The Wonders of Lake Mezzola: Between Relaxation and Sports

The upper part of Lake Como is a wonderfully wild and primitive environment, still largely intact. Visiting it by canoe is a relaxing experience, yet it also holds the thrill of discovery. Through the Mera River, an inflow to Lake Como, you enter the Pian di Spagna Nature Reserve, the largest in Lombardy. Continuing along the river, you reach Lake Mezzola, which is also part of the reserve.

Here, you can witness hundreds of birds and enjoy a diverse and surprising landscape: on one shore, there are shallow waters and reed beds, while on the other (accessible only by lake), you’ll find deep waters, steep cliffs, isolated beaches, and a beautiful waterfall. There are also numerous fish species, including the lake trout, lavarello (introduced from Northern Europe), agone, pike, perch, sunfish, chub, bream, triotto, vairone, alborella, sanguinerola, carp, tench, pike-perch, bottatrice, and eel, as well as rare species like the savetta and barbi, and temoli that have descended from the Mera River.

Lake Mezzola is also an excellent location for birdwatching due to the remarkable number of aquatic and wading birds that populate its shores.

For those interested in practicing rowing as a sport or training with their team, Verceia hosts a prominent indoor rowing center. The facility offers a training tank for beginner rowers, rowing ergometers, boat rentals (skiff, mini skiff, double scull, four-oar boat, and four-oar pair), and the possibility of professional coaching.