Holiday apartment in Monte Isola – lake views, churches and island cuisine

Holiday apartment in Monte Isola: lake views, island culture and regional cuisine

When choosing a holiday apartment in Monte Isola, the first thing to consider is what makes the island special: the Santuario della Madonna della Ceriola stands at the summit, offering a 360-degree view over the shores of Lake Iseo and the surrounding mountains. Churches, cycling routes, views from the boat and local specialities offer different focuses for your trip.

Landscape on foot and by bicycle

An uphill path leads from Peschiera Maraglio to the Santuario della Madonna della Ceriola. The route is listed as taking 80 minutes and involving 450 metres of ascent. This makes it a hiking stage with a defined time and elevation profile, combining the summit view with an ascent.

For cycling days, Monte Isola offers two routes with different characteristics: the “Giro dell’Isola in bicicletta” cycle route is an easy 9.4-kilometre bike tour with a stated duration of 90 minutes. The MTB route on Monte Isola covers 11.9 kilometres and 400 metres of elevation gain; it takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. The different lengths, levels of difficulty and time estimates help you plan active days to suit your needs.

Churches, frescoes and island history

Monte Isola combines natural landscapes with sacred art. The Oratorio di San Rocco in Peschiera Maraglio 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.

The Festa di Santa Croce has been celebrated every five years since 1950. In Carzano and Novale, the inhabitants make flowers from paper by hand for the occasion. This fixed rhythm is a specific factor to consider when planning a trip.

The historical side also includes Rocca Martinengo in Sensole, commissioned by the Oldofredi family in the 14th century, and the Museo della Rete in Porto. It displays documents, historical photographs and objects connected with an activity fundamental to the island’s economy. A small church was the island’s first parish; its historical designation is “Santa Maria de curis” in a catalogue of the properties of the Diocese of Brescia compiled in 1410.

Flavourful traditions

The cuisine also reflects the island’s character. 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 from meat cut by hand and smoked in cellars called “cà del salam”. Monte Isola has around 15,000 olive trees; the harvested olives are taken to the “La masna de l’isola” olive mill.

The island from the water

The boat tour goes 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.

For further trip planning, you can also visit Montichiari, Braone, Montirone, Muscoline, Gavardo, Drugolo, Prevalle and Bornato.

To the higher-level travel overview: Brescia.