Lac des Idoles (Lago degli Idoli), mont Falterona

Stia (mont Falterona)

On Monte Falterona, near the sources of the Arno, a small lake is now called the Lago degli Idoli, the lake of the idols. In spring 1838, a shepherd found there a bronze statuette of Hercules, from about 450 BC. Volunteer excavations, launched soon afterwards, yielded more than 600 bronze statuettes, about 1,000 pieces of raw bronze (aes rude) and 2,000 arrowheads, according to the Visit Tuscany record. Most of the statuettes show men praying, palms open, or bringing gifts. A bronze head in the British Museum, probably made at Chiusi, dates from 425-400 BC. Wikipedia states that the offerings date from the mid-6th century to the 4th century BC, and that the finds of 2003 are mostly of the 6th-5th century. The campaigns of 1972 and of 2003 to 2007 confirmed the site. The statuettes in the form of limbs suggest healing offerings, but this is a hypothesis. The British Museum places the discovery in 1836, whereas the other sources say 1838: the exact date remains uncertain.

Visit Tuscany — Lago degli Idoli ↗

Getting there: On Monte Falterona, in the forests of the Casentino, commune of Stia (province of Arezzo). The Visit Tuscany record gives neither route nor times: they have not been verified. The finds can be seen in the Casentino archaeological museum at Bibbiena. Coordinates taken from the Visit Tuscany record.

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound