EUR Lake Rome Is Great If You Are In Italy On A Budget

The EUR Lake Rome is a surprisingly modern park with boating surrounded by beautiful trails in the EUR district and great if you are in Italy on a budget.

eur lake rome -beautiful — Beautiful EUR Lake and Park

The EUR Lake Park (Parco Lago dell’EUR), also known informally as Larghetto or more formally as Parco Centrale del Lago, is a surprisingly modern greenspace in Rome that has an artificial basin located at the division of the main road of via Cristoforo Colombo, in the EUR district south of the historical center (Centro Storico).

What Does EUR Mean In Rome?

In the 1930s, Mussolini expressed the desire to start a unique construction project suitable for the headquarters of the World’s Fair, also known as the Universal Exposition di Roma (EUR), that would take place in 1942. World War II put an end to this plan, but it didn’t prevent this neighborhood from being built and still representing a very active urban area today. The conception for this park coincides with the creation of the EUR Rome district in 1936. I have written about EUR Rome in the past because of its dramatic architecture, and this park was part of the larger vision.

eur lake rome - swan boats — Swan Boat Rentals

What Part Of Rome Was Built By Mussolini?

The Roman neighborhood known as EUR is an urban architectural complex that dates back to the Fascist period in Italy. In the 1930s, Mussolini expressed the desire to start a unique construction project suitable for the headquarters of the World’s Fair, also known as the Universal Exposition, that would take place in 1942. World War II put an end to this plan, but it didn’t prevent this neighborhood from being built and still representing a very active urban area today.

Like much of EUR Rome, it was completed only after the war. The artificial lake inside the park is closed on the two shorter sides, to the northwest by the UniCredit bank building and to the southeast by the ENI tower. The small lake is dominated by a hill containing the Palazzo dello Sport, along via Cristoforo Colombo, with waterfalls that act as a backdrop to the palace.

How Big Is EUR Lake Rome?

The park occupies an area of approximately 160,000 m², more or less equally divided between the green area and the artificial lake. The lake itself is a kilometer long and from 60 to 130 meters wide, with a total area of 85,120 m², with a depth varying between 2 and 4 meters.

How Long Is The Path Around EUR Lake Rome?

The path in the park around EUR Lake is a 1.5 mile (3,500-step) that has an elevation gain of about 242.7 ft and is rated as medium. If this isn’t long enough for you, there is a longer trail that includes the lake, but then travels south and is an 8 mile (18,000-step) route with an elevation gain of about 314.9 ft and is rated as medium.

Are There Cherry Blossoms in EUR Lake Rome Park?

There is a walking, running and cycling path that circles the lake and it is called the Japan Promenade (Passeggiata del Giappone) in honor of Japan whose Prime Minister, Nobusuke Kishi, on an official visit to Italy in July 1959, donated 2,500 sakura (prunus serrulata), Japanese flowering cherry trees, many of which are planted right in the EUR park.

eur lake rome - blossoms — Cherry Blossoms In Spring

For this reason, the Italians have also adopted the habit of celebrating a typically Japanese custom, which takes place in the flowering period of mid-March until early April and consists in walking under these trees and often having a picnic in the shade. One bit of warning for those of you who are allergic, these blossoms invite a surprisingly large number of bees to help with the pollination. They didn’t seem aggressive, but it is something to keep in mind.

What Else Can You Do At EUR Lake Rome?

In addition to walking, running or cycling around the lake or enjoying the cherry blossoms when they are in season, you can walk around and enjoy the other garden highlights. One of the surprising highlights is the waterfall garden (Giardino delle Cascate). It was inaugurated in 1961, and it is a harmonious mixing of waterfalls and jets of water, cliffs, natural stones and plants of different species that make it unique among the urban parks of Rome.

You can enjoy a tranquil coffee, of course because this is Italy, while enjoying the views around the lake. You can also rent a paddle boat, think: Swan Boat, and get another form of exercise, should that be important to you. There were also rowing courses set up on the lake, but these were for canoe clubs and competitions and probably not for any visitor.

eur lake rome - art — Art Installations Around The EUR Lake Park

At the Happy Lake pier in viale Oceania every Saturday and Sunday you can ride the Draghetto / Traghetto. It is a twenty-seat boat that tours the pond for 18 minutes. The price of the ticket is €3.00. As mentioned above, it is also possible to rent a pedal boat for €9.00 for 30 minutes, or a row boat for €10.00 for 30 minutes.

There is also an aquarium, but it was closed during our visit. The aquarium project began in 2008 with the construction of the Mediterraneum by EUR Spa. The building along the northern edge of the lake, has an area of approximately 14,000 m². It was initially scheduled for opening in June 2012, but the opening was postponed for one year due to technical problems. As of 2022, it is not yet available to the public.

EUR Lake Park In Films

I enjoy visiting locations that have made a cultural impact by being the backdrop for film, and EUR Lake Park is no exception.The pond has been the backdrop for numerous films both from the past and from recent times, albeit Italian films like:

“Boccaccio ’70” (Federico Fellini, 1961)
“The Father of the Family” (Nanni Loy, 1967)
“The Serum of Vanity” (Alex Infascelli, 2004)
“Manual of Love” ( Giovanni Veronesi, 2005)
“The Last Kiss” (Gabriele Muccino, 2001)

eur lake rome - fountains — Fountains Facing The Marconi Obelisk

How Can You Get To EUR Lake Rome?

You can reach the park very easily on Metro B if you take it south until you reach the EUR Palasport or EUR Fermi stops. There are also many buses that will take you to this area, but it depends where you are coming from. The ATAC 714 is very direct from Termini Station.

Where Can You Park At EUR Lake?

One might consider public transportation if you really want to experience the park, and EUR in general, in the mode in which the architects intended. If you are driving, there is an underground car park near Lago dell’EUR and the EUR Palasport Metro stop at Terracini 8. It is open 24×7 and costs €15 per day.