Lake Avernus, one of the gates to the underworld

About this activity

L'Avernus is a lake of volcanic origin that resides in an approximately 4,000-year-old crater. In ancient times, the sulfurous exhalations from its waters killed unfortunate birds so because of this characteristic it is named Avernus, from the Greek άορνος, meaning birdless. The exhalations ended naturally, and today, fragrant Mediterranean scrub grows around the lake, which is home to numerous species of birds and acts as a backdrop to a magical place rich in naturalistic and archaeological treasures such as the remains of the Temple of Apollo and the Cave of the Sibyl and the Cave of Cocceius.

Why visit Lake Avernus

The flat route is determined by a single cobblestone path, followed by a portion of paved road, which runs along the lake and is accessible to anyone. It therefore lends itself very well not only to a pleasant family walk, but also to activities such as running or mountain biking.

The animals that inhabit the Lake

Stations are installed along the route for birdwatchers to observe anatids such as coots, grebes and mallards. These are anatids, i.e., waterfowl that nest among the reedbeds of bodies of water and feed mainly on small fish and algae. However, due to the presence of the various farmsteads and people's interest, these animals have become practically omnivorous. Coots are, among the three types of anatidae, the smallest and have characteristic black plumage, while their beaks are white.

Recognizing them is very easy thanks to a peculiar behavior of the male that literally runs on the surface of the water. Mallards, on the other hand, are also called Cape Verdeans. Males, in fact, have a head of an iridescent green color under which a white collar stands out. Females, on the other hand, have a very neutral color but present the same shape. Finally, grebes are distinguished by their long necks and a distinctive tuft they wear on their heads. The waters are also inhabited by fish such as bleaks, gambusias, freshwater blennies, and perch, which attract fishing enthusiasts but also ecologists who study their interactions with species such as goldfish and freshwater turtles illegally released into the lake's waters. These species, in fact, are pests since they have no natural predators and are very ravenous. They thus destroy the balance of the ecosystem and take over the native species.

Lake Avernus between nature, mystery and archaeology

The archaeological remains of the Temple of Apollo (located on the eastern shores of Avernus), the Cave of the Sibyl (on the southern shores) and the Cave of Cocceius (located on the northern side of the lake) can also be visited here.

Of the Temple of Apollo, the remains of the structure can be seen, which is actually a large thermal hall. The Cave of the Sibyl, on the other hand, is presented as a long dark and silent tunnel that was believed to be inhabited by the Sibyl, Apollo's priestess. According to Virgil, the Sibyl, suggested that Aeneas cross the lake to meet his late father, Anchises.

Finally, the Cocceio Cave was designed and built by Cocceio at the behest of Agrippa, who commissioned its construction for military purposes: in fact, the cave was to connect Avernus with Lucrino during the construction of the Portus Iulius. All this is included in the background of Mediterranean scrub with specimens of elm, ilex and oleanders that accompany the walk with their scent. Various are the agritourisms and vineyards that stand around the lake, where fine PDO wines such as pedirosso and falanghina from the Phlegrean Fields and fruit and vegetable products are produced. There are also picnic areas, areas entirely dedicated to children and an area for our four-legged friends called Animal Park. Interesting theme nights are organized on the shores of the lake.

The most important things to know about Lake Avernus

• Lake Avernus occupies the bottom of a Phlegrean crater, located between Cuma and Lucrino, in the municipality of Pozzuoli.
• Clothing and equipment leave plenty of room for choice as it is not a strenuous hike. However, the various surface depressions and relatively uneven sections of the terrain, can create puddles on days preceded by rains.
• There is a wooden cross fence dividing the path from the lake waters but it is interspersed with marshy areas and reeds so care should be taken with children who might stumble over it.

Curiosities about Lake Avernus

The ancient Greeks and Romans, believed it to be an access to the Underworld or Hades, the place of souls and the realm of the God Pluto.