Italy (Friuli Venezia Giulia): outdoor music emotions on the shores of Laghi di Fusine (Fusine Lakes)

In the Italian region Friuli Venezia Giulia on  the border with Slovenia and Austria there are two stunning emerald lakes, Laghi di Fusine. On top of hiking or sunbathing, discover another fun way to chill out and enjoy the magic of Fusine Lakes in Northeastern Italy!

Laghi di Fusine, Italy

WHERE ARE FUSINE LAKES?

I find myself sitting on a huge cold boulder on the shores of a vivid green lake. It is the upper lake of Fusine Lakes. It is early morning and cold, though it's August. This place is the coldest area in the Italian region of Friuli Venezia Giulia: minus 35 degrees in winter.   

I eye towards the center of the lake where the surrounding mountains are reflected, especially the Magart. Oh, yeah, the Magart. A jarring name for a mountain, German or Austrian, I would say, or rather, Slovenian, yet we are in Italy. 

In fact, we are on the border where Slovenia, Italy and Austria meet in an intersection of the Alps with trilingual names. 

FUSINE LAKES: A SET FOR A MYSTERY FILM

I peer at the center of the lake and I expect a dragon or a monster to come out any moment. No, not the monster from more northernly latitudes. I am expecting a sea snake with emerald green eyes like the lake colour. An Italian film was shot on these shores some years ago. 

It was about the death of a young girl found naked on the shores and they mentioned the legend of the lake snake living in the depths. Fusine Lakes would be the gateway to the secret of the lake.

Fusine Lakes - Upper Lake, Italy

TWO GLACIAL LAKES

These glacial lakes have a great fascination on me, perhaps because of their mysterious birth millions of years ago by the secret hand of nature. There were glaciers were now you see a green wonder.

I am not alone at the lake: here and there small groups of people sit quietly on the shores, some perched on the rocks, some standing to take pictures. Paolo, too, is on the edge of a boulder and is balancing with his camera trying to capture the gorgeous mountain reflections on the lake. 

"Did you find the girl?", I ask him amused. "What girl?" He replies back. "The one from the mystery film", I add. No answer comes back; he doesn't remember the film. 

Shores and rocks on Fusine Lakes, Italy

There is a platform in the middle of the lake. A peculiar place for a platform. Two musicians get off a tender dinghy onto the floating dock. The two figures in the distance seem to be bobbing on the pontoon as they arrange their instruments in a quick succession of movements. They sway gently. 

FUSINE LAKES SET IN THE MILLENARY FOREST OF TARVISIO

All around a thick wood of beeches, silver firs and larches that extend as far as the eye can see. It is the millenary forest of Tarvisio, the largest state-owned forest in Italy. 24,000 hectares of forest, one of the most precious naturalistic areas in Italy.

I could see a secret link between why we are here today and the spruces that cover the Tarvisio forest: the spruce here is called "the resonant spruce" because it is the best wood to build the string instruments such as violas or violins.  And in the end we are here to listen to music.

For the time being the only thing that we hear early in the morning is a special kind of music: the magic of nature silence.

Music pontoon on the upper lake 

Mountain reflections on the upper lake

Mountain reflections on the upper Fusine Lake

However, we are not here just for the naturally quiet place, at least not all day long.

A SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL ON FUSINE LAKES

We are here for a music festival concert: "No Border Festival" is held almost every summer  with artists from all over the world. It is difficult to explain the power of music that hovers in the boundless space of the mountains and lakes. 

It is pure emotion.

Outdoor concerts in natural settings are the new trend in Italy: from Friuli Venezia Giulia, to Trentino Alto Adige, to Piedmont these high-altitude music festivals and concerts are a great success. 

Music has the power to take you to unexpected heights as it gets into "normal" places, and it hangs flattering over mountains and lakes.

Musicians at Fusine Lake music festival

Music and mountain scenary on Fusine Lakes

Sitting on the boulders on the shores of Fusine Lakes

Summer outdoor concerts are a new way of experiencing Fusine Lakes and the Alps that here are called the Julian Alps, the northernmost Italian Alps. 

WHY YOU SHOULDN'T MISS FUSINE LAKES MUSIC FESTIVAL

We have already been to this enchanting lakes before: in spring to see the wonderful awakening of nature and in winter to snowshoeing. 

In summer you can trek around the two lakes, or hike to the local mountain refuge, the Zacchi refuge, but this time we can't wait to live the emotions of an outdoor concert by the shores of Fusine Lakes. 

The stunning setting turns into a natural theater.

A gift that nature is giving us providing an extraordinary set to the concert.

Stunning setting of No Border Music Festival

Mirror effect view of the surrounding mountains 

Music festival artists playing on stage

Summer concert at Fusine Lakes

LOCATION OF THE SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL ON FUSINE LAKES

We arrived at Laghi di Fusine, driving an hour and a half north of Pordenone along the motorway, parked near the Upper Lake (Lago Superiore). You have to go past the Lower Lake (Lago Inferiore) before reaching the concert location. 

In a huge grass meadow next to the Upper Lake, a huge stage has been installed where musicians from all over the world take turns. The music genres are different, so it suits all musical tastes! 

There is a mood of trepidation on the lawn before the concert: people take their seats to get the best view, but there is no best seat because you can sit anywhere!

Us

However, we can't not resist and we shot straight before the stage: the outdoor magical music echoed in the breathtaking mountain panorama is something unforgettable! Even our lunch taste better in this wonderful scenario!

"How do we beat all this?" I ask Paolo, looking around at the massive mountains mirrored on the Upper Lake. 

THE HIKE AROUND FUSINE LAKES

In response to my question, after the concert Paolo took me for a hike around Fusine Lakes: first the upper lake, and than through the connecting paths the lower lake. 

Wow! Wow! Wow! 

At the end of the easy trek around the beautiful alpine lakes we settle out under a shady pergola in the lakeside restaurant, warm with golden sunlight, with intense green lake reflections. 

This landscape would be perfect for a painting!

The bar overlooking Fusine Lakes shores

HOW TO GET TO ITALY'S FUSINE LAKES 

If you come from the nearby Tarvisio, take the state road nr 54. The road that leads straight up to Fusine lakes is called Via Laghi (Lakes road) and it is off the main roads. From Tarvisio to the Upper Lake is 14 km.

You can easily get there by car and park on the street (charge in the summer), but cycling and hiking are very popular.  

HIKING ITALY'S FUSINE LAKES, THE UPPER LAKE AND THE LOWER LAKE 

The loop hike around the Upper and Lower Fusine Lakes can be completed in about 1 hour and 30 minutes and covers 6 km with less than 70 mt difference in height. 

If you start your hike from the Lower Lake, take the gravel path after the sign "Rio del Lago" (Lake's Stream) along the stream. The path is very easy up to the bar overlooking the lake; then because of tree roots sticking out and slippery soil, you need to pay more attention. Good shoes are required.

At the end of the Lower Lake path, there is a trail to the Upper Lake where you can also hike around the lake.

 

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK ON FUSINE LAKES

Upper Fusine Lake: Bar ai Sette Nani.

Lower Fusine Lake: Edelweiss restaurant and mountain hut overlooking the lower lake.

SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL "NO BORDER MUSIC FESTIVAL" AT FUSINE LAKES

The summer music festival at Fusine Lakes, "No Border Music Festival", is held every summer on the shores of the Upper Lake of Fusine Lakes and is an unmissable event for those who love music in unique environment.

Click here for further information on "No Border Music Festival".

MORE THINGS TO DO AROUND FUSINE LAKES: THE MOUNTAIN REFUGE ZACCHI 

If you feel like hiking 500 metre height difference between the Upper Lake and the mountain hut Rifugio Zacchi, take nr 512 trail from the upper lake and roughly one hour you reach Rifugio Zacchi (1,380 metres above sea level) where you can eat and stay overnight. 

The mountain refuge Rifugio Zacchi is named after the colonel of the Italian Alpini, Luigi Zacchi, who took part in the Italian campaign in Russia and died in 1950.

The hike to Rifugio Zacchi has a medium level difficulty. 

Check here for further information.

A MYSTERY FILM FEATURING FUSINE LAKES

If you are curious to see the mystery film set on Fusine Lakes shores, click here

MORE INFORMATION ON FUSINE LAKES

For further general tourist information on Fusine Lakes, click here. 

For further reviews on Fusine Lakes, click here.

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Hope you have enjoyed Italy (Friuli Venezia Giulia): outdoor music emotions on the shores of Laghi di Fusine (Fusine Lakes)!

Thanks for reading.

Arrivederci!

MarcoPoloSpirit

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