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The Lakes

There are many lakes in Italy, that offer a
different type of holiday to the classic
beach holiday that may first spring to mind
when thinking of a holiday in Italy.
Lake Como
and Garda
(see photo below right) are two of the
better known lakes, and
make
up three of the largest lakes in Italy, with
Lake Maggiore
(see above photo)
being the third.
The lakes of
Lombardy are surrounded by the stunning
scenery of the snow covered Alps. Other
smaller lakes that are found in the valley
of the Alps include Santa Croce, Carezza and
Caldonazzo.
The lakes and
their resorts have become increasingly
popular with holidaymakers from around the
world, and can offer beautiful scenery,
aswell as pure fresh air, and a number of
outdoor activities.
Many resorts
offer hotels, villas, golf, sailing and
swimming. Lakes Iseo, Idra and Orta make up
a riviera of resorts that offer all this and
more.
In central and
southern Italy, many lake resorts offer
fishing and bathing. For example Fusaro and
Lucrino near Naples, and Trasimeno in
Umbria.
Photo:
windsurfing at Lake Garda
Lake
Como
HOTELS:
Lugano -
Como

Guide to Lake
Iseo, Lombardy, Italy
By
Karen Bryan
Introduction
Lake Iseo, also called
Lake Sebina, is the fourth largest lake in
the Lombardy region of Italy. The lake was
formed by the Valcamonica Glacier, and is 24
kilometres long and up to 5 kilometres wide.
This width is not always obvious as the
largest lake island in Europe, Monte Isola,
sits in the centre of the lake. The lake is
situated just north of Brescia and Bergamo,
this being reflected in the fact that it is
administered on the western bank by the
Bergamo district council, and on the east
bank by the Brescia district council. The
River Oglio, flowing down from the Val
Camonica and entering between Lovere and
Pisogne, mainly feeds the Lake from the
north. The Val Camonica has thermal spas and
prehistoric rock carvings. At the southern
end of the lake lies the Torbiere, a peat
bog and now a nature reserve. South of this
lies the Franciacorta valley, producing the
best sparkling wine in Italy.
On the eastern bank, a few
kilometres up from the lake, is the Natural
Reserve of the Pyramids of Zone, a unique
formation of pillars created by uneven
glacial erosion. The sixty-kilometre
perimeter lakeside is dotted with villages
and towns, the main ones being Iseo, Sarnico,
Lovere, Pisogne and Marone. These towns are
full of historical and cultural interest,
yet it is pleasant to stroll along the
promenade or linger over a drink in a café.
There are a variety of water sports
available on the Lake and fishing is popular
with the locals, tench being the prized
catch. There is a good selection of walking
and cycling trails, and in Winter there is
skiing north of Lake Iseo in the Presolano
area.
Unique points
The fact that Lake Iseo is
not well known outside Italy and therefore
less touristy makes it more appealing. One
of its biggest attractions is Monte Isola,
the largest inland lake island in Europe,
which is easily reached by ferry and with no
cars on the island it is very peaceful,
making it ideal for walking or cycling.
There are also the Pyramids of Zone, where
the erosion of glacial deposits has left
pinnacles of earth up to ten metres high. On
the western lakeshore are the bogns of
Castro and Zorzino, sheets of limestone that
plunge into the lake. North of the lake in
Val Camino you can see hundreds of
prehistoric rock carvings at the National
Park of Rock Engravings and to the south of
the lake is the Torbiere peat bog and
Franciacorta, the area where the renowned
sparkling wine is produced.
Getting there
Nearest airports
Bergamo (Orio Serio)
Brescia
Verona
Milan (Malpensa)
Milan (Linate)
All of these airports are
within reasonable travelling distance to
Lake Iseo. Most international flights come
into Milan Malpensa, although the low cost
carrier Ryanair uses Bergamo and Brescia.
Car: travelling on the
Milan Venice motorway (A4) to go to the West
bank Of Lake Iseo you would come off at
Sarnico junction and on to the SS649. To
reach Iseo town, travelling east on the A4,
you would also come off at Sarnico exit, and
travelling west on the A4 you would turn off
at Brescia up the SS510.
Public transport: There
are regular connections by bus and train to
Brescia from all the nearby airports, then
connections from Brescia by bus and train to
Iseo. The train continues up the east bank
to Pisogne.
Once you have reached Iseo
the most relaxing and picturesque option for
getting around the lake is the ferry.
Guide to Lake Iseo,
clockwise from Iseo town on the southern
shores.
Lake Como
ISEO TOWN
I am really fond of Iseo
town; it has a relaxed ambience, wide
squares and a lovely promenade with a
fantastic view of the lake and Monte Isola.
It is quite lively, mainly with Italian
families and couples.
Iseo was a business centre
in Roman times, and it was an important port
until the end of the 19th century. The hero
of Italian unification, Garibaldi, is
celebrated with a statue and fountain in the
main square. Also on this square is the
Palazzo Vantini, built in the 1833s and now
used as the town hall. The Pieve di S.
Andrea dates back to the 12th century, and
is distinctive because of its cusped
Romanesque bell tower. The 11th century
Castello Oldofredi was recently restored and
now houses the public library.
Just south of the town are
the peat bogs; Torbiere del Sebino is now a
nature reserve. Lake Iseo was around 10
metres deeper in the past, but erosion of
the bed of the River Oglio at the southern
outflow meant that the lake level began to
drop, cutting off a shallow basin, which
gradually became a large marsh with peaty
deposits. During the industrialisation of
the 19th century local factories began using
the peat as a source of energy, eventually
excavating most of the peat deposits.
Imagine digging up the peat using a caged
spade with a five-metre handle!
Evidence of prehistoric
settlement was found during peat cutting:
stone arrowheads, blades and daggers dating
from 5000 BC. Now the area is of great
scientific interest and home to many species
of bird and fish.
Iseo Town
The Franciacorta region,
south of Iseo, has become well known for its
sparkling wine. In the mid 1950s a young
entrepreneur started to make sparkling wine
emulating the method using in the Champagne
region of France. This means that the
secondary fermentation of the wine occurs in
the bottle, a process which takes around two
years. Now this valley produces the legally
protected Franciacorta wine, assuring it has
been hand made using the traditional
champagne methods in one of the thirty
wineries in the area. Visits to the wineries
and tasting sessions can be arranged. Wine
lovers may wish to visit for the three days
in September for the Wine Festival, with
tasting, special meals and visits to
cellars.
Villa Lechi, a Palladian
style villa built in the 16th century, can
be visited by appointment (phone 392 706
30087 to arrange) Just west of Erbusco is
the Oglio North Park, on the eastern banks
of the river.
Accommodation
in the Iseo area
Iseo Lago Hotel is a 4
star hotel, a few minutes walk from the
centre of Iseo, offering hotel rooms and
suites with large wooden balconies in the
main building and single storey self
catering apartments in the gardens. There
are two swimming pools and a lovely patio. A
double room with breakfast costs from 147
euros. They offer one-week packages during
the summer, where you can stay for 7 nights
on half board basis for 599 euros, including
bicycle hire, visit to a winery and a guided
walk. L'Albereta Hotel and Restaurant.
Erbrusco, Franciocorta. In the town of
Erbusco stands LAlbereta, an establishment
establishment is owned and run by Gualtiero
Marchesi, some say the best chef in Italy.
Marchesi moved from Milan and converted a
Victorian hunting lodge into a country
hotel. This is a very special place to stay;
double rooms start at 160 euros per night.
Where to
eat in Iseo
Il Paola, Iseo is highly
recommended with a wide choice of dishes and
especially tempting desserts. Piazza Mazzini
9, tel 030 9821074
Cascina Doss, Iseo, has a
choice of typical Italian cuisine, a la
carte around 40 euros inc wine. closed on
Thursdays, Via Colombera 15, tel 030 890406
Web
Il Volta, Iseo, is
excellent value but closed lunch time
Wednesday and Thursday, Via Miorlte 33 tel
030 981462
Trattoria al Porte,
Clusane, Iseo, is a specialist fish
restaurant, Port of the Fishermen 12,
Clusane, tel 030 9829090
SARNICO
Sarnico is the first
resort heading west from Iseo. It was
originally a prehistoric stilt village, as
it stands where the lakes narrows and once
again becomes the River Oglio. There are
frescoes dating from 1200 AD in the church
San Nazario e Rocca di Castione. You can
still see ruined medieval ramparts.
For some Sarnico is best
known as the home of the premier speedboat
company Riva. One of the most fascinating
aspects of the companys story to me is the
journey of Pietro Riva from his hometown of
Lagio on the Lake Como to Sarnico in 1842.
The young Pietro was travelling to start a
new job repairing boats in Sarnico; his
70-mile journey took him two days,
travelling by boat, train and coach.
His repairs were so
successful that he was soon being
commissioned to build boats. The boat
building business grew under Pietros son,
Ernesto, who began produced boats powered by
piston engines.
In 1912 Ernestos son
Serafino achieved a speed of 24 kilometres
an hour in a speedboat. Riva became a
prestigious brand, sought by the rich and
famous as a status symbol. However you no
longer see speedboats on Lake Iseo because
they were banned for environmental reasons
in 1976!
Sarnico is home to the
Bellini Gallery, a picture gallery
exhibiting around 150 pieces, mainly from
the period between the 16th and 18th
centuries. The Gallery is in the old part of
the city and was formerly a nunnery. Also on
display are some sculptures and furniture.
The Palazzo to Sarnico
rail line winds along Oglio River.
Volunteers reopened this line recently.
TrenoBlu as it is known is often steam
hauled. The trains run during the Summer.
There are rail connections from Bergamo and
Milan.
Just outside Sarnico,
heading east, stands the Faccononi villa,
designed by one of Italys best Art Nouveau
architects, Sommaruga, for the wealthy
Faccanoni family. The villa on the lakeshore
exemplifies Sommarugas trademark Floreale
style.
Accommodation
in Sarnico
Hotel Ulivi 4 star is
situated in Partico, just south of Sarnico,
near the lake, set a in lovely garden, rooms
from 98 euros.
Where to eat
in Sarnico
Al Desco, great choice of
fish dishes, great setting, Piazza XX
Septembre 19, tel 035 910740
Ristorante Al Tram, if you
feel like a change, try eating in this old
tram. Via Roma 1, tel 035 910117
RIVA DI SOLTO
The stretch from Tavernola
north constitutes the most dramatic stretch
of the west bank. Just try to blot out the
quarry at Tavernola! Riva is a pretty
fishing hamlet, full of arches and alleys.
The old centre is up the hill at Zorzino.
The Zorzino Bong, with its vertical slabs of
limestone plunging Mount Clemo, creates its
own enclosed bay. Further north is the
Castro Bogn.
Accommodation
in Riva di Solto
Albergo Poggio d'Oro is a
two star establishment with a panoramic view
of Lake Iseo. A double room with breakfast
costs from 48 euros. Hotel Panoramico,
Fontena, is situated five kilometres west of
Lake Iseo, is a three star hotel. A double
room with breakfast costs from 68 euros.
Where to eat in Riva di Solto
Ristorante Miranda,
Zorzino is a few miles inland. You can eat
international and local cuisine on the
terrace overlooking Lake Iseo.
Ristorante Poggio d'Oro,
Riva, has a restaurant and a café.
LOVERE
The Lovere area was
occupied by the Gauls in the Iron Age, and
by the second century BC the Roman
settlement began to take form.
Lovere still has ramparts
remaining from its period as a medieval
fortified town. The oldest church is the
12th century Capell di San Martino. The town
was famous in the 15th century as Venetian
textile town. Most of the output of woollen
cloth was sold in Germany and Austria. At
the beginning of the 16th century there was
a period of turmoil, with periods of rule by
the French, the Holy Roman Empire and the
Spanish, which greatly disrupted the
production and distribution of the cloth.
There was more strife later that century
with plagues and famines. By the 17th
century the authorities had tackled the
security problem of bandits and some
Lombardy noblemen began to travel to Lovere
for their holidays. The Basilica of Santa
Maria dates from the 15th century and houses
a 16th century organ case and frescoes. The
lakeside Palazzo Tadini contains the School
of Fine Arts, a gallery with paintings,
sculptures and ceramics. Count Luigi Tadini
began this collection in his town house in
Crema. The Tadini familys only son died in
Lovere in 1799 where they often took
holidays. Count Tadini provided the funds to
built 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 the
1740s. Lady Mary is said to have written
many letters to her daughter in the villa
garden, and been inspired to write poetry by
the beauty of her surroundings. In fact she
declined an invitation to the Venice
carnival saying, there are plenty things to
do in this village which, by the way, is one
of the most beautiful that exists. Lady Mary
came to live in Italy in 1741, supposedly
for health reasons, although it is thought
that she no longer wanted to live with her
husband. Lady Mary had travelled to Turkey
as wife of the British Ambassador and there
she came across the practice of inoculation
against smallpox. She had her own children
inoculated but was never given proper credit
for introducing the practice in Britain.
Lady Marys daughter married Lord Bute, who
became prime minister of Britain in 1762, a
year after Lady Marys death.
Lovere has another
literary connection in Georges Sand, the
French novelist, who wrote of Lake Iseo to a
friend in London, Come, I have found a
lovely place to live. Georges Sands real
name was Aurore Dupin, but she had taken a
mans name as it was not deemed suitable for
ladies to be novelists in the 19th century,
and she often dressed as a man. She had a
long-standing affair with Chopin. After
their break up in 1847 she wrote the novel
Lucrezia Floriana. The romance between a
young Italian noble and an older lady is set
on Monte Isola. It is said that this novel
inspired many visits by ladies seeking
romance to the area!
In 1854 Lovere joined the
industrial revolution, with the development
of the first large steel complex in the
region. Lovere prospered as an industrial
centre until the 1980s, but this has left a
scar on the landscape.
Valle
Camonica
As you head round the
north of the lake, you may wish to have a
slight detour to visit the Valle Camonica.
This valley is 90km long and contains 41
towns and villages, making it the longest
valley in Italy. The healing powers of the
waters of the spa town of Boario Terme were
written about as early as 1497 by the
naturalist Paracelsus. The Italian writer
Manzoni was a regular visitor, living to the
age of 88. Nearby at the Capo di Ponte is
the National Rock Engraving Park, with
prehistoric rock carvings, dating from
Neolithic times through to the Iron Age. The
carvings relate to the history of the Camuni
tribe throughout this period. It is an
amazing site, containing thousands of
figures: an enormous stone history book. One
of the most common carvings is that of the
Camonic rose, which is now the emblem of the
Lombardy region. On this site is the
Archeopark, an open- air interactive park
where you can try out various daily
prehistoric activities e.g. lighting a fire,
shooting with a bow and arrow and grinding
corn and baking bread. The Archeodromo is a
realistic construction of a Neolithic
village with six huts perched on a rocky
hill. Some school groups stay in the village
for a few days to get an authentic taste of
prehistoric life. Personally speaking I
think Id rather go back to my hotel bed and
shower. The traditional art of woodcarving
continues in this area. The Cammunian Wood
Handicraft Workshops in Boaria Terme, where
all types of objects from religious
ornaments to babies cribs are produced, can
be found in the area. A fusion of modern and
16th century techniques are used to craft
the goods.
Accommodation
in Lovere
Albergo Moderno, 3 star
was established in 1900. This fine, family
run hotel sits near the lakeside, a double
room with breakfast costs from 78 euros.
Albergo S. Antonio, 3 star, sits on the main
square of Lovere. A double room with
breakfast costs from 61 euros.
Where to eat in Lovere
Ristorante Mas, an
interesting interpretation of modern Italian
cuisine. Meals 25 40 euros, Via Gregorin 21,
tel 035 983705, email: masristoro@tiscali.it
Ristorante Moderna,
details above, a firm favourite with the
locals.
PISOGNE
Pisogne was an important
centre in medieval times for commerce - a
large weekly market was held there. The town
had a ring of walls and a system of gates
but not much is left standing now. In the
Market Square you would be hung in a cage
suspended from the tower for non-payment of
taxes due to the bishop. Tax was due on
almost everything - fishing, hunting,
milling, salt and iron. The bishops were
forbidden to inflict any punishment that
would cause loss of blood, so humiliation
was the next best option to extract their
dues. In 1518 eight women accused of
witchcraft were imprisoned in the Widow
Tower before being burned.
Just off Market Square is
Santa Maria Assunta church, which contains a
150-year-old pipe organ. The facade of the
Palazzo Fanzango is adorned with medallions
depicting the characters from the book I
Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed) written by
Manzoni. This is an important piece of
Italian literature, telling the tale 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 the
Plague in 17th century Milan.
At the end of the 17th
century, Pisogne was home to the notorious
bandit Giorgi Vicario. There was not much
brotherly loyalty between the bandits as
Vicario tracked down and killed Giuseppe
Techi for a reward. Techis head was
delivered on a tray decorated with bay
leaves to the authorities. A double whammy,
a reward and less competition locally!
Pisogne hosts the local
festival of mushrooms and chestnuts on the
last Sunday in September.
Pisogne
Where to eat
in Pisogne
Agriturismo Gippone offer
a fixed price menu including coffee and wine
for 30 euros, featuring mainly home produce.
Localite Gippone 5, tel 0364 89414
Ristorante Trani, mid
range, offers a selection of typical local
dishes, Via Ortaglie, Centro Storica, La
Padau, tel 0364 87474.
MARONE
View from Zone
Marone is situated in a
beautiful spot in a green valley at the foot
of Monte Guglielmo. There are ruins of a
first century Roman villa, Co del Hela as
you enter the town. On the lakeside is the
Parrocchiale di tours, an 18th Century
Baroque style church with a marble altar.
Marone was well known for production of
woollen cloth and felt and the quarrying of
dolomite. Nowadays tourism is the main
industry.
A few kilometres uphill
from Marone on the road to Zone lie the
Earth Pyramids. They are an amazing sight:
thin spires of earth up to 30 metres high,
with large granite masses perched on top
almost like hats. The Pyramids are not
static as they can erode, causing the
boulder to fall and gradually new pyramids
are created.
On the way to the Pyramids
is the church of San Giorgio and on the
outer sidewall are frescoes painted in the
15th century, including one of San Giorgio
slaying the dragon.
Further up the hill is the
village of Zone. As you ascend you can see
what I initially thought was a ski lift,
above the road. It is in fact suspended
containers, which carry the dolomite down
from the Calarusso quarry. In some respects
it reminded me of a Swiss alpine village;
the air was so fresh and crisp. There are
two interesting churches on the Piazza
Almici: The octagonal 18th century Beata
Veringe di Lourdes and the 17th century
Parrocchiale S Giovanii Ballista, containing
wooden works of art by Andrea Falconi. The
festival of honey is held in the town square
at the beginning of August. From Zone there
are several walking paths and, if you're
feeling energetic, one to the summit of
Monte Guglielmo.
Accommodation
in Marone
Hotel Concaverde, Zone, is
a family run hotel, literally in a green
corner, rooms around 65 euros in summer.
Where to eat
in Marone
Ristorante Franciacorta &
Lago DIseo has a good selection of
traditional dishes, Via Lungolago Marconi 1,
Marone tel 0309 877861
Ristorante Alla Galleria
has a lakeside terrace, Via Roma 10, Marone
tel 0309 87325.
MONTE ISOLA
The largest lake island in
Europe is 3km long, rising to an elevation
of 600m, and is sometimes referred to as the
pearl of Iseo. Only public service four
wheeled vehicles are allowed on the island.
If you want to see more of the island you
can rent a bicycle or use the local bus.
There is also the option to take the gentle
level walk along the southern coast from the
village of Peschiera Maraglio to Sensole and
return on the ferry from Sensole. If you are
feeling energetic you can visit the 13th
century Il Santuario della Madonna della
Cerinole, which is situated at the highest
point of the island.
The 14th Century Fortress
Martinango is the ancestral home of the
Olofredi family. It is one of the
best-preserved forts in the region. It is
unusual in that its highest tower is in the
centre.
The population of the
island is around 1700, with those not
employed in tourism working as fishermen, in
boatyards or making nets. In fact, the nets
for the goal posts of the 1982 Football
World Cup were made locally. Guess what -
Italy won the Cup that year! There are still
numerous naets, the typical wooden local
fishing boats, to be seen. Some of the catch
is left outside to dry in the sun in the
traditional manner.
You can visit a
traditional boatyard, Cantiere Nautico in
Peschiere Maraglio, and see the construction
of the handmade wooden boats.
I think that Monte Isola
is a charming, tranquil place to visit,
still relatively peaceful and relaxing. It
is very thickly wooded, when you observe it
from the shore its hard to imagine being
able to reach the summit.
Monte Isola
One of the big events on
the island is the festival of Corzano, a
hamlet that dates back to the 1600s. This
only takes place every five years.
There are regular ferries
from several towns on the lakeshore to the
coastal villages in Monte Isola.
Where to eat in Monte Isola
Ristorante Monteisola
offer a selection of fresh seafood and home
made pasta, they even have online booking,
Loc Carzano 144, tel 0309 825284.
Ristorante La Dorada Lago
specialise in seafood. Loc Peschiera
Maraglio, tel 0309 886424, email: dorado@monteisola.it
Suggested Itineraries
Day Trip:
Driving: it is possible to
drive round the lake with a few stops in one
day from Milan, Brescia or Bergamo and see
unique sights.
Public transport:
bus/train to Iseo, ferry trip from there.
Trains from Brescia operate every hour, and
it is a half-hour journey to Iseo, and they
also go up to Pisogne, stopping at Sulzano
and Sale Marsino.
Weekend/Short stay (2-3
nights) you could either be based in Iseo,
spending a day visiting Monte Isola, one day
visiting the west bank of the lake and one
day on the east bank. An alternative would
be to tour the lake in a day and spend a day
either in Bergamo or Verona.
Iseo town would be a good
base for day trips to the cities of Bergamo,
Verona, Venice, Brescia, Vicenzia and
Padova. Lake Garda and Lake Como are both
nearby.
If you prefer an organised
tour, you can spend a weekend in Lovere on
the north western shore of Lake Iseo. The
weekend starts on the Friday when your
transfer is timed to meet the arrival of the
Ryanair flight into Orio al Serio, from
London Standsed. On Friday afternoon you
will visit the National Park of Rock
Engravings. On Saturday morning you will
have a short cruise on Lake Iseo. In the
afternoon it is a visit to the wine
producing region of Franciocorta. On Sunday
morning you will visit the Monet exhibition
in Brescia, before the transter to catch the
16.20 flight back to Stansted. The cost of
this trip with half board accommodation in a
3 star hotel, transfers and excursions is
190 euros, based on two sharing. The single
supplement is 30 euros. If you would like to
stay for additional nights the cost is 45
euros per night per person. The trip is
available most weekends from 22nd October
2004 to 18th March 2005.
Activities
Walking
There are several walks
described in the leaflet titled Lake Iseo
and Tourism itineraries, Lake Iseo,
Franciacorta, Valcalepio, (Engish edition),
available at Brescia and Bergamo region
tourist offices.
Cycling
Many hotels will rent
bikes to their guest, sometimes free of
charge. There are possibilities for a gentle
lakeside cycle or a more demanding mountain
bike trip. There is a cycle route from
Brescia to Partico, on the southern bank of
Lake Iseo. You can get a map and route
instructions here. There are itineraries for
several bike routes in English on this site.
Golf
Golfo di Franciacorta, Loc
Castagnola, tel 030984167 is the main course
in the area.
Tennis
The best courts are at the
Sassabanek Complex, Iseo, tel 0309 80619.
Some hotels also have their own tennis
courts.
Canoeing
Contact the Kayak Canoa
Club, Via Garibaldi, Palazzo
Fishing
Lakeside fishing is very
popular with the locals. There is also the
Corte Franca Private Fishing Centre at
Laghetto Conicchio.
Swimming
Sassabanek, Iseo, tel 0309
80603. The complex has three outdoor
swimming pools, with a day ticket costing
around eleven euros, and under 6s get in for
free.
Acquasplash, Loc
Basciarelli, Rovata, tel 0307 703670, is not
so much for swimming but great fun in the
water, with the Black Hole and the Kamikaze
for thrill seekers and the Magic Lagoon
water play area for kids. Entrance is around
12 euros.
Sailing
Lovere is the tourist port
of Carnasola, where up to 300 boats can be
moored. Sailing lessons are available there
at the Associazione Velica Alto Sebina, tel
0350 83509
Paragliding
Timoline di Corte Franca,
Volere Volare, Via Roma, Loc Castagnola, tel
0309 841
Horse riding
There are several horse
riding centres in the region
Il Casale, Provaglio
dIseo, tel 0309 883113
Le Frappe, Via Foppe,
Partico, tel 0359 11924
Le Meridiane, Via XXV
Aprile 88, phone 0303 18627
On Snow
The nearest spot to Lake
Iseo for skiing is in the Val Pilot, only
ten kilometres from Pisogne. As the resort
is only 1100 metres above sea level, it is
really only suitable for beginners or
occasional leisure skiers. Ski lessons in
alpine and Nordic skiing are available, for
information tel 0364 86343 and 0364 888923.
Further north is the Conca
della Presolana area. Most of the tourist
service providers in this area are members
of the Cooraltur Consortium. If you would
like to book a hotel in this area for a stay
at any time of year, please complete an
enquiry form with your requirements.
The consortium also offers
packages for skiing. You can enjoy a six
night skiing holiday for 312 euros. This
price includes six nights half board
accommodation in a three star hotel and a
six-day Orbie Ski Pass, valid for six
resorts. Equipment rental, ski school and
transfer from/to Bergamo airport and ski
resorts can be arranged at an additional
charge. If you can travel between Janaury
4th - 24th or March 21st - April 4th 2005,
the cost is 298 euros. This includes six
nights full board accommodation in a three
star hotel and a five-day Ski Pass, valid
for two resorts. This price is based on two
sharing; a single supplement is 60 euros.
There is also a short break offer, not valid
during Christmas, New Year or Easter, which
costs 125 euros based on two sharing. This
includes two nights B&B in a three star
hotel, a two-day Ski Pass and ski equipment
hire plus transfer from Bergamo airport. If
you would like to find out more about any of
these packages, please complete an enquiry
form.
Spas
Boario Terme is the
best-known spa in Valcamonica, focusing on
the treatment of liver and intestinal
ailments. They also offer inhalation,
balneotherapy, irrigation and mud massage.
There is a treatment package especially for
couples - the Samson and Delilah - and a
treatment for ladies named Cleopatra. Viale
Igea 3, tel 0364 53980
Wine tasting
One of the most famous
wineries in the Lake Iseo area is CaDel
Basco. Visits and tasting sessions can be
arranged by appointment, Via case Sparse,
Erbrusco, tel 0307 766111
Tourist Offices
I have found the staff in
both these offices to be extremely helpful,
they will go out of their way to find out
the information you request.
Lovere, Piazza X111
Martiri. tel 0359 62178, fax 0359 62525,
email turismo.lovere@apt.bergamo.it
Iseo, Lungalago Marconi 2,
tel 0309 80209, fax 0309 81361, email
iat.iseo@tiscali.it
Karen is a travel
consultant and writer specialising in
planning tailor made travel in undiscovered
Europe. Her site is
http://www.europealacarte.co.uk
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karen_Bryan

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