Monte Isola: Island culture, trails and lake views on Lake Iseo

Island views and trails

Monte Isola reveals its distinctive character where landscape, religious history and trails come together. The Santuario della Madonna della Ceriola stands at the summit of Monte Isola and offers a 360-degree view of the shores of Lake Iseo and the surrounding mountains. If you would like to reach this viewpoint on foot, the uphill path from Peschiera Maraglio takes 80 minutes; along the way, you will climb 450 metres in elevation.

Festivals and living traditions

The Festa di Santa Croce is part of the island’s cultural identity. It has been celebrated every five years since 1950. During this festival, residents in Carzano and Novale handcraft flowers from paper. The recurring date and the traditional craftsmanship give the event a clear local connection and make it a distinctive aspect of the island’s culture.

Churches, frescoes and historic sites

In Peschiera Maraglio, the Oratorio di San Rocco preserves valuable 16th-century frescoes attributed to Romanino. The Church of San Giovanni Battista in Carzano replaced a religious building from the 15th century and was built in the first half of the 18th century. Its 18th-century ceiling frescoes depict the Baptism of Christ, stories of Saint John the Baptist and various biblical episodes.

Smaller landmarks also reach far back into the island’s history. A small church was the island’s first parish; its name, “Santa Maria de curis”, can be traced back to a catalogue of the properties of the Diocese of Brescia compiled in 1410. In Sensole, the Rocca Martinengo was commissioned by the Oldofredi family in the 14th century. The Museo della Rete in Porto displays documents, historic photographs and objects connected with an activity that was fundamental to the island’s economy.

Island-related products

The local character is also reflected in the island’s products. The tradition of dried sardines from Lake Iseo is particularly associated with the fishermen of Monte Isola. Monte Isola salami is made in Cure, Masse, Olzano and Senzano with hand-cut meat and smoked in cellars known as „cà del salam“. There are around 15,000 olive trees on Monte Isola; the harvested olives are taken to the „La masna de l’isola“ olive mill.

Getting around by bicycle and boat

Several clearly distinct routes are available for different interests. The „Giro dell’Isola in bicicletta“ cycle route is an easy 9.4-kilometre bike tour lasting 90 minutes. The MTB route on Monte Isola is 11.9 kilometres long, includes 400 metres of elevation gain and takes around 1 hour and 45 minutes. The different distances, elevation gains and times help you assess the two options for planning your day. On a boat tour, you go around the island of Loreto; the route then follows the east coast of Monte Isola and continues around the small bay of the island of S. Paolo.

Further places for orientation

Cevo, Drugolo, Nuvolento, Gottolengo, Borgosatollo, Collebeato, Artogne, Collio

For the higher-level travel overview: Brescia.