About Luce sul Lago

A place to slow down

Luce sul Lago is a peaceful retreat overlooking Lake Nemi — a place to slow down, reconnect, and experience a simpler way of living, close to nature.

Surrounded by shifting light and quiet landscapes, we welcome those who seek calm, presence, and meaningful moments. Whether for a few days or longer, this is a space to pause, breathe, and return to what feels essential.

The Meaning of Luce sul Lago

Luce sul Lago means “Light on the Lake”

The name comes from the ever-changing reflections of sunlight on the waters of Lake Nemi, visible from the land that hosts the project. Throughout the day, the light moves, softens, and transforms — creating an atmosphere that invites calm, contemplation, and quiet wonder.

This movement of light reflects the inner journeys we hope to support: subtle, personal, and always evolving.

Our Story

When we first discovered this place, it had been abandoned for years. The land was overgrown, the spaces neglected — but the view over the lake was still there, full of beauty and potential.

We slowly began to restore it, step by step. Cleaning, building, planting, and reimagining what it could become. What started as a simple project turned into something deeper: a place to welcome others and share a different rhythm of life.

Luce sul Lago grew from this process — from care, patience, and a desire to create something meaningful.

Our Mission

At Luce sul Lago, our mission is to create a sanctuary where people can slow down, reconnect, and rediscover the essence of living in harmony with nature.

We believe in simplicity, presence, and the value of taking time. Time to rest, to create, to connect — with nature, with others, and with oneself.

Here, wellbeing is not something to achieve, but something that naturally emerges when space is made for it.

The Experience

Life at Luce sul Lago is shaped by simple and meaningful moments.

You might start your day with the light on the lake, enjoy a quiet coffee on the terrace, spend time outdoors, and end the day sharing a meal or watching the sunset.

We offer:

  • mindful and wellbeing practices

  • creative and cultural workshops

  • time in nature and connection to the land

  • moments of rest, silence, and shared experiences

Everything is designed to honor slowness, authenticity, and presence.

A living project

Luce sul Lago is not just a place to stay — it is an evolving project.

Whether you arrive as a guest, a volunteer, or a supporter, you become part of a shared vision shaped by care, balance, and intention.

It is a space where people contribute in different ways, and where each presence adds something to the whole.

Supporting Integration of Refugees

Luce sul Lago is also a social project.

Through the association’s revenues, we aim to create employment opportunities for refugees, supporting their integration and helping them renew their “permesso di soggiorno”.

We have already taken a first step by offering a registered work contract to a refugee from Cameroon, which enabled him to obtain the documents needed to request an extension of his residence permit.

This experience showed how essential stable, declared work can be in helping someone remain in the country and rebuild their life.

As the project grows, we hope to create more opportunities like this.

What We Mean by “Association”

Luce sul Lago is an officially registered non-profit association.

This means that:

  • The association has been formally established through an atto costitutivo and statuto, drafted and notarized by a recognized notaio

  • A fiscal code has been issued by the Agenzia delle Entrate

  • A dedicated bank account under the name of the association

  • Yearly declarations are prepared and submitted with the support of a certified accountant

Beyond the legal structure, being an association reflects a deeper choice.

A Non-Profit

As a non-profit association:

  • There is no profit distribution

  • No dividends are paid

  • All revenues remain entirely within the association

  • Income is used exclusively to cover expenses and support the mission

  • At present, the association is run by volunteers, but we aim to provide job opportunities for refugees to support their document renewals and social integration.

All revenues from our glamping retreats, wellness experiences, and artisanal olive oil are received as contributions to the association, not as commercial sales. These contributions go directly to supporting the association’s work and are a way for guests and visitors to actively participate in and sustain our mission of wellness, nature, and community.

Financial Sustainability

At Luce sul Lago, we do not believe in “free donations,” where contributions are given without any exchange. We see this as unsustainable. Instead, we aim to make the association financially sustainable through contributions and donations that offer something in return—an experience, a service, a product, an activity—something meaningful that creates a positive impact for the person giving.

The association is financed through:

🌿 Glamping retreat experiences for guests who contribute financially in exchange for an immersive stay in nature

🫒 Organic olive oil production, cultivated from the land we care for

Contact us

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