Iseo
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By Dion Protani
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Latest update: 6 January 2023
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The lakeside town of Iseo is situated in the Province of Brescia, on the shores of the lake which shares its name: Lake Iseo. It has a population of around 9,000 residents and is located a distance of 88 kilometres east of Milan, the regional capital of Lombardy.
The town's highlights include the Castello Oldofredi and the 6th century church: Pieve di Sant'Andrea. |
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Sitting at the southern end of the s-shaped Lake Iseo, the eponymous town is the cultural and transport hub of the area. History is woven into the fabric of this pretty town which was sacked by the troops of Frederick Barbarossa in the twelfth century. The delightful medieval buildings around its central square Piazza Garibaldi provide an attractive setting for the casual day-trippers that come to enjoy the lake, particularly at the weekends. Perhaps one of the best features of Iseo and of Lake Iseo in general is that it doesn't attract the tourist hordes of Lake Garda to its east or Lake Como to the west. It's quietly nestled in between the two and provides a wonderfully laid-back atmosphere.
Oldofredi Castle is a popular venue for weddings and is also the home to a museum and library. The busiest part of town is Piazza Garibaldi and it's said that the statue of Risorgimento hero Giuseppe Garibaldi in the square named after him is the first such statue in Italy. From the piazza it's just a short walk down to the shoreline and the pretty pier. This is a popular spot for a stroll around the lakeside promenades or from which to take one of the ferries across the lake.
Favourite destinations around Lake Iseo include the little island of Monte Isola which is also listed as one of the borghi più belli d'Italia (most beautiful villages of Italy). The island is towards the lower half of the lake, close to Iseo, while at the northern end is another popular lakeside town and fellow borgo bello: Lovere. There are another half a dozen or so smaller towns around the lake with the pick of the bunch being Sarnico and Sulzano.
Each of the towns and the island listed above can be reached via the Lake Iseo ferry system but there are further treasures to be discovered if you have a car. At the northern end of the lake, beyond Lovere is the pretty medieval town of Clusone while north-east of the lake is the area where you can find the Rock Drawings of Valcamonica, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The mountainous landscapes to the north of Lake Iseo are in contrast to the flatter area of vineyards to the south. From Iseo to the city of Brescia is a distance of around 15 kilometres with the area in between providing the dazzling landscapes of the Franciacorta vineyard region.
Iseo is connected to Brescia by public transport with bus and train options available. The trains take just under half an hour to reach Brescia to the south east. Heading north by train from Iseo the first stop is Sulzano (6 minutes) followed by two further lakeside towns: Sale Marasino (10 minutes) and Marone (14 minutes). The northbound train eventually reaches the mountain town of Edolo with a total journey time of an hour and 34 minutes. Iseo's train station is just a 5 minute walk (500 metres) from Piazza Garibaldi.
Oldofredi Castle is a popular venue for weddings and is also the home to a museum and library. The busiest part of town is Piazza Garibaldi and it's said that the statue of Risorgimento hero Giuseppe Garibaldi in the square named after him is the first such statue in Italy. From the piazza it's just a short walk down to the shoreline and the pretty pier. This is a popular spot for a stroll around the lakeside promenades or from which to take one of the ferries across the lake.
Favourite destinations around Lake Iseo include the little island of Monte Isola which is also listed as one of the borghi più belli d'Italia (most beautiful villages of Italy). The island is towards the lower half of the lake, close to Iseo, while at the northern end is another popular lakeside town and fellow borgo bello: Lovere. There are another half a dozen or so smaller towns around the lake with the pick of the bunch being Sarnico and Sulzano.
Each of the towns and the island listed above can be reached via the Lake Iseo ferry system but there are further treasures to be discovered if you have a car. At the northern end of the lake, beyond Lovere is the pretty medieval town of Clusone while north-east of the lake is the area where you can find the Rock Drawings of Valcamonica, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The mountainous landscapes to the north of Lake Iseo are in contrast to the flatter area of vineyards to the south. From Iseo to the city of Brescia is a distance of around 15 kilometres with the area in between providing the dazzling landscapes of the Franciacorta vineyard region.
Iseo is connected to Brescia by public transport with bus and train options available. The trains take just under half an hour to reach Brescia to the south east. Heading north by train from Iseo the first stop is Sulzano (6 minutes) followed by two further lakeside towns: Sale Marasino (10 minutes) and Marone (14 minutes). The northbound train eventually reaches the mountain town of Edolo with a total journey time of an hour and 34 minutes. Iseo's train station is just a 5 minute walk (500 metres) from Piazza Garibaldi.
Comune di Iseo
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Province: Brescia
Region: Lombardy Population: 8,924 (source: ISTAT 1 January 2023) Size: 25 km² Elevation: 186 metres Highlights: Castello Oldofredi, Pieve Sant'Andrea, Piazza Garibaldi Close by: Monte Isola, Brescia, Bergamo, San Pellegrino Terme Recommended hotel: Relais I Due Roccoli |
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