Rieti
The old town, the underground tour and the Sacred Valley.
Terminillo
The mountain above Rieti in summer and winter.
Day trips from Rome
How to plan Rieti and the lakes as a day out.
Weather and best time
Monthly climate figures and what they mean for a visit.
Getting there
By car, train and bus from Rome and its airports.
Where to stay
Which village or town base fits your plans.
The dam of Lago del Salto
The curved concrete dam closes the Salto valley and is the best-known structure of the lake. Its height is given as roughly 90 to 108 m. The lake itself was filled in 1940, and the water also feeds the Cotilia power plant, which is linked to the Turano by an underground channel.
Treat the dam as something to look at from outside. Regular visits to the interior or the technical areas are not offered, so plan your stop around the views and the shore villages instead.
A few things to know before you go
The points that trip up most first-time visitors.
Two lakes, not one
Lago del Salto and Lago del Turano are separate reservoirs. They are connected by an underground channel of about 9 km that feeds a power plant, not by a boat route. Plan each lake as its own visit.
Lago del Turano →The drowned villages are history, not a sight
Borgo San Pietro, Teglieto, Fiumata and others were flooded in 1940, and new settlements were built on the shore. The ruins are not a regular attraction. Wall remains may show above the surface at very low water, but there is no access and nothing you can plan around.
The drowned village →Antuni and the castle are guided only
The abandoned village of Antuni near Castel di Tora is visited by reservation with authorised guides. Rocca Sinibalda opens for guided tours at set times. You cannot just walk in.
Castel di Tora →Swimming has a season
The regular official bathing season in 2026 ran from 1 May to 30 September. Equipped spots exist at the Salto and the Turano, but a classified bathing area is not the same as a supervised beach.
Beaches and rules →Rieti has a direct train to Rome
In the 2026 timetable (valid 14 June to 12 December), a train runs from Rieti to Roma Tiburtina, leaving at 06:12 and arriving at 07:59, with calendar limits. From the station you continue by bus or car. Works can change the plan, so check before you travel.
Getting there →Terminillo lifts are not guaranteed for winter
The lifts are currently closed, and winter 2026/27 operation is not guaranteed, so check the current status before you go. Summer hiking does not depend on the lifts.
Terminillo →Lago del Salto: frequently asked questions
Where is Lago del Salto?
It is in the Cicolano in the province of Rieti, Lazio. The Strada Cicolana runs about 20 km from Rieti to the lake. The Lago del Turano, also in the province of Rieti, is the smaller lake next door.
Is Lago del Salto a natural lake?
No. It is a reservoir created by damming the Salto in 1938 to 1940, and it is the largest artificial lake in Lazio. The Turano is a reservoir too, built in 1939.
Can I see the drowned village?
Not on a regular basis. The villages that were flooded were rebuilt on the shore, and Borgo San Pietro is the new settlement with its monastery. Wall remains may show at very low water, but this cannot be planned. See the drowned village page.
Can I swim in the lake?
There are equipped bathing spots at Fiumata and Borgo San Pietro with sunbed, pedal boat and canoe rental. The regular official season in 2026 ran from 1 May to 30 September. Details and rules are on the beaches page.
Can I do it as a day trip from Rome?
Yes, with your own planning. Rieti is reachable by train and bus, and the lakes by car or by regional bus. Plan one lake per day to keep it relaxed. See day trips from Rome for ideas.
Is this the official website of the lake or its villages?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no connection to the lake municipalities, the Lazio region, the dam operator or any tour operator or hotel.