Guide to Lake Iseo, Lombardy, Italy

Introduction

Lake Iseo, also called Lake Zebina is the fourth largest lake in the Lombardy region in Italy. The lake was formed by glaciers Valcamonica and is 24 kilometers long and up to 5 km wide. This width is not always evident as the largest lake island in Europe, Monte Isola, is in the middle of the lake. The lake is located north of Brescia and Bergamo, this is the fact that it is administered on the western shore of Bergamo reflectsDistrict Council and on the east side of the board of the district of Brescia. The River Oglio, flowing from and to enter and Valcamonica Lovere Pisogne, the lake is fed mainly from the north. Valcamonica has spas and prehistoric rock paintings. At the southern end of the lake is the tabby, a peat bog and now a nature reserve. South of this lies the Franciacorta valley, producing the best sparkling wines in Italy.

On the eastern shore, not far fromfrom the lake, the Natural Reserve of the Pyramids of Zone, a unique formation of pillars by irregular glacial erosion has occurred. The lake is sixty kilometers in radius, with villages and towns, the main Iseo, Sarnico, Lovere, Pisogne and Chestnut Hollow. These cities are full of historical and cultural interest, but it's nice stroll along the promenade or enjoy a drink in a bar. There are a variety of water sports on the lake and fishing is very popularwith the locals, tench is to capture coveted. This is a good selection of hiking and mountain biking, in winter there is skiing north of Lake Iseo in the area of taking him.

Individual points

The fact that Lake Iseo is not well known outside of Italy and less touristy, therefore, makes it attractive. One of the biggest attractions of Monte Isola, the largest lake island in Europe, which is easily accessible by ferry and car-free island is reached is very quiet,making it ideal for walking or cycling. There is also the Pyramids of Zone, where the erosion of glacial deposits has left pinnacles of earth up to ten meters high. Bogner is on the west bank of the Castro and Zorzino, slabs of limestone, the jump in the lake. To the north of the lake in Val Camino you can see hundreds of prehistoric rock paintings in the National Park of Rock Engravings and the south of the lake, the marsh peat bogs and Franciacorta, the area in the prestigioussparkling wine is produced.

Getting there

Nearest Airports

Bergamo (Orio al Serio)

Brescia

Verona

Milan (Malpensa)

Milan (Linate)

All these airports are within a reasonable distance to travel to Lake Iseo. Most international flights come into Milan Malpensa, although the airline Ryanair uses Bergamo and Brescia.

Car: Take the highway to go to Milan to Venice (A4) for the western shore of Lake Iseo Sarnico cameIntersection on the SS649. To reach the town of Iseo, in an easterly direction on the A4, you should also come to Sarnico exit and west on the A4 you would turn to Brescia, the SS510.

Public Transport: There is bus and train to Brescia from all nearby airports, then connections from Brescia by bus and train Iseo. The train continues Pisogne east bank.

Once you have reached Iseo the option to get relaxed and charmingaround the lake is by ferry.

Guide to Lake Iseo, clockwise from Iseo town on the south coast.

ISEO TOWN

I'm really happy town of Iseo, has a relaxed atmosphere, great parking and a nice walk with fantastic views of the lake and Monte Isola. It 's very busy, especially with the Italian families and couples.

Iseo was a commercial center in Roman times, and was an important port until the end of the 19th Century. The hero of the movement for Italian unification, Garibaldi,celebrated with a statue and the fountain in the main square. Also in this square is the Palazzo Vantini built in the 1833s and now used as City Hall. The Parish of St. Andrea dates back to 12th Century, and its characteristic Romanesque bell tower triangle. Oldofredi the 11th century castle has recently been restored and now houses the town library.

To the south of the town are the peat bogs; Sebino is now a nature reserve. Lake Iseo was around 10 meters deep inthe past, but erosion of the river Oglio at the southern drainage has caused the lake level began to fall, to cut a shallow basin, which gradually became a large marsh with peat deposits. During the industrialization of the 19th century local factories began with peat as a source of energy, eventually excavating most of the peat deposits. Imagine being dug peat with a spade in a cage with a period of five meters of control!

Evidence of prehistoric settlement was found during peatCutting: stone arrowheads, knives and daggers of 5000 BC. Now the area is of great scientific interest and home to many species of birds and fish.

The Franciacorta, south of Iseo, has become known for its sparkling wines. In the mid-1950s began, a young entrepreneur, the sparkling wine emulating the method using in the Champagne region of France do. This means that the second fermentation takes place in the wine bottle, a process that takes about two years.Now this valley produces the legally protected Franciacorta wine, assuring his hand with the traditional methods of Champagne in one of the thirty wineries in the area has. Visits to wineries and wine tastings can be arranged. Wine lovers may wish to visit for three days in September for the Wine Festival, with tasting, special meals and visits to wineries.

Villa Lechi, a Palladian-style villa built in the 16th century can be visited by appointment (phone 392 706 3008 7to arrange) West Erbusco Oglio North Park is on the east bank of the River.

SARNICO

Sarnico is the first resort heading west from Iseo. Originally a small pile of prehistoric, in its current form, where the lakes narrows and once again the river Oglio. There are frescoes in 1200 AD, the church of San Nazario e Rocca di Castione. You can still see ruined medieval ramparts.

For some Sarnico is best known for hosting the premier speedboat knownRiva Society. One of the most fascinating aspects of the history of business for me is the journey of Pietro Riva from his hometown of Lake Como to Sarnico Lagio 1842nd The young Peter was away, start a new process of repairing boats in Sarnico, on his way 70 miles, took him two days to travel by ship, train and bus.

His repairs were so successful that he was soon commissioned to build boats. The boat building business grew under his son Peter, Ernesto, who began to produceBoats powered by piston engines.

In 1912, Ernesto's son Serafino achieved a speed of 24 km / h in a motorboat. Riva became a prestigious brand, sought by the rich and famous as a status symbol. But no longer see speedboats on Lake Iseo, because it allowed for environmental reasons in 1976!

Sarnico is home to the Bellini Gallery, a picture gallery exhibiting around 150 pieces, mainly from the period between 16 and 18 century. The gallery is located in theold part of town and was once a convent. On display some sculptures and furniture.

The palace of twenty Sarnico rail line along Oglio. Volunteers reopened this line recently. TrenoBlu is known as, is often steam-operated. The trains leave in the summer. There are rail connections from Bergamo and Milan.

Just outside Sarnico, heading east, stands the Villa Faccononi, designed by one of Italy's best Art Nouveau architects, Sommaruga, for the rich FaccaniFamily. The lakeside villa style logo illustrates Sommaruga Floral.

Riva Solto

The range of Tavernola is the most dramatic in the north of the West Bank. Just try to clear the quarry Tavernola! Riva is a fishing village, full of arches and alleys. The old town is the hill of Zorzino. The Bong Zorzino, with its vertical slabs of limestone in Mount Clemens, creates an enclosed bay. Further north on CastroBogn.

LOVERE

The area was inhabited by the Gauls Lovere in the Iron Age, and the second century BC the Roman settlement began to take shape.

Lovere walls remaining from his days as a medieval fortified city. The oldest church in the 12th century Capell di San Martino. The city was in the 15th century as Venetian textile town known. Most of the production of wool cloth was sold in Germany and Austria. At the beginning of the 16th Century there was a periodagitated, with periods of French domination, the Holy Roman Empire and Spain, significantly disrupted the production and distribution of tissue. There was a fight later that century with plagues and famines. In the 17th century, the authorities had addressed the issue of security of bandits and some noblemen began to travel to Lombardy in Lovere for their holidays. The Basilica of Santa Maria dates from the 15th Century and hosts an organ from 16 Case century frescoes. LakePalazzo Tadini contains the School of Fine Arts, a gallery of paintings, sculptures and ceramics. Count Luigi Tadini began this collection in his home town of Crema. The families of Tadini only son died in 1799 in Lovere where they often took holidays. Count Tadini provided the funds for the construction of the Palazzo, in memory of his son.

The English writer and poet Lady Mary Wortley Montagu lived in a villa on the outskirts of Lovere in 1740. Lady Mary wrote "several letters to her havedaughter was in the garden of the villa, and to write poetry inspired by the beauty of their surroundings. In fact, they rejected the invitation to the Venice carnival saying, there are many things to do in this village, which is among other things, one of the most beautiful that exists. Lady Mary came to live in Italy in 1741, ostensibly for health reasons, although he thought that they did not want her husband to live with. Lady Mary was the wife of Turkey as British and traveledthere they met with the practice of vaccination against smallpox. He had his children, but has never been inoculated proper credit for introducing the practice in the United Kingdom since. Lady Mary's daughter married Lord Bute, the Prime Minister of Great Britain in 1762, a year after the death of Lady Mary.

Lovere has another literary connection Georges Sand, the French novelist who wrote of Lake Iseo to a friend in London, Come, I found a nice place to live. real name was Georges SandsAurore Dupin, but she had made a name because it was such Mans novelists of the 19th century for women, and she often dressed as a man. He had a long affair with Chopin. After their breakup in 1847, wrote the novel Lucrezia Floriana. The love story between a young Italian nobleman and an elderly lady is on Monte Isola. They say this looking for romance novel inspired many visits by ladies in the area!

Lovere in 1854 was the industrial revolution, withdevelopment of the first large steel complex in the region. Lovere and prospered as an industrial center in 1980, but this has left a scar on the landscape.

Camonica

As you head round the north of the lake, you can visit a small deviation Vallecamonica. This valley is 90 km long and contains 41 towns and villages, making it the longest valley in Italy. The healing power of water from the spa town of Boario Terme were written about howAlready in 1497 by the naturalist Paracelsus. The Italian Manzoni was a regular visitor, lives up to the age of 88. Near Capo di Ponte is the National Rock Engraving Park, with prehistoric rock paintings from the Neolithic to the Iron Age. The carvings relate to the history of the tribe of Camuni during this period. It 's a great site with thousands of figures: an enormous stone history book. One of the most common carvings is that Rosa camunawhich is the landmark of the Lombardy Region. On this side of Archeopark, an open-air interactive park where you can try different activities, such as daily prehistoric lighting a fire, shooting with bow and arrow and grinding corn and bread. The Archeodromo is a realistic construction of a Neolithic village with six huts perched on a rocky hill. Some schools remain in the village for a few days to get an authentic taste of prehistoric life. Personally, I think Idrather go back to my hotel bed and shower. The traditional art of woodcarving continues in this area. The wooden handicrafts Cammunian Boaria Spa, where they produce all kinds of ornaments religious cradles infants, can be found in the area. A fusion of modern and 16th century techniques are used to craft the right.

PISOGNE

Pisogne was an important center for trade in the Middle Ages - a large weekly market was held there. The city had a wall anda system of gates but not much is left today. In the Market Square would be hung in a cage suspended from the tower for nonpayment of taxes by the bishop. Tax was up almost anything - Fishing, hunting, milling, salt and iron. The bishops were forbidden that any punishment could lead to cause blood loss was so humiliating, the second best way to extract their contributions. In 1518 eight women accused of witchcraft in the Widow Tower before going to jailburned.

Directly to Piazza Santa Maria Assunta, which contains a body of 150 years. The facade of the Palazzo Fanzango with medallions of the characters in the book that I decorated boyfriend (The Betrothed) written by Manzoni. This is an important part of Italian literature, tells the story of how love triumphed for two peasants despite the efforts of a local tyrant. The book also has a vivid description of the spread of plague in the 17th CenturyMilan.

At the end of the 17th Century home of the notorious bandit Giorgi Vicario Pisogne. There was not much brotherly loyalty between the bandits as Vicario tracked down and killed Giuseppe Tech for a reward. Techis head delivered on a tray decorated with bay leaves to the authorities. A double whammy, a reward and less competition locally!

Pisogne host the festival of mushrooms and chestnuts on the last Sunday of September.

MARONE

MaroneLocated in a superb location in a green valley at the foot of Monte Guglielmo. There are remains of a Roman villa from the first century, the Co Hela as the city in force. On the lakeside is the Parish of tour, from the 18th Century, the Baroque church with an altar made of marble. Marone was well known for the production of wool cloth and felt, and the extraction of dolomite. Today tourism is the main industry.

A few kilometers upstream from Marone on the road to Zone lie the pyramids. I am aamazing sight: thin towers of the Earth up to 30 meters high, with large granite boulders perched almost like hats. The Pyramids are not static, as it erodes, resulting in the fall on the stone and build new pyramids.

On the way to the Pyramids is the church of San Giorgio and on the outer sidewall are frescoes from the 15th century painting, including that of St. George killing the dragon.

Also on the hill is the village area. As you climb you can see what IInitially I thought it was a ski lift, above the road. And 'in fact suspended containers, which carry the dolomite down from the quarry Calarusso. Somehow reminds me of a Swiss mountain village, the air was so fresh and crisp. There are two interesting churches on the Piazza Almici: The octagonal 18th century Beata Suspension of Lourdes and the 17th Century Parish Ballista S Young, with wooden works of art by Andrea Falconi. The festival of honey is held in placeEarly August. From the area there are several hiking trails and when you full of energy, one is on top of Mount William.

MONTE ISOLA

The largest lake island in Europe is 3 km long, rises 600 m above sea level, and is sometimes referred to as the pearl of Iseo. Only public service vehicles with four wheels are allowed on the island. If most of the 'island you can rent a bicycle or use to view the local bus. E 'can also take the cakePlane along the southern coast of the town of Peschiera Maraglio for Sensole and forth on the ferry from Sensole. If you are a bit 'more energetic, you can visit the 13th century Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Taper, located on the island's highest point.

The 14th Century, the fortress home of the family Olofredi Martinango. And 'one of the best preserved castles in the region. E 'on the tallest tower in the center of his unusual.

L 'Population of the island in 1700, with those not employed in tourism working as fishermen or river networks do. In fact, the nets for the goal posts of 1982 World Cup made locally. Guess what '- Italy wins the Cup this year! There are still many Naets see the traditional wooden fishing boats. Some of the hook is left out to dry in the sun in the traditional way.

Visit to a traditional site, shipyard inPeschier Maraglio, and see the construction of wooden boats by hand.

I think that Monte Isola to visit a charming, quiet place, is still relatively quiet and relaxing. It 's very rich in forests, when observing from the shore to be able to imagine its difficult to reach the summit.

One of the major events on the island is the festival of Corzano, a village in 1600 on dates. This is done only every five years.

There are regular ferry services from differentThe city on the banks of the lake to the coastal towns of Monte Isola.

Itineraries

Day trip:

Driving: You can take a ride in the lake with a couple of stops in one day from Milan, Brescia or Bergamo and unique attractions.

Public transport: bus / train to Iseo, ferry trip from there. Trains from Brescia operate every hour and a half hour journey to Iseo, and even go up to Pisogne, Salt Marasino stop and Sulzano.

Short Weekendcan stay (2-3 nights), it should be based in Iseo, spending a day in Monte Isola, one day visiting the western shore of the lake and one day, on the east bank. An alternative would be to the lake in a day trip and spend a day or Bergamo or Verona.

Iseo town of Padua would be a good starting point for day trips to the cities of Bergamo, Verona, Venice, Brescia, and Vicenza. Lake Garda and Lake Como are located nearby.