Iseo

Understand

Iseo is on the southeast shore 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.

1 Tourist information centre (Italian:IAT Lago di Iseo e Franciacorta), Lungolago Marconi 2 c, ☏ +39 030 9868533, fax: +39 030 981361, [email protected]. Apr to Sep: daily 10:00-12:30 and 15:30-18:30. Here you can book a hotel, get information and pick up many free brochures and maps.

Getting there

By plane The nearest airport is:

2 Bergamo-Orio al Serio international airport (Il Caravaggio international Airport BGY IATA), Via Aeroporto 13, Orio al Serio (From Orio al Serio you have to take a coach (autostradale) to Brescia and then the train or a bus to Iseo), ☏ +39 035 326323. 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 yo

Getting around

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 and LS021) and Cremignane (LS021) and train to reach Pilzone.

See

1 Oldofredi Castle (straight ahead from Piazza Garibaldi following the street that goes to the mountain). Built 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. 2 Museum of the two wars (in Oldofredi Castle), ☏ +39 030 980341, +39 338 8823311 (Lancini Giancarlo), +39 340 3701287 (Sig Zatti Andrea). Sa Su holidays 09:00-12:00, 15:00-18:00. Composed of two rooms, it contains many Italian Army uniforms used during the First and the Second World Wars. Free. 3 Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Snow (Santuario della Madonna della Neve), Via Madonna della neve (Next to Oldofredi Castle.). 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.

4 Piazza Garibaldi. It is said to have the first monument ever built to Giuseppe Garibaldi without a horse. Inside, there is also Vantini Palace, the town hall. 5 Pieve St. Andrea, Via Pieve (you can reach this church easily: you have to follow the biggest bell tower). 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. 6 St. Silvestro Church (Chiesa di San Silvestro o dei Disciplini), via Pieve (next to Pieve St. Andrea). It was built between the 13th and the 14th century. It contains 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. 7 St. John the Baptist Church, Via Pieve (In front of Pieve St. Andrea). A deconsecrated church, now it is used for conferences and exhibitions. I

Do

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

1 Sassabanek Lido (in the southern part of the town), ☏ +39 030980603, [email protected]. M-Sa 09:00-20:00, Su 08:00-20:00. 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. €8.00-14.00 (it depends on the season). 2 Lido Belvedere, Via Rovato 28, ☏ +39 030980970, [email protected]. M-Sa 09:00-20:00, Su 08:00-20:00. Smaller lido, with a big swimming pool with a slide. In the lido there is a bar and a park by the lake side. €8.00-14.00 (it depends on the season). 3 Iseo's free beach (Lido La Spiaggetta), Via per Rovato loc. Pianoni (near the High school, southern part of the town). 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 Festival. 29th May - 2nd June 201