Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Everything at Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe is served in takeout containers.
Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe
The fried green tomato sandwich comes on jalapeño cornbread toast.
Café Reconcile
BBQ shrimp braised in beer are a popular menu item.
High Hat Cafe
The pastries at Lagniappe Bakehouse are worth waking up for.
Lagniappe Bakehouse
Peter Vazquez has been quietly making a name for himself for years.
The Appetite Repair Shop
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
15 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
16 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
17 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
18 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Italy Mantua Isola dei Fiori di Loto (Lotus Island)
AO Edited

Isola dei Fiori di Loto (Lotus Island)

In Lago Superiore, the largest expanse of lotus flowers outside of Asia is hard to miss.

Mantua, Italy

Added By
Lakehurst
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
  Carlo Pelagalli/CC BY-SA 3.0
  Carlo Pelagalli/CC BY-SA 3.0
  Carlo Pelagalli/CC BY-SA 3.0
Fior di loto in Mantua   Serena Trivini Bellini/CC BY-SA 2.0
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

On the surface of Lago Superiore (Lake Superior), one of the three lakes surrounding the city of Mantua, lies the largest expanse of lotus flowers outside of Asia. Known as Isola dei Fiori di Loto, or Lotus Island, it is a floating island split by small waterway that allows boats to cross.

The lotus, Nelumbium nucifera, rise up from the water with large leaves and stunning flowers in shades of pale pink and white. These unique plants have adapted to grow in watery environments like lakes and slow-moving rivers. They root in the soil of the lakebed, and push out leaves that float on or above the surface.

Native to Asia, these aquatic plants were established in Italy in the early 20th century. Mantua's lotuses were established in 1921 by Maria Pellegreffi, a student of the natural sciences. She received some Nelumbus luciferina plants from missionaries returning from China and planted them in front of the Valletta di Belfiore. Pellegreffi tried to breed the plant to make a flour from their rhizomes. While the flour never took hold in Italy, the plants established themselves in the waters of Lago Superiore.

In the lotus has spread so much that it has become one of the symbols of the city of Mantua. The fast-growing plants are kept in check by continuous pruning, which helps keep this beautiful, but pervasive plant from covering the entire lake. 

The best time to see the lotus floating island is in July and August, when the flowers are in full bloom.

Related Tags

Plants Flowers Lakes Water
Atlas Obscura Adventures

Flavors of Italy: Roman Carbonara, Florentine Steak & Venetian Cocktails

Savor local cuisine across Rome, Florence & Venice.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Lakehurst

Edited By

linkogecko, Michelle Cassidy

  • linkogecko
  • Michelle Cassidy

Published

June 7, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.cuorilievi.org/curiosita-su-mantova-dieci-cose-che-non-sapete/#:~:text=%20CURIOSIT%C3%80%20SU%20MANTOVA%3A%2010%20COSE%20CHE%20NON,il%20concetto%20di%20km%200.%20Il...%20More%20
  • https://www.dellumanoerrare.it/mantova-silenziosa-e-rinascimentale/
  • https://www.hisour.com/navigation-of-mantula-river-360-video-mantova-urban-museum-50953/
  • https://www.casachiesi.com/project/lotus-flowers-a-bit-of-asia-on-mantuas-waterway
  • http://visitmantua.blogspot.com/2011/02/lake-en-rose.html
Isola dei Fiori di Loto (Lotus Island)
Mantua, 46100
Italy
45.161677, 10.736317
Visit Website

Nearby Places

Santuario della Beata Vergine delle Grazie (Sanctuary of Our Vergine Maria of Grace)

Grazie, Italy

miles away

Palazzo Aldegatti's Cat

Mantua, Italy

miles away

Crypt of San Sebastiano's Church

Mantua, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Mantua

Mantua

Italy

Places 14
Stories 1

Nearby Places

Santuario della Beata Vergine delle Grazie (Sanctuary of Our Vergine Maria of Grace)

Grazie, Italy

miles away

Palazzo Aldegatti's Cat

Mantua, Italy

miles away

Crypt of San Sebastiano's Church

Mantua, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Mantua

Mantua

Italy

Places 14
Stories 1

Related Stories and Lists

18 Places Where You Just Have to Stop and Smell the Flowers

List

By Jonathan Carey

Related Places

  • The rose garden.

    Panajachel, Guatemala

    Atitlan Antique Rose Garden

    A collection of heirloom roses tucked in a spectacularly beautiful botanical garden on Lake Atitlan.

  • Lotus Sea with flowers in bloom.

    Tambon Chiang Haeo, Thailand

    Red Lotus Lake

    Stunning wetlands ablaze with pink lotus flowers.

  • Sukko Cypress Lake

    Krasnodar Krai, Russia

    Sukko Cypress Lake

    This cypress grove is a unique site considering these trees are not native to the region.

  • A fisherman searches for a catch in his athapum.

    Manipur, India

    Loktak Lake

    The largest freshwater lake in northeast India is also the only floating national park in the world.

  • Kylemore Abbey

    Connemara, Ireland

    Kylemore Abbey

    A stunning Victorian abbey and walled garden on a lakefront.

  • Chapel Rock on the shore of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

    Shingleton, Michigan

    Chapel Rock

    This lone tree and dramatic sandstone outcropping are so beloved by Michiganders they can be found on one of the state’s coins.

  • Peschiera Grande

    Caserta, Italy

    Peschiera Grande

    Nobles would stage mock naval battles on this large lake at the Royal Palace of Caserta.

  • Floating gardens, Inle Lake.

    Taunggyi, Myanmar (Burma)

    Floating Gardens of Inle Lake

    A series of tiny artificial islands rich with produce bob atop the surface of the lake.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.