Iseo

Iseo is situated along the southeast part of Lake Iseo. It is bounded by the communes of Provaglio d'Iseo, Sulzano, Polaveno and Paratico.
It is between Franciacorta, famous for its sparkling wine, and Val Camonica, an alpine valley famous for the Rock Drawings, UNESCO world heritage site.
Iseo has three hamlets:

• Clusane - between Iseo and Paratico. It is called The village of the roasted tench (in Italian: Paese della Tinca al Forno);
• Pilzone
• Cremignane

The best season to go to Iseo is the summer, with beautiful sunny and hot days. Christmas time is also pleasant, as that's the season when there is a big street market (called Natale con Gusto) that sells many local products. During January/February it rarely snows.

History

Iseo was already important in Roman times and in the Middle Ages; it became a flourishing trade centre. In the 19th century, the textile industry developed (you can see the spinning mill to the side of bar “Papillon” or in Via Campo). At the beginning of the 20th century, the railway was extended to Pisogne and Edolo, so Iseo lost its importance. In the 1960s, Iseo’s economy became stronger thanks to tourism.

• Touristic information center

  phone: +39 030 9868533
  address: Lungolago Marconi 2 c
  Here you can book a hotel, get information and pick up many free brochures and maps.

By plane

The nearest airport is:

• Bergamo-Orio al Serio international airport

  phone: +39 035 326323
  address: Via Aeroporto 13, Orio al Serio
  The fourth busiest airport in Italy, it serves many destinations in Europe and North Africa. Its main airline is Ryanair; other companies are Wizzair, with flights to the Central-East Europe and Air Dolomiti, which connects the airport with Munich.

Other airports in the surrounding area are:

• Milan-Malpensa: Milan main airport with intercontinental destinations;
• Milan-Linate: Milan city airport with domestic and European flights;
• Brescia-Montichiari: Very small airport used only for cargo;
• Verona-Villa Franca;

You can reach Iseo from all of these airports by taxi. The only taxi company in Iseo is Iseo Taxi.

By train

You can reach Iseo by train from Brescia or Edolo. There is about one train per hour in both directions, but pay attention: some trains don't stop at every station, though always in Iseo, Brescia and Edolo. The price from Brescia to Iseo is 3.30€ one way (November 2017). Other interesting towns on the railways are Pisogne, Darfo-Boario Terme, famous for its bath, and Capo di Ponte. Timetables and fares are available on the Trenord website.
A few times a day, from Iseo you can also reach Rovato (on the Milan-Venice line), but sometimes you have to change at Bornato-Calino.

By bus

Iseo's main bus station is located in Via Gorzoni. Lines passing by Iseo are:

• "LS002" (Sarnico-Iseo) passing by the southern part of the lake: Cremignane, Clusane and Paratico;
• "LS003" (Iseo-Palazzolo sull'Oglio-Chiari);
• "LS021" (Iseo-Orzinuovi) in the summer this line is called H2O because it connects many outdoor swimming pools: in Iseo, Corte Franca and Rovato;
• "LS022" (Iseo-Monterotondo-Chiari);
• "LN030" (Gardone Val Trompia-Polaveno-Iseo);
• "F27" (Brescia-Iseo-Edolo) very useful if you have to reach Iseo from towns and villages that are not served by the railways;
• "L62" (Iseo-Provaglio d'Iseo-Brescia) if you have simply to go from Brescia to Iseo, the best solution is the railway;

You can buy tickets on board, but it is cheaper if you buy them before. In Iseo you can buy them at the tobacco shops and at some news-stands. Please note that there are no bus on Sunday and that some runs only on school days (from 12th September to 8th June from Monday to Saturday, except public holidays, Christmas and Easter time).
For more information you can go here.

By car

• To reach Iseo by car from Brescia you have to take the national road SS510.
• To reach Iseo by car from Ponte di Legno or other towns of Val Camonica you have to take the national road SS42, and after Rogno follow the directions to Brescia entering on SS510.

By boat

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

Iseo is a small town and you can visit it walking in the town center or using a bike (there are many cycle tracks - you can rent a bike outside Campeggio del Sole).
You can also use a car, but during the weekend most of the streets in the town center are closed. The most central car parks are with fee, if you want a free car parks you have to check the area around the schools.
You have to use buses to reach Clusane (lines LS002,LS003,LS021) and Cremignane (LS021) and train to reach Pilzone.

• Oldofredi CastleBuilt in the 11th century, it was burnt by Federico Barbarossa and it was restored only in 1611. It now holds a museum, a library and a big convention hall where are organized many concerts and convention during the year.

• Museum of the two wars

  phone: +39 030 980341, +39 338 8823311 (Lancini Giancarlo), +39 340 3701287 (Sig Zatti Andrea)
  Composed of two rooms, it contains many Italian Army uniforms used during the First and the Second World Wars.

• Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Snow

  address: Via Madonna della neve
  In front of the church there is a church yard with old plane trees. The facade is in Baroque style and in the building there are some frescos by Pietro Brigoli.

• Piazza GaribaldiIt is said to have the first monument ever built to Giuseppe Garibaldi without a horse. Inside, there is also Vantini Palace, the town hall.

• Pieve St. Andrea

  address: Via Pieve
  It was built probably in the fifth century on the ruins of a previous temple, by St. Vigilio, Brescia's bishop and Iseo's patron saint. The facade is in a Romanesque style with a central bell tower. The most famous painting in the building is St. Michael archangel by the famous Italian painter Francesco Hayez.

• St. Silvestro Church

  address: via Pieve
  It was built between the 13th and the 14th century. It contain some frescos including a Danse Macabre. Now the church is in very bad condition and always closed, but Iseo's FAI delegation (FAI is Italian National Trust) is planning to restore it.

• St. John the Baptist Church

  address: Via Pieve
  A deconsecrated church, now it is used for conferences and exhibitions. Inside the church there is an old fresco of St. John the Baptist.

• Le Torbiere del Sebino

In the summer it is possible to swim and to do canoeing in the following lidos:

• Sassabanek Lido

  phone: +39 030980603
  It has got three swimming pools (two warmed), a big park, a basketball, a beach volleyball and a football ground, a cafe and a restaurant. You can also rent canoes, kayaks and pedalos.

• Lido Belvedere

  phone: +39 030980970
  address: Via Rovato 28
  Smaller lido, with a big swimming pool with a slide. In the lido there is a bar and a park by the lake side.

• Iseo's free beach

  address: Via per Rovato loc. Pianoni
  small garden by the lake side with a bar that rent deck chairs.

It is also possible to do trekking on the mountains around Iseo and Clusane. For more information you can go here(only in Italian).

Events

• Lakes FestivalDuring this event many European and Italian lakes participate in "Bontà lago" (a street market where every lake sells its local products and publicizes its area with some brochures).

In the town centre, many shops are open on Sunday but few on Monday.
Every Tuesday and Friday a street market takes place in the town centre.

• Formaggi Bonardi

  phone: +39 030 980204
  address: via Mirolte, 16/b
  This is a nice shop where you can buy delicious Italian cheeses like Grana Padano, Parmigiano Reggiano, Gorgonzola and local cheeses like Roccolo and Fatulì (made with goat's milk). It is also possible to buy other local products such as Monte Isola's salami (Salame di Monte Isola in Italian) and dry common rudd fished in the lake.

• CISSVA shop

  phone: +39 030 9822508
  address: Via Roma, 92
  Shop where you can buy local products from Val Camonica, including cheese, milk, honey and rye bread.

Budget

• Osteria ca’ de Cindri

  phone: +39 030-9821543
  address: Via Duomo 48
  An inn where you can eat local dishes and drink local wines.

Mid-range

• Ristorante Pizzeria La Vera Umbria

  phone: +39 030-9821339
  address: Via Mier 4
  Not very big. It is advisable to reserve a table. Good thin pizza.

• Ristorante Pizzeria Il Bruco

  phone: +39 030-980784
  address: Lungolago Marconi 20/a
  During the summer the kitchen is open from 11:00 to 23:00 or later.

Splurge

• Ristorante Pizzeria San Martino

  phone: +39 030-9822032
  address: Via Porto Oldofredi 8
  Serves good but expensive pizza.

• Ristorante Pizzeria Leon d'oro

  phone: +39 030-981233
  The first restaurant you meet when you arrive in Iseo by boat, it cooks good fish dishes.

• Ristorante Il Volto

  phone: +39 030-981462
  address: Via Mirolte 33
  Listed in the Michelin Guide. It cooks local dishes and has a wide range of wines by the bottle.

On the lakeside there are many bars and pubs. The main ones are:

• Bar lume

  phone: +39 030 981814
  address: Via Porto Gabriele Rosa 18
  Not very cheap, though it offers free Wi-Fi.

• Bull cafè

  address: Via Duomo 11
  In this bar, like in many others, you can have an Apéritif or digestif.

• Opera - slow drink&food emotion

  phone: +39 030 981507
  address: Via Campo 32
  Cafe which serves not only coffee but also risotto and panini.

Budget

• Hotel Ristorante Milano

  phone: +39 030 980449
  address: Lungolago G. Marconi, 4
  This hotel has a beautiful position by the lake side.

• Hotel Arianna

  phone: +39 030 9822082
  address: Via Roma,78
  Near the centre, this hotel has simple bedrooms.

• Locanda Diana

  address: Via XX Settembre, 25
  The building and the rooms are quite simple.

; Camping

• Campeggio del sole

  phone: +39 030 980288
  address: Via per Rovato 26
  By the lake. This is the second biggest camping site in Iseo, after Sassabanek. It has got a mini market and two swimming pools. Here you can play tennis, volleyball, football and table tennis.

• Iseo

  phone: +39 030 980213
  address: Via Antonioli 21
  Not very big, it has a minimarket and a beach. Free Wi-Fi available.

• Punta d'oro

  phone: +39 030 980084
  address: Via Antonioli 51/53
  Not very big, it has got a minimarket and a beach. Free Wi-Fi available.

• Quai

  phone: +39 030 9821610, +39 347 8116004
  address: Via Antonioli 73
  The last of Iseo's camp sites (coming from the south), it has a bar.

• Sassabanek

  phone: +39 030 980300
  address: Via Colombera 2
  Whoever sojourns at this campsite is admitted at Sassabanek lido free of charge. This lido has three swimming pools and a big park by the lake with tables and chairs.

• Covelo

  phone: +39 030 9821305
  address: Via Covelo 18 - Covelo
  Between Iseo and Pilzone, it has a bar, a restaurant, a mini market and a beach. Free Wi-Fi available.

Mid-range

• Ambra hotel

  phone: +39 030 980130
  address: Porto Gabriele Rosa,2
  Quite old hotel in a beautiful location.

• International hotel

  phone: +39 030 9840091
  address: Via Martiri della libertà, 9
  Recently restored, it has an indoor swimming pool.

• Albergo Rosa

  phone: +39 030 980053
  address: Via Roma, 47
  If you want to eat at the hotel's restaurant and are not staying in this hotel, make sure to get reservations.

• Agriturismo il Forest

  phone: +39 030 981640
  address: II Traversa di Via Roma
  Beautiful view from the bedrooms.

• Agriturismo La Tesa

  phone: +39 030 9822984, +39 3408658633
  address: Via Silvio Bonamelli, s.n.
  On the hillside with horseback riding available.

Splurge

• Iseolago hotel

  phone: +39 030 98891
  address: Via Colombera, 2
  Linked with Lido Sassabanek (open air swimming pool and tennis grounds). It has a conference centre.

• I due Roccoli

  phone: +39 030 9822977
  address: Via Silvio Bonamelli
  From this hotel you can have a beautiful view on Lake Iseo.

• Case Vacanza Borgo Lago Suites

  phone: +39 030 9822497
  address: Via Sambuco 23
  Quite expensive apartments in the town centre.

Free Wi-Fi is available in Piazza Garibaldi, Piazza Gabriele Rosa and the library. To use this connection, you must register at this site.

• Iseo internet point di Iqbal Masood

  phone: +39 030 9840051
  address: 47, Via Pieve
  Phone and internet centre.

• Monte Isola — The highest European lake island, reachable by boat from Iseo;
• Brescia — The biggest town in 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 and a UNESCO site.