Lake Iseo

Iseo is the fourth largest of the pre-alpine lakes and much less visited than Garda or Como. Monte Isola rises from the middle of it, about four and a half square kilometres, its summit six hundred metres above sea level and some four hundred above the water, the largest lake island in Italy and in southern Europe and home to around sixteen hundred people in villages round its shore; private cars are banned, so movement is by ferry, bicycle, scooter and the island's few service vehicles. Net-making for fishing and later for other uses was a local industry. In 2016 Christo laid floating walkways across the water to the island for sixteen days, which drew over a million visitors.

What you'll find

• Monte Isola - a car-free inhabited island rising about 400 metres from the lake.
• The shore villages - fishing settlements around the island's edge.
• The net-making trade - a long-standing local industry.
• The quiet lake - a pre-alpine lake far less crowded than its neighbours.

When to go

April to October; ferries to the island run year-round but more often in season. Summer weekends bring cyclists and day trippers. Winter is very quiet.

What to expect

The island has no private cars, so luggage must be carried or shipped. Ferries fill on summer weekends. Accommodation on the island is limited.

Nearby

Franciacorta lies south; the Val Camonica runs north.

Key facts