This voute wids alog the old Vello- Toline road, for some years a cycling/pedestrian path. Is stars at Vello di marone, little more than a kilometer after the first tunnel, at a level lower than main road. At the cemetary of Vello, on foot or bicycle you follow accross the settlement of vello.

After the fist tunnel of the track, you continue, always bordering the lake, passino a long the fissare carved into finale Valley, ending at the little promentory of Punta delle Croci Bresciane. The return trip follows the same route. At the outset one can admire the tiny fuurth century church of Vello cemetary.

The track allows ample views of the lake and surrounding rocks. In the fissare carved into Finale Valley you ca admire, on the other bank of the lake, the horrible rock of “Bögn di Zorzio”.

Fom Toline you can get to the “Corna Trenta Passi” following the signs CAI n. 212.

After a walk of about 40 minutes you find the “Corno”( horn) where it is said the height of the rocks that fall from the overhang into the lake are equal.

 

 

 

The ancient Valerian road offers a spectacular journey immerged in every colour of nature, natural and un-polluted. It is a journey of two extremes,with contrasting scenery and emotions. The road follows the lakeside and arrives in the rocky foothills of mountains. It travels through mediterranean vegetation rich with olives, figs, vines then on to chestnuts, conifers and firs on the slopes of "Golem" ( mount Guglielmo).

The road travels through ancient villages and newer settlements, over frequent rivers and streams cascading down the mountains. Along the road, other beautiful examples of local architecture can be found in the churches, cobblers squares, rural villagers. It is possible to admire the marvels of naturists present, an indication of glaciation. Between these the church of Marasino, dedicated to St Antonio, the church od Gandizzano and the church of Ma Spiano, dedicated to St Giacomo. All as beautiful as the typical houses.

And the incomparable view!The Valerian road stretches for 24km, from Pilone to Croce di Zone along the way you will be delighted by local landscapes and vegetation with picnic areas to stop and enjoy the views.

 

 

 

Bergamo is 44km from Iseo and accessible by car or on the service bus which leaves Iseo town for Sarnico and then from Sarnico to Bergamo.

Start your visit to Bergamo Alta at Piazza Vecchia, symbolic of the city. Already existing in 300AD, it reached its present form during the Venetian domination. On the south side of the square, overlooking the Palazzo della Ragione, on the right soars the civic tower (X11-XV). Also of note “Il Campanone” and the ancient “Domus Suardorum(X1V-XV), today home to the university of Bergamo.

The northern side of the square is closed by a seventeenth century palazzo with a white marble facade, created as the seat of city hall, the building is now the civic library. The Capella del Crocifisso, houses a crucifix from 500AD. And the apse has seven large canvases including “The Martyrdom of St John the Baptist” by G.B. Tiepoli.

Continue the tour of Bergamo Alta with the Basilica di S.Maria Maggiore, one of the most important monuments in the city. We also recommend that you take a walk on the old roman city walls.

Brescia is 25km from Iseo by car or by train from Iseo station directly to the centre of Brescia. Starting the visit to the historical centre we find the Piazza dell Loggia, a good example of renaissance architecture and a testament to the Venetian domination of Brescia. Here we find Palazzo Loggia and Monti di Pieta.

Also the “Torretta dell’Oralogio” clock tower, with “macc de le ure” the two characters automatically flying on the hour. Continue to Piazza della Vittoria, a project of the famous architect Piacentini who celebrates with this, the dictates of the fascist regime. Here stands the grand Palazzo delle Poste and the Torrione, with facades in two tones of marble. In Piazza Paolo VI, originally medieval,we find the Duomo Vecchio, dating from the XII century, also known as the “Rotonda” because of its unique circular structure. Palazzo del Brolatto has medieval buildings which were the seat of civic magistrates in medieval times, from XV to XVIII century.

One of the most important things to see in Brescia is certainly the Pinacoteca Tosio Martinengo,(Art Gallery). This is in a seventeenth century palazzo. Today it is home to a collection of the principal renaissance artists of Brescia like Romanino, Foppa, Moretto and Savoldo. Another beautiful church is the Chiesa di S. Francesco d’Assissi, typically Franciscan in a late romantic style which is simple and quite severe.

Don’t forget there is also the Piazza del Foro; focus of “Brixia Romana” Roman ruins of Brixia (Resti della Brixia Romana). In this building we find the museum of weapons “Luigi Marzoli”. One of the most important in Europe for its collection of weapons and armoury from 400AD. Also the Museo del Risorgimento, which is inside the castle and houses documents and historical relics.

Another important museum is the museum of Santa Giulia created in the walls of the monastery.

 

In the region of Monticelli Brusati, Franciacorta ( on the Brescia- Iseo road, the exit for Camignone)you find this splendid and isolated path which takes you away from the little square in Gaina ( in the countryside follow signs for Ville Baiana and for Gaina).Follow the red and white signs, you take a left for a road which passes between grasslands and becomes a dirt track descending to the left to the small but obvious canyon of a river with beautiful exposed rock strata.

This is a less difficult path than that of the experts but also the most interesting, which passes more frequently over the water with large stepping stones, on its way to several waterfalls, crossed on metal steps and catane pegs fixed in the rock. There is a head carved into the rock to be found near one of the waterfalls. All of the path is in woods, making it ideal for the heat of summer. On the return route in the direction of Monticelli is the view of the sanctuary of Madonna della Rosa.

Milan is about 100km. From Iseo and easy to reach by train, with two possible routes.

You can travel from Iseo to Brescia then change for Milano Central Station.

Alternatively, go to Rovato by car to take the train directly to Milan Central Station.

For the more courageous traveller, you can drive all the way on the A4 motorway to the “Cascina Gobba” exit, where you will find a car park next to the direct metro link to take you to Piazza Duomo.

 

 

Monte Isola is the largest inland lake in Europe, situated in Lake Iseo, in the province of Brescia. The lake also has two smaller islands; San Paolo in the south and di Loreto in the north. In the middle ages the islands ownership was disputed by several wealthy families. The territory was finally assigned by the “Longobards” to the monastery of San Salvatore.

The Cluny monastery settled there and in the year 1000, started a manufacturing network which prospered long into the following centuries. Until 1928 Monte Isola was comprised of two main settlements ; Mont’ isola and Peschiera Maraglio. Today the island has lots of different villages; Siviano, Carzano, Novale, Porto di Siviano, Menzino, Cure. The perimeter of the lake is about 9200 metres and 600 metres above sea level in an area of 4.5 square km.

On the narrow and rocky summit, in the region of Cure, the ancient sanctuary of Madonna della Ceriola stands out like a beacon. It was built in 1500, probably on the remains of an 11th century chapel. Here you can find 16th century frescoes and an icon in gilded wood from the same period of the Madonna and Child, by S. Faustino and Giovita; also paintings by Angelo Paglia and Giovanni da Marone.

The view around the whole lake is spectacular from here. At Peschiera Maraglio the Castle of Oldofredi is worth a visit. The best way to get to Monte Isola is by boat, from the small pier in Iseo town. Timetables are available at the campsite reception .

Parco Nazionale Incisioni Rupestri CETO-CIMBERGO-PASPARDO

The National Park of Rock Engravings. The park of La Valcamonica, is typical of the natural beauty of these mountains, today it is famous for the wealth of rock engravings. For all time man has communicated through Art; figures painted, carved or modelled in any medium available; rock, wood, clay or metal, to evidence what he thought, saw, believed and to communicate to God and mankind. The ancient “Camuni” were the main producers of rock engravings in Europe, an exceptional artistic phenomenon. Today they can be found on both sides of this long valley; along 70km of its 90 km path.

The reserve of Cislano di Zone, is reachable via Marone. The corrosive action of water on the ground has modelled this area, creating pyramids with large rocks on their summits, which acts as a ‘cap’ protecting the pyramids from further erosion. The pyramids of Zone are spread over an area of 21 hectares at a height of 400 to 600 metres above sea level.

The vast moraine deposits which originated at the pyramids of Zone were taken about 150,000 years ago by a glacier from The Valley Of Canonica during the third ice age. This created the basin now occupied by Lake Iseo.

The original phenomenon was caused by a combination of two factors, the atmospheric erosion of the top layer of earth and the protective action of the large stones, like caps on the mounds of earth. When the ‘caps’ eventually fall, the pyramid quickly disintegrates until a new ‘cap’ is found lower down the stack.

Franciacorta definitely merits a visit for its wines. Once there connoisseurs will find much to savour and compare to the famous bubbles of Franciacorta.

Vineyards, gentle hills, small villages, castles and abbeys, towers, towns full of beautifully designed green parks, this is the land touched by the Strada Del Vino Franciacorta. This is an area rich in art history.

The commercial tradition is also innate in the abundance of markets, fairs and exhibitions, which take place all year. For example ‘Il Carnivale Di Erbusco’ with the election of a ‘King of Gnoc’ and the week of the ‘ Tinca Al Forno’ in Clusane d’Iseo which takes place in the summer. In the autumn there are many events dedicated to wine, in September the ‘Festival Del Franciacorta’ is a weekend dedicated to wine tasting.

There are many opportunities to discover the history art and wine of Francicorta. The rebirth of traditional wine making in Franciacorta has stimulated a new era of gastronomy, leading to new restaurants with talented chefs.

 

 

 

 

La Riserva Naturale delle Torbiere del Sebino è situata sulla sponda meridionale del Lago di Iseo ed è la zona umida più significativa per estensione ed importanza ecologica della provincia di Brescia.
Si tratta comunque di un'area piuttosto ristretta: solo 360 ettari, composti prevalentemente da canneti e specchi d'acqua circondati da campi coltivati oppure da manufatti dell'uomo (strade, abitazioni). Una parte si trova a diretto contatto con il Lago d'Iseo ed è denominata lametta, c'è poi una parte interna, formata da grandi vasche intervallate da sottili argini di terra, denominata lama e un'altra area con vasche ottenute dall'escavazione dell'argilla.

Le specie presenti sono: luccio, tinca, scardola, carpa, pesce gatto, anguilla, persico reale, persico sole, persico trota, alborella, vairone.
Nella zona palustre nidificano 17 specie per un totale di 233/300 coppie. Si tratta di: tuffetto, tarabusino, porciglione, cannareccione, migliarino di palude, cannaiola, cannaiola verdognola, salciaiola, marzaiola, voltolino, forapaglie, pendolino, folaga, cuculo, germano reale, gallinella d'acqua, usignolo di fiume.
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La torbiera è stata dichiarata zona di importanza ornitologica internazionale secondo la Convenzione di Ramsar.
Vegetazione
Nelle acque abbastanza profonde, c'è vegetazione flottante o a foglie galleggianti (caratteristica la ninfea), o, nelle Lamette, il laminato e la prateria mersa.
Nelle acque basse e presso le rive (se sono digradanti), la formazione tipica e più diffusa è quella di canna palustre, talvolta preceduta da cortine con tife, giunchi di palude, cannucce.
Nelle aree periodicamente inondate, frequenti nelle Lamette, a ridosso del canneto, è presente la vegetazione a grandi carici, molto caratteristica.

Percorsi pedonali
E' in progetto un nuovo percorso pedonale. Si tratta di un percorso circolare con partenza ed arrivo presso il Monastero S. Pietro in Lamosa oppure, per chi arriva in treno, presso la stazione di Provaglio. Lunghezza complessiva : 4 Km circa T empo di percorrenza: 2 – 3 ore.

Verona is about 90 km. Away from Lake Iseo but well worth a visit, with its ancient centre dating from roman times; 49 a.d.

 

The arena in Verona is an ancient amphitheatre which dates from the time of emperor Augustus, today more famous throughout the world, for the spectacular open air opera performances.

 

The main Piazzas in Verona are: Piazza delle Erbe, in the ancient heart of the city, built on what was once a roman forum. Piazza dei Signori: a closed courtyard of monumental buildings linked by arcades. Piazza Bra:today the city centre a main meeting place for the Veronese people.

 

The main monuments worth a visit are: Colonna del Mercato, la Berlina o Capitello, la Fontana di Madonna Verona, la Colonna di San Marco. Churches to visit : the gothic church of Santa Anastasia and the Duomo Basilica di San Zeno.