Clusane

Clusane is a little village of 2,000 inhabitants along the south part of Lake Iseo, in Iseo municipality. It is a village of Franciacorta, a region well known for its wine, especially red and sparkling wine: around the village you can see many vineyards and if you came on late August/September you'll see the grape harvest (and if you want, you can contact a wine producer to take part in the harvest).
Clusane is also known as The village of the roasted tench (in Italian: Paese della Tinca al Forno) because of its famous dish: the roasted tench (a variety of fish from the lake).

History

The village was founded during the Bronze Age as many ruins of old palafittes can confirm. During the Roman Age a bath was built, and you can see some ruins of this in the eastern part of the lakefront (Lungolago Capponi).
Clusane has been a fishing village since the 18th century.

By plane

The nearest airport is:

• Bergamo-Orio al Serio international airport

  phone: +39 035-326323
  address: Via Aeroporto 13, Orio al Serio

By bus

Clusane's main bus station is located in Via Risorgimento. Lines passing by Clusane are:

• "LS002" (Sarnico-Iseo);
• "LS003" (Iseo-Palazzolo sull'Oglio-Chiari);
• "LS021" (Iseo-Orzinuovi);
• "LS027" (Brescia-Cazzago San Martino-Brescia);

For more information you can go here.

By car

To reach Clusane by car you have to take the road SP12 that links Cremignane and Sarnico, if you are arriving from Iseo follow the sign to Sarnico.

By boat

During the summer you can reach Clusane by boat from Monte Isola and the other towns by Lake Iseo (Predore, Sarnico, Monte Isola, Sulzano, Sale Marasino, Tavernola Bergamasca, Iseo, Marone, Vello, Riva di Solto, Castro, Pisogne and Lovere). Prices and timetables are available here.

Clusane is a little village and the old center is situated between the main road and the lake. The only exception is the Parish Church situated on the other side of the road.
If you are approaching Clusane by boat you have to walk straight ahead over the old spinning mill and the fisherman's harbour.

• Carmagnola Castle

  address: Via Ponta 2, Clusane
  Situated on a little hill in the historic centre of the village, this castle was built under the government of Oldofredi, a local feudal family, in the 14th century, but its current name is more recent: in 1427 The Republic of Venice obtained this castle and then it was given to an important chieftain, Francesco di Bussone, called Carmagnola. It has a square plan with a central court, and in the past there was a deep defensive ditch with a drawbridge.

• Christ the King Parish Church

  address: Between Via Risorgimento and Via di Bernardo
  Clusane's parish church

• St. Gervasius and Protasius Old Church

  address: Via della chiesa vecchia
  Once Clusane's Parish church, now it is used for conference and concert. it was built in the 15th century.

• St. Rocco Church

  address: Via San Rocco
  Small church near the harbour built in the 16th century.

As in many other towns by Lake Iseo, in Clusane you can swim in the lake or in some swimming pools or sunbathe.
The mayor lido in Clusane is:

• Origami live

  phone: +39 0309829100, +39 3772878743
  address: Via Risorgimento 136
  Small lido with a bar and a garden.

You can also do wake board:

• Wakemas Lago d'Iseo

  phone: +39 3403158668, +39 3397531696
  address: Via Risorgimento 66
  Garden with trees by the lake. You can do wake board or learn to do it with an instructor.

• Hiking on Clusane mountainYou can walk on Clusane mountain between vineyards and chestnut trees (you can collect chestnuts in Autumn) and reach the top of the mountain.

Clusane hasn't got many shops, who loves shopping has to go to Iseo or to Erbusco where there is a big shopping center (the one in Corte Franca is small).
If you want some fresh water fish, you have to go to Clusane's fisherman cooperative:

• Cooperativa pescatori Lago d'Iseo

  address: Via Porto
  Small shop where you can buy some fish.

In many of Clusane's restaurants and hotels you can eat the roasted tench (Clusane's most famous dish). Every year during the third week of July OTC (association of Clusane's touristic operator) you can eat this dish at 22€ per person (the menu includes the tench, a dessert, a coffee, some water and some vine - menu available only at OTC members).

Budget

• Ristorante Pizzeria da Sandro

  phone: +39 030989048
  address: Via Lanza 10
  OTC member. During the week days you can eat here at lunch at a very good price: menus from 9€.

• Pizzeria Ristorante il Ghiottone

  phone: +39 030989216
  address: Via Risorgimento 166

• Ristorante Pizzeria Zucca 2

  phone: +39 030989155
  address: Via Risorgimento 111
  This restaurant organises many events. OTC member.

• Ristorante Pizzeria Lido Belvedere

  phone: +39 0309898030
  address: Via Risorgimento 132

• Ristorante Pizzeria La Barca

  phone: +39 030989022
  address: Via Ponta 65
  OTC member

Mid-range

• Ristorante le Margherite

  phone: +39 0309829205
  address: via Risorgimento n. 251
  OTC member. The restaurant has got a big garden with a fountain and even if the bedrooms are quite simple, here you can eat delicious dishes (you can eat there also if you not sojourn there).

• Osteria Pane al Sale

  phone: +39 -030 989465
  address: Via Corte Filanda Pirola

• Antica trattoria del Gallo

  phone: +39 0309829200
  address: Via Risorgimento/Via Guatta
  OTC member. In front of the Parish church, here you can eat delicious fish dishes at a reasonable price.

• Trattoria del Muliner

  phone: +39 0309829206
  address: Via San Rocco 16
  OTC member

• Ristorante Punta da Dino

  phone: +39 030989037
  address: Via Ponta 33
  OTC member

• Ristorante Villa Giuseppina

  phone: +39 030989172
  address: Via Risorgimento 2
  OTC member

• Ristorante il Sole

  phone: +39 030989013
  address: Via Risorgimento 70
  OTC member

Splurge

• Ristorante Barro

  phone: +39 0309829209
  address: Via Risorgimento trav. XI 1

• Trattoria il Porto

  phone: +39 030989014
  address: Porto dei Pescatori, 12
  OTC member

• Origami live

  phone: +39 0309829100, +39 3772878743
  address: Via Risorgimento 136
  During the day a lido, in the evening and the night it become a night club

Budget

Camping

• Belvedere

  phone: +39 0309898030
  address: Via Risorgimento 132/134
  By the lake, it has got an out-door swimming pool.

• Cantiere del Lago

  phone: +39 030989166, +39 035930759 (during the winter)
  address: Carlo Lanzo 26
  Open from 1st April to 30th September, the camping has got a restaurant.

• Camping Le Betulle

  phone: +39 030989349
  address: Via Risorgimento 148
  Open from 1st April to 30th September. It has got a beach, an out-door swimming pool and a restaurant.

Mid-range

• Hotel Aquarium

  phone: +39 030989018
  address: Via Risorgimento 130
  By the lake, it has got a big garden and a solarium.

• Hotel Empire Resort

  phone: +39 0309898128
  address: Via del Dossello 30
  On the hillside, it has got a swimming pool.

• Hotel Punta dell'Est

  phone: +39 030989060, +39 3356560649
  address: Via Ponta 163
  Directly by the lake, near the pier. It has a garden and a terrace by the lake.

• Hotel Rosmunda

  phone: +39 030989019
  address: Via Guatta 1
  The same owners of the castle, you can organize conference in it contacting this hotel.

Splurge

• Relais Mirabella

  phone: +39 0309898051
  address: Via Mirabella 4
  OTC member. On the hillside, it has got a swimming pool and a beautiful view on the lake.

In Clusane there aren't any internet cafes and free wifi internet connections (the only possibilities is to use bar and restaurant's ones).

• Clusane Post Office

  phone: +39 0309829126
  address: Via Giovanni Pascoli 52

• Iseo — the most famous town by Lake Iseo;
• Monte Isola - the highest European lake island, reachable by boat from Iseo;
• Brescia — the biggest town of the province, it is quite famous for the roman temple Capitolium and for St. Giulia's Museum with Roman villas and Santa Giulia's Royal Lombard Monastery, a UNESCO site.
• Capo di Ponte — in Val Camonica, it is famous for Rock Drawings, a UNESCO site.