Holiday in Lake Iseo

What makes Lake Iseo special as a destination?

Lake Iseo is the hidden gem among the northern Italian lakes — smaller and quieter than Lake Garda and Lake Como, but with a trump card that no other can offer: Monte Isola, the largest inhabited island in Europe. The car-free island, with its olive groves, fishing villages, and a pilgrimage church on the 600-meter peak, can be wonderfully explored by bike or on foot. In 2016, the lake became world-famous through Christo and Jeanne-Claude's installation "The Floating Piers," where 200,000 bright yellow floating walkways connected the islands to the mainland. Even without the art installation, the atmosphere is impressive: Dark mountains reflect in the green-blue water, fishing boats sway in front of Sulzano and Sale Marasino, and Sarnico on the southern shore exudes Riviera flair. The adjacent Franciacorta region is Italy's answer to Champagne: sparkling wines made using classic bottle fermentation, which are regarded by connoisseurs as at least on par with their French counterparts. Wineries such as Bellavista, Ca’ del Bosco, and Berlucchi open their doors for tastings. The local cuisine offers Sardina essiccata (dried sardines from Monte Isola), Casoncelli, and excellent Taleggio cheese from the mountain valleys. Lake Iseo is quickly accessible from Bergamo (30 minutes) and Brescia (30 minutes).